White Paper
Daily Visual Balance Check
Cleaning and Leveling
The pharmaceutical industry and other businesses that manufacture fine chemicals and substances typically have very strictly regulated areas, for example
in analytical procedures. As stated in the SOP, users are obligated to subject
their balance to a daily visual balance check. This consists of a test on cleanliness and leveling. This procedure should be carried out on a daily basis and
should conform to GxP.
Contents
1.
Defining the test sequence
1.1 Defining the method
1.2 Defining additional test sequence parameters
2.
Defining the task
2.1 Automatic call-up
2.2 Defining manual call-up
3.
Activating the “Test Sequence” function key
White Paper
Daily Visual Balance Check
Summary
The pharmaceutical industry and other businesses that manufacture fine chemicals and substances typically have
very strictly regulated areas, for example in analytical procedures. As stated in the SOP, users are obligated to subject their balance to a daily visual balance check. This consists of a test on cleanliness and leveling. This procedure
should be carried out on a daily basis and should conform to GxP.
Introduction
Would you like to carry out the visual balance check on a daily basis? The specifications are as follows:
• The visual balance check has to be carried out once a day on a daily basis.
• Any staff member can carry out the test again before they start work, if they so wish.
• All tests are to be recorded and documented in the operations log.
The user must inform the supervisor if the test requirements are not met; the balance must be clearly marked and
subsequently checked by a balance specialist.
Should the visual balance check not be carried out, the balance cannot be used. The system may be used again
once it has been ensured that a visual balance check has been performed.
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Proposed solution
We recommend the following settings in the balance menu for the Excellence Balance Line (the proposed settings
are based on the English menu settings).
1. Defining the test sequence
The test sequence for the visual balance check must first be defined. The test sequences are in the following
Adjust/Test menu:
User Settings > System > Adjust/Test
Define the test sequence in the following menu:
Adjust/Test > [Test Sequences… Define] > Test Sequences
Open a new test sequence by defining an unassigned test sequence.
Test Sequences > [Test Sequence 1… Define] > Test Sequence Setup
Test Sequence Setup
• Select a unique name. The selected name will appear
later in the dialogs, in the report and also in the
menus as a heading.
• Select “Standard” in the “Preparation Instructions”
menu field. These instructions prompt the operator to
clean and level the balance.
Test Sequence
Visual Check
Setup
Version 2
Name
Visual Check
Preparation Instructions
Standard
Method
SERVICE
Action if Failure
Warning
Instructions If Failure
None
Code to Unblock
123456
Enter in GWP History
Yes
[ok]
1.1 Defining the method
In the test sequence, the SERVICE method is selected as the method.
Test Sequence 1 > [Method… Define] > [SERVICE… Define]
In the SERVICE method, deactivate all Status Items. By doing so, the pre-warning time becomes inactive and therefore irrelevant.
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1.2 Defining additional test sequence parameters
Now that the method has been defined, go back to the Test Sequence menu.
Method SERVICE [ok] > Method [ok] > Test Sequence Setup
Test Sequence Setup
Test Sequence
Visual Check
Setup
Version 2
• Under “Action if Failure” you must define the following
menu items under “Warning”:
- Warning Message:
Standard
- Time Interval:
1h
- Max. Warning:
1
Name
Visual Check
Preparation Instructions
Standard
Method
SERVICE
Action if Failure
Warning
Instructions If Failure
Standard
Code to Unblock
123456
Entry in GWP History
Yes
With this, the administrator makes it possible for the
operator to postpone the visual balance check for a
max. of 1 hour, in case the current time is not
convenient. Afterwards the balance becomes blocked.
[ok]
• Under “Instructions if Failure” selecting “Standard”
provides the user with helpful troubleshooting
measures in the event of an error. These measures
correspond to the standard instructions usually detailed
in an SOP.
• Under “Code to Unblock” there is the option to assign
a release code for the test sequence. (Note: It is
advisable to lock the system menu for the operator).
• For complete traceability of the measurement results,
you must select “Yes” for the “Entry in GWP History”
menu option.
Save your settings:
Test Sequence [ok] > Test Sequences [ok] > Adjust/Test
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2. Defining the task
After the test sequence has been set up, you must then define the tasks. To do this, change over to the “Tasks” submenu:
Adjust/Test > [Tasks … Define]
2.1 Automatic call-up
To perform the test sequence automatically on a daily basis, you must then define the tasks. To do this, open an
unassigned task:
Tasks > [Task 1… ] > [On … Manual] > Task Setup
Task Setup
• Assign the test sequence you have created to the task.
• Change the “Starting Method” to “Interval”:
- Set the interval start time to a desired time of the
day (E.g. 10:00).
- Select 1 day as “Interval”.
• With “Defined Days”, you can define any exceptions
for the daily call-up. Ensure that all days are selected
here, except “Saturday” and “Sunday”.
• With “Defined Users” you can define any exceptions
for the users. Ensure that all users are selected here.
Task 1
Setup
Test Sequence
Visual Check
Starting Method
Interval
Defined Days
Define
Defined Users
Define
[ok]
In this way, the test sequence is
started at 10:00 on a daily basis and
prompts the operator with a dialog to
carry out the visual balance check.
Save your settings:
Task 01 [ok] > Tasks
2.2 Defining manual call-up
To ensure that the user can start up the test sequence by pressing the “Test Sequence” button, you will need an
additional task, so open an unassigned task:
Tasks > [Task 2… Define] > [On … Manual] > Task Setup
With the exception of the “Starting Method”, the process
is identical to the task described in 3.1.
• Define the “Starting Method” as “Manual”.
Save your settings and exit the system menu:
Task 02 [ok] > Tasks [ok] > Adjust/Test [ok] > Exit
You are now back in weighing mode.
Task 2
Setup
Test Sequence
Visual Check
Starting Method
Manual
Defined Days
Define
Defined Users
Define
[ok]
In this way, the test sequence
can be called up manually using
the test sequence function key.
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3. Activating the “Test Sequence” function key
To start the test sequence manually, you will require the “Test Sequence” function key. This is activated in the following menu:
User Settings > Applications Menu > [Function Keys … Define]
Activate the Test Sequence selection box which should appear in the first 5 items.
Exit the menu:
Function Keys [ok] > Applications Setup [ok] > Weighing Mode
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Mettler-Toledo AG
Laboratory & Weighing Technologies
CH-8606 Greifensee, Schweiz
Tel. +41 44 944 22 11
Fax +41 44 944 30 60
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© 09/2009 11793528 V1 Mettler-Toledo AG
Global MarCom Switzerland
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