If a calibration technician finds a unit out of tolerance, what should they do?

When a calibration technician discovers a unit that is out of tolerance, attempting to adjust the unit is the appropriate response as it directly addresses the issue at hand. Calibration involves verifying and adjusting the accuracy of an instrument to ensure it meets the required specifications. If a unit is found to be out of tolerance, taking corrective action by making adjustments is essential for restoring that unit to operational standards. This proactive step is a critical part of ensuring quality control and maintaining the integrity of measurement systems.

Ultimately, by making the adjustment, the technician fulfills their responsibility to ensure that equipment operates within specified limits, thereby contributing to accurate data collection and overall process reliability. In contrast, options such as ignoring the issue or merely recording the findings without action do not rectify the problem and could lead to further discrepancies in measurement, which could have negative implications for quality assurance in the broader context of operations. Additionally, sending the unit back to the manufacturer might be necessary in some situations; however, this generally should only occur if the adjustments cannot bring the unit back into tolerance or if the unit is not designed for technician adjustments.