Calibration Lab & Gauge Management worked example
Gauge Lifecycle Cost at 58% lifecycle scope covered: a worked example
This worked example runs the gauge lifecycle cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 58% lifecycle scope covered instead of the typical 80%. Estimate the ongoing lifecycle cost of controlled gauges, including calibration, repair, replacement planning, storage, software, and administrative effort.
The inputs for this scenario
- Controlled gauges in lifecycle scope: 100 gauges (held at the documented default)
- Annual lifecycle cost per gauge: 45 $ / gauge (held at the documented default)
- Lifecycle scope covered: 58 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 80)
- Fixed gauge management cost: 250 $ (held at the documented default)
Working through the calculation
- The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable gauge lifecycle cost = controlled gauges × annual lifecycle cost per gauge × lifecycle scope covered.
- Total gauge lifecycle cost works out to 2,860 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
- Lifecycle cost per controlled gauge works out to 28.6 $ / piece at these inputs.
- Variable gauge lifecycle cost works out to 2,610 $ at these inputs.
- Fixed gauge management cost works out to 250 $ at these inputs.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where lifecycle scope covered sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 25.71% below the baseline at 2,860 $.
- Use it during annual metrology budgeting, when justifying a gauge management system, or when evaluating whether to retire and replace an aging gauge population. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.
Results at a glance
- Total gauge lifecycle cost: 2,860 $ (headline result)
- Lifecycle cost per controlled gauge: 28.6 $ / piece
- Variable gauge lifecycle cost: 2,610 $
- Fixed gauge management cost: 250 $
Run it with your numbers
- To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Gauge Lifecycle Cost calculator, set lifecycle scope covered to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.