The Standard Dec05
The Standard Dec05
The Standard Dec05
4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
Coming soon…
CHAIR’S COLUMN available records, this marks the first time the Divi
sion has published four issues in one calendar year
By Graeme C. Payne or one fiscal year. This has been made possible by
Notes from All Over the hard work of Jay Bucher and his staff, those of
you who contribute material for the newsletter, and
Instead of the usual mes Jay's push to drive us to a primarily electronic pub
sage on a theme, for this lication instead of an all-print publication.
issue I an jotting down a
Publishing principally as an electronic newsletter is
number of notes about
things that have happened also a major cost saving for your division. For the
in the past few months. year ending June 30, 2005 publishing the newslet
ter cost just under $5,000 and I expect it to be
lower than that for the current year. In the previous
Rewards and Recogni-
five years it has been as much as $21,000 per year,
tion up to 67% of the Division's expenses. That will
make funds available for other work that benefits
It is always a pleasure to recognize a member who you and our profession.
has received awards or other recognition for their
volunteer work. th
MQD's 15 Anniversary Approaching!
In a separate article, you will see that Dan Harper
15 years! Can you believe that? July 2006 will
has received ASQ's Freund-Marquardt Medal for
mark the start of our 15th year as a Division. I'd like
his long and hard work on international standards,
to say “let's have a party” but with members all
and has also been recognized by the US TC-176
over North America and in 25 other countries
TAG for his work on the new Customer Satisfac
around the world, that will probably be too hard to
tion standard.
arrange. Still, I would like to explore what special
things we can do. For example, I would like it if
At the Division's annual conference in September
our Charter Members could each send me a note
(held jointly with the Inspection Division) past
with something like where you were then, what
Chair Dilip Shah received the Division's Max J.
you are doing now, your ideas to improve the fu
Unis Award for his achievements in forming the
ture of the profession and the Division, and maybe
partnership with Inspection Division, re-starting
a current photo. I'll see if we can publish those,
the annual conferences (which had been suspended
spread over the 2006-2007 issues of The Stan-
since 2001) and other accomplishments during his
dard. (I hope my mailbox doesn't go into over
two years as Division Chairperson.
load!) Send me more ideas as well! Or, put them on
the Measurement Quality discussion board on the
Kudos to Jay! ASQ web site.
This issue of The Standard is the fourth one to be (continued on page 4)
published during 2005. As far as we can tell from
The Standard is published quarterly by the Measurement Quality Division of ASQ; deadlines are February 15,
May 15, August 15 and November 15. Text information intended for publication can be sent via electronic mail as
an attachment in MS Word format (Times New Roman, 11 pt). Use single spacing between sentences. Graphics/
illustrations must be sent as a separate attachment, in jpg format. Photographs of MQD activities are always wel
come. Publication of articles, product releases, advertisements or technical information does not imply endorse
ment by MQD or ASQ. While The Standard makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of articles, the publication
disclaims responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made by the authors or other contributors. Material from
The Standard may not be reproduced without permission of ASQ. Copyrights in the United States and all other
(Continued on page 14).
countries are reserved. Website information: MQD’s homepage can be found at http://www.asq.org/measure
© 2005 ASQ, MQD. All rights reserved.
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 4
Laugh at that.
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 5
(Continued from page 5) do, and I let people know about it. I give speeches
Measurement Technology; Herb O’Neil, Professor at NCSLI Sectional and Regional meetings, and
at Ridgewater College (formerly known as Hut the MSC. As far as education goes, I go to my
chinson Technical Institute) in Minnesota; Dean daughter’s middle school, and give presentations
Schmeck, of the Naval Measurement Science Di in their math classes; they actually have a meas-
rectorate, the organization that was underwriting urement section. And I took in my Egyptian Cubit
this seminar; and of course myself. and got them all interested in measurements.”
Dr. Watson started the discussion by asking, “Does If that were not enough, you really got wound up
anyone have anything to say to the educational and rightly started to point the finger at the rest of
community about Metrology Education?” That did the Metrology Community—that means you, my
it—you might say, “it broke the dam”. readers; me; and all of the rest of you folks who
regularly complain about a lack of Metrology Edu
Nearly everyone who had any knowledge of Me cation opportunities. Boss, you said:—
trology Education ‘cut loose’ with virtually the
same complaint. The potential students, their man —“ So far as sitting around whining that nobody
agers, their organizations all proclaim loudly that is doing anything about educating or informing
they need, want, and will support Metrology Edu metrology, in England they are making kits
cation, nevertheless when it is offered they avoid through NPL that they send out to the high
and ignore the offer! It was testified from Ridge schools – you know what I’m talking about – that
water they instituted a Metrology Program upon have different calipers, micrometers, and different
direct orders from the Governor’s Office after a things like that to teach them about measurement.
trade association claimed that they could send one Why aren’t we doing that here in the US? We’re
hundred students a year and a corporation in Min supposed to be leading the way in the free world.
neapolis offered to send 25 to 50 per year. None You wouldn’t know it, of course. But, why isn’t
ever came from either of these sources! Dr. Watson everybody here going out to their high schools
told that after seven years of preparatory work, the and saying, “Hey, here’s what we’re doing.
