The harmonization of digital calibration certificates as a key for automated metrological traceability

Abstract Digital transfer documents that are machine-readable – and ideally, machine-interpretable – offer a promising route for automating processes that require seamless digital data transmission. To ensure interoperability on both, the issuing and receiving sides, it is crucial to adopt harmonized solutions when transitioning from analogue-based to fully digital calibration certificates. This shift necessitates that the metrological communities establish agreed-upon best practices and guidelines for implementing these digital assets. This article describes how the specification of data formats and terminology for digital calibration certificates facilitates machine-interpretability and automation in metrological traceability and how the German Calibration Service (DKD) elaborates and reveals these harmonized solutions in comprehensive committee activities. With the establishment of these specifications, quality assurance in measurement technology will finally become more fast, easy, safe and affordable.