Minimum Weight Its importance in an analytical or industrial process

On a routine basis, many users weigh very small test samples. Typically, they use only 1-10% of a scale's weighing capacity. But it's in this area that measurement uncertainties are at their highest. It is common to weigh 2 to 20 mg to prepare a standard solution for liquid or gas chromatography analysis. The key question now is whether this quantity to be weighed is compatible with QA (Quality Assurance) requirements and balance performance.

Minimum weighing increases the certainty that whenever a scale user weighs more than the minimum weight, his measurements are within the tolerances required to ensure product quality.

This knowledge provides the certainty that the factory always produces products of consistent quality, or that the laboratory always carries out analyses of consistent quality. Quality established for the process with the right weighing instrument, not quality obtained with a lot of analysis and sorting of products that didn't meet specifications.

What's more, the user has the peace of mind of knowing that he can easily pass the next audit or inspection, because now he has the documentation to show that his instruments comply with the process requirements.

This article proposes a solution to this tricky question, based on a number of different situations.