Dominguez Hills Program went online with a Me Here’s the Egyptian Cubit. Here’s what the Egyp-
trology Statistics course, with the top measurement tians did 5,000 years ago,” and explain it to them.
statistician of this Nation teaching it—it drew but a Talk about metrology; and biotechnology; phar-
single student! I pointed out that at California Poly maceuticals; the airlines industry; automotive;
technic State University in San Luis Obispo, after and everything else that you ladies gentlemen do.
five years, the program had only attracted a single Why [do] not all of us do something about it in-
student and that was a transfer from within the Uni stead of sitting on our cans saying, “Hey, no-
versity rather that a recruit from outside! And it body’s doing anything”? We ought to get out and
went on! do it, because we’re the leaders right now. And
obviously you guys are a little older than most in
Boss you stayed pretty quiet during these earlier this room, so you need young people to go out and
discussions, then you started to inject your “two do it. What can I say? I’m proud of what I do. I
bits worth” or maybe it was more like a “buck and caught a killer today. A lot of the people who were
a half worth”. You started off:— identified after the World Trade Center tragedy
were identified because of Promega products. We
—“I’m the Manager of Metrology Services for taking a lot of pride in what we do. We’ve got a
Promega Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin. I quality system. We’re ISO certified. My depart-
agree with most of what you gentlemen have said, ment is cGMP compliant. You gentlemen have all
but not all. Number one, today because of what I that knowledge. Put the task on everyone else and
do, six killers were caught, a couple of rapists are say, “Hey, what are you doing?” instead of just
in jail, and someone [else] was let loose after 18 saying nobody is doing anything. Let’s get out
years of incarceration all through genetic identity and do it. “ —
and DNA testing. I take a lot of pride in what I (Continued on page 7)
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 7
That’s not completely true. Those who continue Thank you Hal for allowing me to quote you, your
their education to a doctorate usually do keep article has complemented our case perfectly. We
studying. But they usually end up in academia or are in your debt. But now back to the testimony
research and find that leaning is part of their job from the Metrology Education Seminar at the re
description. cent Measurement Science Conference. You build
a powerful case, Boss, and Mr. Goldberg in his
What about the majority of the graduates, those article supplemented it very well. Towards the
who tumble into an industrial career? They’re close of the Seminar session, at Dr. Watson’s re
dead! It’s the rare bird who succeeds in keeping quest, I made a contribution that I believe ce
up with the art. Their job is to produce, whether mented both of your cases together.
it’s a product or a process [or a service for that (continued on page 8, column 2)
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 8
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 9
METROLOGY JOB DESCRIPTION job titles, and are inaccurate in communicating job
expectations. Without faithful job descriptions, it is
INITIATIVE unlikely that prospective candidates will be steered
By Chris Grachanen into the Metrology field by educators. In addition,
demographic information, such as how many folks
Talk to almost any are in the Metrology profession, how many folks
calibration practitio are leaving the profession, etc., can not be accu
ner on the subject of rately determined. In early 2006, the Bureau of La
new talent entering bor Statistics will begin soliciting input for updates
the Metrology pro and additions to the SOC listing for the next formal
fession and you will release. The SOC is updated once every ten years.
probably get the The last SOC update was completed in 2000. Bu
same response, reau of Labor Statistics administrators agreed that
“there are not enough young folks entering the updating the SOC would be the first logical step in
field to replace the many seasoned professionals assuring the Occupational Outlook Handbook ac
getting ready to retire”. The Metrology profession, curately depicts calibration practitioner occupa
similar to other engineering disciplines in the U.S, tional information and associated demographics.
is facing a recruitment crisis of epic proportions.
One reason young folks are not entering the Me Recognizing the fleeting window of opportunity to
trology profession is simply they are unaware of it correct disparities in the SOC, the American Soci
at the time in their lives when they are making ety for Quality (ASQ) Measurement Quality Divi
critical decisions about what career they would like sion (MQD) and NCSL International have joined
to pursue. Students in their last years of high forces to create the Metrology Job Description
school and first years in college often rely on edu (MJD) Initiative. NCSL International provided an
cators to learn about professions which are congru organizational focus by establishing the 163.1
ent with their likes and interest. To this end, educa Working Group on Standard Occupational Classifi
tors frequently reference U.S. Department of Labor cations. Working group members, commonly re
publications in order to provide students informa ferred to as ‘the core team’ are volunteers from
tion about professions as well as forecasts about both NCSL International and MQD.
