Scale Counting

In many applications, small parts are counted using a scale. The number of parts is estimated by dividing the total weight by the (estimated) average weight of an individual part. This procedure avoids counting individual parts and can save time and money and improve the accuracy of counts. In this article we explore and quantify the effect of the estimation procedure used to determine the average weight, measurement error, and discretization on the accuracy of the scale count. We present guidelines for the successful implementation of scale counting and suggest a change in the standard procedure.