With some of our wrenches having ±0.4% accuracy and our standard wrenches at ±1%, we at Advanced Torque Products have needed to research and test the best practices for calibration in order to achieve and maintain this standard. Through managing and maintaining our own calibration lab and visiting many others over the years, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly and learned from it all.

Quality equipment only stays quality equipment if it receives the level of care it deserves.¹

I came across this quote when researching best practices for maintaining and caring for corporate equipment. What struck me about the quote is how it applies not only to big-ticket equipment in a corporate environment, but also to the things we use on a daily basis in our personal lives. I make sure my car’s oil is changed on a regular schedule, the belts are checked for wear, and filters are replaced in the hopes of extending the life of the vehicle. I protect my iPhone with a case to prevent it from damage if dropped. Regular preventive maintenance for corporate equipment is even more important, as the cost of unplanned downtime, delayed product delivery, and customer service issues can severely hurt even the most successful company. Equipment failure can also have a ripple effect if the failure of a tool or machine consequently damages other tools and equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment or PPEs are widely recognized as necessary, and in many cases mandatory, to minimize a worker’s exposure to hazards that can cause serious workplace injuries. For those workers involved in the manufacture and maintenance of aircraft engines, helicopters, industrial turbines, and other large equipment, ensuring worker safety is paramount and should be ingrained in the daily routine of all involved. In addition to required PPEs, the tools that workers use also need to be considered in any safety routine.

Safety starts when evaluating tools prior to their purchase. What are some things to consider?