future job growth. The main system used by the
U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Sta In 2004 I proposed a game plan for correcting dis
tistics to identify occupations is the Standard Occu parities in the SOC. The proposal contained the
pational Classification (SOC) system. The SOC following key elements:
system is used by all Federal statistical agencies to
classify workers into occupational categories for 1.Compile job descriptions from U.S. Me
the purpose of collecting, calculating, and dissemi trology / calibration industry for calibration
nating data. The SOC is used as the guide for de Technicians, Calibration Engineers and
veloping the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupa Metrologists
tional Outlook Handbook. The Occupational Out 2.Identify topics of commonality derived
look Handbook is a nationally recognized source of from submitted job descriptions for Cali
career information, providing valuable assistance bration Technician, Calibration Engineer
to individuals making decisions about their future and Metrologist
work lives. The Handbook describes what workers 3.Develop survey items for soliciting input
do on the job, working conditions, the training and on topics of commonality from U.S. Me
education required, average earnings as well as trology calibration industry regarding ap
expected job prospects in a wide range of occupa plicability, agreement, etc.
tions. 4.Send out survey
The SOC's current job descriptions for calibration (Continued on page 10)
practitioners are fragmented among many different
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 10
Step 2. Identify commonalities and differences By the beginning of November 2005, hundreds of
in job descriptions jobs descriptions had been collected from calibra
PES will analyze the selected job descriptions to tion professionals throughout the U.S. These job
identify commonalities and differences in the de descriptions were used to identify topics of com
scriptions for Calibration Technician, Calibration monality which became the basis of a test survey.
Engineer, and Metrologist. PES will prepare a draft Once the test survey was tweaked and approved by
summary of the job elements for the three positions the core team an open invitation was sent to MQD
and distribute it via e-mail to the core team for re and NCSL International constituents to take the
view and comment. PES will work with the project survey. Over 500 calibration professionals have
leader to finalize the job elements. This phase is taken the survey, the results of which are currently
now complete. being compiled and summarized. We anticipate
that finalized job descriptions will be ready to sub
Step 3. Develop and pilot test survey mit to the SOC in January 2006.
PES will develop and pilot test a brief web-based
survey instrument including job elements that may (Continued on page 11)
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 11
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 12
(Continued from page 11) While you are there you may want to check out one
AGILENT EDUCATOR'S CORNER of my favorite Metrology based websites, Agilent
Sharing Resources with Engineering Educators Technologies Metrology Forum at: http://
metrologyforum.tm.agilent.com/.
Agilent Technologies Educator's Corner is a web
based resource for college and university engineer 1 Source: National Science Board: Science and
ing educators and researchers looking to enhance Engineering Indicators 2002
their higher education curriculum and research ca 2 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2001
pabilities. Within it’s many web pages one will 3 Source: Infinity-Project.org, Engineering Educa
find electrical engineering insight, pre-written and tion for Today’s Classroom
interactive experiments, lecture assistance, refer
ence materials, lab exercises, teaching tools, engi
neering student resources, and various research
materials, as well as valuable information on edu
cation discounts from Agilent Technologies. Of Max Jay Unis Award
particular note is the wealth of teacher tools for use
in classroom or labs such as slide presentations, The Max J. Unis award is the highest honor be
pre-written lab experiments, Java animations, free stowed by MQD, to recognize outstanding contri
computer-based training tutorials, and application butions to the Metrological community. The recipi
notes in all areas of test and measurement. Agilent ents in the recent past have been the late Phil Stein,
Technologies Educator's Corner also hosts an ex in 2002, Chris Grachanen in 2003, Jay Bucher in
tensive range of engineering references, lab re 2004, and Dilip Shah in 2005.
sources, student resources, as well as links for en
gineering sites, general education, general science,
etc. To visit Agilent Technologies Educator's Cor
ner go to: http://www.educatorscorner.com.
EVENTS CALENDAR
For several years the ASQ officers and Board of Metrology – an ASQ Member discussion
Directors have noticed signs that there is increased board focused on metrology, laboratory ac
member dissatisfaction and reduced membership in creditation, measurement traceability, meas
the Society. In October they started doing some urement processes, measurement uncertainty
thing about it. For the first time ever, they called a and other issues.
“summit meeting” of all Division and Section Measurement Quality – MQD's discussion
Chairs. We had two long days of very intense board, now open to all ASQ members. This
meetings in Milwaukee. There was – as the diplo may have topics of interest to all division
mats say – a very frank exchange of ideas, but the members (I do have plans to use it in some
sessions were very productive. non-traditional ways) and everyone is invited
to participate.
Some things are already happening as a result. For
example, starting in the second week of November New Online Discussion Board at Fluke
the online discussion boards of each Division are
now open to ALL members. (See more below.) Fluke Corporation has started a new online discus
sion board dubbed the Test & Measurement Tool
There may be other near-term changes, and more Users Community, at URL www.fluke.com/
after some things are acted on by the Board in community. Yet another way for you to get and
May. For more information on this, you are invited share information.
to look at the November 9 issue of the ASQ Wire
email and follow the link after the headline “ASQ
Member Value Summit Results in Strengthened
Sense of Community”, or Type this address into Dan Harper Recognized for
y o u r w e b b r o w s e r :
http://www.asq.org/media-room/ International Standards Work
news/2005/10/31-leadership-summit.html
MQD founding member and past chair Dan Harper
All ASQ Online Discussion Boards Now has recently been the recipient of a couple of
Open to ALL Members awards for his work on international standards.
