subject: Top 5 Considerations When Choosing a Data Logger [print this page] Top 5 Considerations When Choosing a Data Logger
Data loggers that measure temperature, humidity or pressure can be the most important piece of equipment for some organizations. These tools are essential in many critical manufacturing or quality control processes.
From food production to pharmaceuticals, data loggers are one piece of equipment that must be reliable, precise and easy to use. From installation to software interface, the process should be seamless and user-friendly.
There are a number of things to consider when choosing the right data logger for your organization but here are the top 5 guidelines.
1. A wire free logger
To be useful in any situation, a quality data logger should be self-contained and completely wireless. This will allow you to place the logger inside or as close to the product as possible.
Before purchasing a logger, check with the manufacturer to see if their products are self-contained. A logger that is free of wires will be much simpler to use and will allow you to collect the most accurate data.
2. The ability to collect real-time data
One feature you may want to consider in a logger is the ability to collect real time data. This would allow you to continuously collect data without having to retrieve the logger. This ability may be important in some situations.
If the ability to collect real-time data is critical for your organization, you may want to consider a radio frequency logger. Using radio frequencies, data can be sent to the software interface continually.
3. User-friendly software
User-friendly software is an extremely important piece in any data collection setup. When the data collected is critical in nature, you want your software to be as easy and efficient as possible. If using multiple loggers in different environments, make sure all will work together under a single software interface.
4. Application Specific Data Loggers
When researching data logging equipment, make sure the manufacturer offers a variety of individual loggers that are specific to different applications. This will help ensure that the data logger will function precisely in the environment you intend to use it.
5. Approved manufacturer
Finally, one of the most important factors in choosing data logging equipment is choosing a manufacturer that has the appropriate compliance and registrations for their products.
The manufacturer should be qualified to the ISO 13485/13488 standard and must be registered as a medical device manufacturer with the FDA. Also consider the ISO 17025 accreditation which demonstrates technical competence for a defined scope and the operation of a laboratory quality management system such as Temperature, Humidity, and Pressure Calibration. In addition, a quality manufacturer should have FDA 21CFR Part 11 compliant software. Finally, the highest quality data loggers should be certified as intrinsically safe.
There are many to choose from but by selecting data loggers of the best quality and manufacturing standards, you can be sure that your data collection process will be precise and painless.
