CALIBRATION
What is a calibration
The process of comparing a measuring instrument with a known standard to check and adjust its accuracy
What is the key question that Verification asks, as defined by Barry Boehm?
Are we building the product correctly?
What is validation?
Confirmation that a system or process is operating correctly and producing reliable results
What does “traceability” mean in the context of calibration?
It means every measurement can be traced through an unbroken chain of comparisons back to national or international standards (like SI units)
Does verification include adjusting the instrument’s settings?
No, it only checks performance; no adjustments are made.
What is the key question that Validation asks, as defined by Barry Boehm?
Are we building the right product?
What is the purpose of the As-Found Test?
To check the instrument’s accuracy before any adjustment
Does verification always require a NIST traceable master standard?
No — it may simply use another instrument to check performance
Why is validation often called the “most important stage” of testing?
Validation is the most important stage because it tests the whole system in real conditions to ensure all parts work together and meet user needs.
Name the four calibration steps.
As-Found, Adjustment, As-Left, Documentation
Why is verification necessary if the device is already calibrated?
Calibration demonstrates accuracy, and verification is official confirmation of compliance with standards.
What is the formal term for the final stage of testing, when the end user verifies that the system meets its needs?
User Acceptance Testing
Stand up and explain how RTD calibration works
Depends at our discretion
What $327 million NASA spacecraft disaster in 1999 was a classic example of a Verification Failure?
Mars Climate Orbiter.
What was the validation in the Code of Hammurabi? What was the proof that the house had failed to fulfill its primary function?
The house collapsed (it did not protect the owner).