There used to be three types of ASQ online discus At the ASQ World Conference on Quality and Im
sion boards: those open to everyone including the provement in Seattle last May, Dan received
general public, those open to all ASQ members, ASQ’s Freund-Marquardt Medal, which is pre
and the ones restricted to members of specific Di sented to nominees who have applied quality prin
visions. As of the beginning of the second week of ciples to the development, implementation, and
November, the restricted discussion boards are now literature of management standards. Dan was rec
open to ALL ASQ members. That means you can ognized for his significant service in the US Tech
now, for example, as for assistance on a topic in nical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO Technical
another Division's body of knowledge without hav Committee 176 (TC 176) on quality management
ing to be a member of that Division. After you log standards.
in to your My ASQ page, you will see a list of the
discussion boards you are automatically subscribed More recently, the US TAG to TC-176 also recog
to by virtue of your Division memberships. Under nized Dan for his work that resulted in the publica
neath them is a link for more discussion boards – if tion of ISO 10002:2004, Quality management –
you click on that you will now be able to see all of Customer satisfaction – Guidelines for complaints
them. These are a good resource for information – handling in organizations.
both getting it yourself and for helping others by (Continued on page 15)
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 15
Next Teleconference
Confidentiality of Member The November Teleconference has been canceled,
so the next scheduled teleconference will be on
Information Tuesday, January 10th.
ASQ and all member units, including the Measure Meeting adjourned and call ended at 2:00 Central
ment Quality Division, take special care to protect time.
your personal and contact information, including
your postal and electronic mail addresses. That is Editor’s note: Thanks go out to Karen Prosser,
why the membership applications, renewal in ASQ Headquarters for taking the minutes. Karen
voices, and the “My ASQ” area of the ASQ web was MQD’s Community Care Administrator, but
site all have provisions for you to choose what kind has moved on and is being replaced by Community
of contact you want to permit. Postal address lists Care Administrator, Jeannette Cooke. Welcome
are available to your Sections and Divisions for aboard, Jeanette.
approved uses such as newsletter or bulletin mail
ings. Postal address lists may occasionally be
rented to carefully selected partner organizations,
but only on a single-use basis with strict confiden There shall be standard measures of wine,
tiality conditions. In addition, the e-mail list is not beer and corn...throughout the whole of
released at all. You have probably noticed that our kingdom, and a standard width of
most mailings from ASQ come from a “list man dyed russet and cloth; and there shall be
ager” application and your name is the only one standard weights also.
visible.
Clause 35, Magna Carta, 1215
But ASQ is an organization of people, and very
occasionally mistakes happen. Some members re
cently received an e-mail from ASQ, sent out for Editor’s note: The following two
MQD, which may have had a number of other pages contain information (in
member’s e-mail addresses visible. That should not chart form), put together by our
have happened. ASQ Headquarters has apologized illustrious Chair, Graeme Payne,
for it and I do also. that show the current status of
MQD’s finances. The first chart
If you received one of those messages, please abide shows the 2004 ~ 2005 informa-
by ASQ’s privacy policy and the Code of Ethics, tion. The second chart shows
and do not release those addresses any further or 2000 ~ 2005. To format properly,
use them in any inappropriate way. Thank you. some rows without data have
(see links in next column) been removed from these charts.
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 16
ASQ MQD 2004-2005 Financial Summary
Assets
Cash & cash-equivalents 103,063
Current Receivables 4,418
Capital Assets
Long-term Investments
Total $107,481
Liabilities
Current liabilities 3,763
Deferred Income 10,866
Long-term Liabilities
Total $14,629
Net Worth $92,852
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 17
Liabilities
Current liabilities 3,763 388 4,818 7,173 26,813 3,850
Deferred Revenue 10,866 12,475 11,162 14,431 20,580 23,618
Long-term Liabilities - - - - - -
Total $14,629 $12,863 $15,980 $21,604 $47,393 $27,468
Net Worth $92,852 $78,900 $78,100 $67,610 $82,998 $72,129
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Income
Member Dues 30,701 28,631 31,177 34,440 37,155 40,905
Retail Sales - - - - - -
Advertising - 105 - - 1,600 -
Conference Registrations 1,675 - - 5,850 - 5,800
Tours - - - - - -
Exhibits - - - - - -
Workshops & Tutorials - - - - - -
Contributions - - - - - -
Interest 556 403 739 1,461 3,428 3,322
Royalties 6,483 - - - - -
Miscellaneous - - - - 150 5,143
Total $39,415 $29,139 $31,916 $41,751 $42,333 $55,169
Expenses
Temporary Help - - - - - -
Printing 2,471 6,521 2,061 10,886 13,524 7,812
Promotional Items 583 - - - - -
Postage 1,746 5,078 2,964 6,832 6,424 6,275
Contract/Professional Work 6,328 5,060 15,757 29,432 3,885 5,738
Advertising - 907 - - - -
Equipment Purchase < $500 174 - - - - 163
Equipment Rental 366 749 - 1,303 - 534
Meetings & Meals 3,672 - - 1,571 1,087 906
Travel 7,020 8,692 313 3,585 2,937 22,913
Supplies 1,011 164 74 592 70 170
Telephone 564 773 257 939 3,539 1,665
Awards 1,500 216 - 2,000 - -
Donations / Scholarships - - - - - 7,000
Other 50 180 - - - 184
Total $25,485 $28,340 $21,426 $57,140 $31,466 $53,361
Net Income $13,930 $799 $10,490 ($15,389) $10,867 $1,809
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 18
The conference was held at US Naval Surface War for organizing the use of the pavilion facilities. A
fare Corona (NSWC) facility on September 21-23, big Thank You also goes out to Duane Allen (past
2005. On September 21, two workshops were held MQD Chair) and Chet Franklin who acted as
(Calibration & Use of Weighing Devices in an immediate liaison and facilitators between the con
Analytical Environment, Geometric Dimensioning ference committee and NSWC and Ms. Jennifer
& Tolerancing). Many thanks go to Mark Ruefen- Persful of the Inspection Division, who helped out
acht of HEUSSER NEWEIGH and ASQ Fellow with speaker transportation and other conference
and Inspection Division Chair, Gregory S. Gay logistics. The conference appreciates the thoughtful
for organizing the workshops. Ten presentations donation of bags and pens by Sabin Corporation
were made during the conference and a tour of the (Ms. Persful’s employer).
