Coriolis-based calibration benche for 2” and 4” flow meters: evidence from Cartagena’s petrochemical sector on dynamic capabilities, reliability and sustainability

This study evaluates the acceptance of an in-house calibration bench for 2” and 4” meters based on Coriolis technology in Cartagena’s petrochemical sector. A sequential mixed-methods design combined a survey (n=135) with semi-structured interviews (n=5). Partial Least Squares–SEM tested five drivers—perceived reliability, cost reduction, calibration time efficiency, traceability/compliance, and environmental sustainability—on acceptance. The model showed strong explanatory and predictive power (R² = 83.11%; Q² = 0.499), good fit (GOF = 0.706; SRMR = 0.061; NFI = 0.804), and significant paths. Qualitative findings corroborated demand for accredited certificates, price transparency, volume discounts, rapid reporting, and post-service support. Results indicate that Coriolis-based benches outperform traditional volumetric/gravimetric systems on efficiency, sustainability, and legitimacy, positioning the Colombian Caribbean as a regional reference in metrological modernization. The study also contributes a novel lens to Dynamic Capabilities by framing metrological infrastructures as strategic assets that reconfigure resources, reduce uncertainty, and enhance competitiveness across regulated industrial contexts.