Evaluation of inconsistent data: Comparison of two adjustment algorithms

•Adjustment algorithms for evaluating inconsistent key comparison data are analyzed.•Correlation caused by the algorithms is calculated by Monte Carlo simulation.•Correlation is incorporated in uncertainty evaluation of quantities of interest.

In the paper the evaluation of inconsistent key comparison data is considered. The authors share the opinion that the degree of equivalence of national measurement standards can be established only for those Metrology Institutes that provide consistent measurement results. The idea of increasing the measurement uncertainties individually for each measurement result with the aim to achieve the consistency of the data is advocated. Two algorithms are considered and their properties are investigated.