Measurement Science and Technology Labora-
tory at the Corona facility was also included. As evidenced by the conference photographs in this
issue of the Standard, attendees enjoyed the confer
Our gratitude and appreciation go out to Douglas ence and left with useful tools and knowledge to
Sugg and Arman Hovakemian of NSWC Corona implement in their workplace.
Conference attendees enjoying the view before Thursday morning’s sessions begin.
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 19
Greg Gay (Inspection Division Chair), Jenny Persful, and Navin Dedhia.
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 20
During the conference, Past Chair, Dilip Shah (right) was presented with
MQD’s 2005 Max J. Unis Award by the current Chair, Graeme Payne.
Phil Painchaud
Navin Dedhia
(National Director)
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 21
Scenery across the lake from the back of the conference center
(Thursday morning).
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 22
of the National Technology Transfer and Advance • March 27-28, 2006 – San Francisco,
the A2LA vision of “one accreditation accepted • June 5-6, 2006 – Chicago, IL ($795.00,
everywhere”. A2LA was one of the founding $745.00)
members and advocates of the NACLA organiza Title: ISO/IEC 17025 and Accreditation
direction of NACLA is contrary to achieving the • June 7-9, 2006 – Chicago, IL ($995.00,
original goal. $945.00)
Title: Assessment of Laboratory Competence
“We need to concentrate our energies on participa • May 1-5, 2006 – Atlanta, GA ($1595.00,
tion in effective international MRAs (i.e.: ILAC, $1545.00)
APLAC, EA, IAAC) to reduce the redundant ac Title: Quality Assurance Analysis Tools for
creditation burden on our accredited laboratories.” Calibration and Testing Laboratories
said Dr. William G. Kavanagh, Chairman of the • May 22-23, 2006 – Novi, MI ($795.00,
A2LA Board of Directors. $745.00)
A2LA will continue to support and assist efforts to A continental breakfast and lunch are provided on
reduce or eliminate the need for redundant, dupli each day of class. Please contact Julie Stevens
cative accreditations. A2LA is committed to work ([email protected]) at 301 644 3235 for more de
ing towards a viable system of MRAs among do tails.
mestic accreditation bodies by relying on interna
tional MRAs.
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 23
Historian
Secretary, Certification Chair, Website Keela Sniadach
Manager, NCSL International Representative Promega Corp.
Christopher L. Grachanen 5445 East Cheryl Parkway
Manager, Houston Metrology Group Hewlett- Madison, WI 53711
Packard Voice (608) 298-4681 / Fax (608) 277-2516
P. O. Box 692000 MS070110 E-mail: [email protected]
Houston, TX 77269-2000
E-mail: [email protected]
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 24
Parlin, NJ 08859
Region 11 (NC, SC, TN, VA)
E-mail: [email protected]
Volunteer Opportunity!
Region 4 (Canada) Region 12 (IL, MN, ND, SD, WI)
Mr. Alexander T. C. Lau
Dr. Donald S. Ermer
ExxonMobil
ASQ Fellow; Eugene L. Grant Medal (2001)
Whitby, ON L1R 1R1
University of Wisconsin—Madison
E-mail: [email protected]
Madison, WI 53706
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]
Region 14 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX, part of
Mexico)
Region 6 (AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, Mr. R. Keith Bennett
WY) TRANSCAT
E-mail: [email protected]
Metrology Solutions
Mr. E. Bryan Miller
Chula Vista, CA 91913
ASQ Fellow
E-mail: [email protected]
Bryan Miller Consulting
Florence, AL 35633
Volunteer Opportunity!
Region 25 (all other countries)
Region 9 (IN, KY, OH) Volunteer Opportunity!
Ryan Fischer, ASQ CCT
of the US Regions
E-mail: [email protected]
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
MQD Page 25
Vol. 19, No. 4 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality December 2005
Metrology As a
Competitive Weapon
Ralph E. Bertermann
Lighthouse Training Group
To some, the term metrology brings to mind scientists pushing state of the art measurements in various measurement
disciplines or a technician making a nominal measurement in a lab or process area. To others, a metrology department is
often thought of as a necessary evil, an overhead function, whose only responsibility is to maintain a company in compliance
with some regulatory requirements. Seldom, if ever, does the word metrology bring to mind a competitive weapon that can
be used by a corporation to provide benefits, dropping directly to the bottom line and giving the company a market advantage.
Outlined are a series of guidance steps, a plan of attack or strategy, that can be followed. Application of these unique tools
within a corporation can result in measurable benefits, both tangible and intangible, helping that company to succeed.
METROLOGY • When new instruments are purchased, are they the best
Good Science, Traceability, Standards, that you can afford with the highest accuracy, or
Methods/Procedures, Regulatory Compliance, instruments, which just meet today’s requirements?
Training, Documentation, Good Decisions, Problem Avoidance • What is the current quality level of operation and what
I are the trends?
Research
I Before taking the metrology program to the next level,
Development the program should be operating in a regulatory
I
compliant manner and exhibit high quality in its
In-Coming Quality
I operation. Is the program bullet proof?
Scale Up/Technology Transfer
I Becoming a Competitive Weapon
Process Validation/
Final Specifications In order for metrology to become that competitive
I weapon and strategic tool for the corporation, the
Production/Manufacturing metrology function must define itself in the broadest
I possible terms and take a leadership role and aggressively
Final Product
and creatively pursue all avenues to assist a corporation
I
Customer Confidence to succeed. The metrology function has unique
I capabilities and is in the possession of unique information,
Profit and it is these unique tools that can be used to give a
corporation a competitive edge. Metrology should choose
Figure 1. The permeation of metrology through an organization. its ground carefully so that it is not overextended and
gets into areas away from core expertise. As metrology
Planning to Be Competitive pushes from the bottom, it is incumbent on management
to mine the hidden assets of knowledge and capabilities
Positioning the metrology function to contribute to the that a metrology lab possesses and use that information
bottom line of the corporation begins with a basic review to solve measurement problems.
of where a program is at the present time. This is true Metrology can help the corporation succeed by
regardless of the size of an organization or if a program is applying it’s expertise to internal functions first and then
in it’s infant stages or is a larger, mature operation. extend this to external clients, as appropriate.
The end result of this review will give areas for cost
avoidance, elimination of waste, and also direct savings. Internal Development
• Has the program been designed to meet current The process starts with the development of a synergistic
regulations such as Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) team approach, including functions such as R&D,
or Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)? production, quality, purchasing, validation, and
• Has the program incorporated industry best practices marketing. The goals of this team will be twofold: to
that are found in international standards such as ISO manage and direct the assets of the corporation, and to
17025 or ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994 and ISO 9000:2000? gather, analyze, and accept or reject all areas where
improvement in measurements or application of
• Do recent audit reports confirm the fact that the program
instrumentation can be made. Like a six sigma approach
is operating in a state of control and any deficiencies
to quality improvements, potential areas for improvement
noted by investigators have been resolved?
highlighted by the team can then be prioritized and
• Have all complaints been resolved and the root cause solved, resulting in the largest return for the investment
determined, eliminating it from happening again? and resulting in a program of continuous improvement.
• Have peer comparisons been made to make sure the Metrology is probably the one place in a corporation
program is meeting industry expectations? where the performance of all equipment is monitored and
• What does your network sources of competitive recorded. The development of instrument “standards”
intelligence tell you? based on demonstrated performance raises the level of
• Are you investing in your employees through a planned measurement capabilities throughout the corporation.
training program based on an analysis of deficiencies? This one step develops into a win-win situation and
• Are customer satisfaction surveys reviewed for insights allows everyone to do their jobs in a more efficient
of deficiencies? manner. Better measurements are made, instrument
performance is improved, intervals can be lengthened,
which results in less work for metrology and less interruption Marketing can also supply information on what
for affected departments, increasing the utilization of this customers are asking for, what is the root cause of lost
expensive research and process instrumentation, and poor sales, how a product compares to a competitor, and the
performing (bad actor) instruments can be removed from role, if any, where better measurements could result in
the workplace. improved sales or acceptance of a product.
It is important to maintain leadership and superiority at this point is does the metrology function solicit outside
in measurements. Clear-cut leaders set the standard of work to help the metrology group develop as a profit
measurement and these standards of operation in center or is the expertise maintained in the department
metrology technology will soon be incorporated into and not shared with outside organizations?
cGMP regulations and as best industry practices, as Although taking in work from external customers will
auditors review a process and then apply this criteria or help the overall profits of a corporation, it must be realized
methods to other companies in an industry. When a that the internal customers of a metrology function must
company is at the forefront of a technology or practice, take priority over all other functions and are the key
this development can be done in a thorough and complete reason that the function was established in the first place
manner. Duplicating this process in a catch up mode with and are vital to the health of a corporation.
the possibility of deadlines, regulatory scrutiny, training
staff, and purchasing equipment, in addition to the daily Tangible Benefits
pressures of meeting users demands, can have a
demoralizing affect on a department. Numerous examples exist of corporations that have
International standards, such as ISO 17025 and its recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars as a direct
predecessors, have a typical 5 year life cycle and then they result of better measurements.
are reviewed and revised to incorporate the latest A Midwest pharmaceutical company improved the
developments and thinking in industry best practices. measurement in a fermentation process and eliminated
Being a member of that process gives the opportunity to the flushing of very expensive product and allowed its
contribute to the development process, to understand the recovery.
standards that industry will be expected to meet in future A leading manufacturer of test equipment gives
years, and helps to refine the focus for a metrology detailed specifications regarding tolerances and time in
organization. tolerance, giving a high degree of confidence to potential
Be a leader at something. This might include becoming customers in the values reported and enabling that
an expert in a particular measurement discipline such as manufacturer to become a market leader.
temperature, flow, mass, etc. It could also focus on a A missed opportunity for savings at a nuclear utility
process within an organization such as freeze-drying, where a fine would have been avoided had an instrument
particle counting, conductivity, water for injection (WFI) been properly calibrated and an unlawful radiation
systems, etc. Leaders are sought out and when people release would not have occurred.
need information, they will go to the ‘experts’ to get it. Companies that produce superior products are able to
Dialog starts and offers an opportunity to get information charge premium prices.
in areas where a person may be weak. Another win-win
situation and it fits well into the definition of Competition: Intangible Benefits
“Cooperating with a business competitor in an attempt
to improve both your performances.” The intangible benefits of an aggressive metrology
Being a leader is a more interesting position to be in — program are more difficult to quantify, but these proactive
the view only changes for the lead dog in a dog sled team! or preventative actions are many times more beneficial
Do you influence what is happening? Or do you wonder what to an organizations than corrective actions. For example:
happened?
• Avoiding a product recall by making better
measurements. What would the cost of that recall
External Development entail? The actual dollars in immediate lost sales, the
long term lost sales to competitors, erosion of customer
As a metrology function matures and gains in
confidence, bad press, falling stock price, etc.
leadership, it also gains measurement expertise in many
measurement areas. The staff is highly trained, the • Making better measurements in the R&D process which
program runs efficiently with possibly some of the allows more intelligent decisions to be made regarding
measurement disciplines having been automated, the the future development of that potential product. It
program is meeting regulatory requirements, and it also expedites moving a potential product forward in
follows or is accredited to international standards such the development pipeline.
as ISO 17025. At this point, the organization may find • Making better measurements in the R&D process
itself with excess capacity and the ability to assume work allowing a product to be approved earlier than a
from external sources. competitor. Being first to the market offers a definite
To arrive at this point, a corporation has invested marketing advantage and pays dividends for the life
heavily in equipping the metrology organization as well of the product.
as the training and investment in the staff. The question
• Metrology being the conscience and affecting the If you think metrology can make your company more
mindset or character of an organization through the competitive, or if you think metrology cannot make your
repeated requirements of discipline, integrity, and company more competitive, you’re right.
accountability of all regulated measurement processes.
• The ability to transfer a technology or product Better Measurements = Better Products = Better Profits
seamlessly throughout a corporation, requiring
minimal backtracking or rework. References
Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
• Uniformity of measurement and production activities
______________________________
across the organization when reviewed by regulatory
agencies. Includes standardization of equipment,
Ralph E. Bertermann, Lighthouse Training Group, tel/fax
tolerances, methods, documentation, training, and
847-392-9796, [email protected], www.lighthousetraining.
labels.
com.
• The passing of an audit where no observations are
recorded and no follow up is required. Or conversely,
failing an audit, resulting in warning letters and consent
decrees, bad publicity in the press, loss of confidence
by stockholders, and longer or canceled new product
approvals.
• Through proper advance planning, incorporate
contingency plans for continued support of production
during times of crises, emergencies, or disasters.
• Demonstrating a commitment to continuous
improvement and meeting the intent of the FDA “PATS”
regulatory initiative.
Conclusion
There is a lot of wasted effort and expense in the
instrument calibration process. Rules and regulations
abound, and many times little thought is given to technical
adequacy. Metrology must continue to educate customers
and company personnel regarding realistic accuracies and
specifications that produce a quality product but do not
burden a company with unrealistic specifications.
Metrology is in a position to assist a corporation in
answering these questions because of the many unique
tools and information inherent in a metrology function.
All of these tools and information must be used to move
the corporation forward.
Metrology is the science of measurement, a science that
uses objective evidence to enhance a corporation’s
performance.
Due diligence is required to maintain this competitive
advantage. The entire process can be sidetracked or
derailed by a loss of management support, loss of key
people, cut back in budgets, or the unethical behavior of
a team member.
The process of metrology is not a static activity but is
continually changing and evolving. It is imperative that
a person invests in ones self to be aware of the latest trends
and changes in the regulations and international
standards areas and to invest in measurement capabilities
in order to maintain that competitive advantage.
by Graeme C. Payne
W
hen members of just about surements conform to certain defined Calibration is essentially a process
any profession talk among relationships. of comparison. An instrument is used
themselves, they usually use to measure or is measured by a cali
specialized terms they all under- A Process of Comparison bration standard, and the result is
stand—jargon. There is usually con Broadly speaking, calibration is the compared to two things: the known
sensus among them about the meaning process of determining the relation value and uncertainty of the standard
of the terms, but they often forget new ship between the readings obtained and the performance specifications
comers or interested parties from other by a measuring instrument or system required by the customer. The concept
fields may not have the same under is simple, but the work is in the
standing. There are also cases in which details. Some of the details include:
the common use of a word is different The common use • The assigned value of the mea
from or even opposite its technical def surement standard, which is usual
inition. “Metrology” and “calibration” of this word is quite ly determined from its calibration
are two such words.1 different from its history.
The International Vocabulary of • The known uncertainty of the
General and Basic Terms in Metrology technical definition. standard, which comes from sev
(VIM) is an internationally accepted eral places, including the historical
document that provides technical def reports of calibration and the
initions of metrology, calibration and and the applicable units of some internal statistical process control
many other measurement related defined system of measurement. (SPC) methods many calibration
terms.2 According to records uncovered by labs have for their measurement
Why do we need to refer to this tech archaeologists, people have been systems. Labs that have an effec
nical glossary instead of a common doing this for at least 5,000 years. At tive measurement SPC system
desktop dictionary? One reason is the first, units of measure were often know how their systems perform
VIM is a listed authoritative reference based on things such as the volume of in that location, so their uncertain
in ISO 9000 and ISO 10012. Another grain that could be held in two hands ty values are likely to be more
reason is technical dictionaries and (cup) or the distance between the realistic—not always better, just
glossaries define the accepted technical point of the Pharaoh’s elbow and more realistic.
meanings of terms, while common dic longest fingertip plus the width of his • The environment of the calibration
tionaries merely record the ways palm (cubit). Now, our defined set of activity, which almost always
words are used or misused in a lan measurement references is known as includes temperature and relative
guage and most of their meanings. the International System of Units (SI).4 humidity. Depending on the mea
According to the VIM, metrology is Calibration quantifies the relation surement, other influences such as
“the science and practice of measure- ship between the readings of a microm absolute barometric pressure, the
ment.”3 Metrology is important in some eter, voltmeter, thermometer, weighing local gravitational vector, electro
way to every human endeavor. More balance, mass spectrometer or graduat magnetic fields or building vibra
specifically, it is critical to all the physi ed cylinder and the relevant units in tion may also have measurable
cal, chemical and biological sciences the SI system. Paraphrasing the formal effects.
and the technologies and manufactur definition in the VIM, the instrument’s • The methods and equipment used
ing processes that flow from them. readings are compared to the values of to make the comparisons.
In daily life, metrology affects us in a measurement standard under con • The uncertainty of the measure
commerce and law enforcement and trolled and specified conditions.5 ment system relative to the pub
in regulated industries such as health Each measurement result can be lished performance specifications of
care and aviation. Whenever you pur related to the SI units by the property the item being calibrated or the cus-
chase a gallon of gasoline or a pound of traceability, which accounts for the tomer’s requirements, if different.
of onions, drive by an officer with a known or estimated uncertainty of the All the details have to be evaluated
radar gun on the highway or have an measurement process.6 The measure to provide a measure of the relation
electrocardiograph taken, you have ment standard has, in most cases, gone ship between the measurements made
directly interacted with metrology by through the same process. Calibration with the instrument and the reference
means of a calibrated measuring is repeated at regular intervals to pro SI values. That relationship is the
instrument. One practical application vide continued assurance the instru- uncertainty, and its documentation
of metrology—a subset of the whole ment’s performance is suitable for its defines traceability, which is the char
field—is the system of ensuring mea use. acteristic of the measurement result
that demonstrates its accuracy in and the data to be collected. It should arate process. After the adjustment or
terms of the SI. Taken together, the also list any safety precautions and repair is complete, the calibration pro
relationship and its documentation preliminary steps and make note of cedure should always be repeated to
indicate the quality of the measure- the particular method of the compar- verify the proper measurement rela
ments that can be made with that isons, the calibration environment and tionship has been re-established.
instrument when it is used correctly. anything else that is important for the There are two reasons adjustment is
A calibration is performed using a items covered by the procedure. not part of the formal definition of
calibration procedure, which is a doc- A calibration procedure is written calibration:
umented, validated and controlled with the fundamental premises that 1. The historical calibration data on
method for making the comparisons. the item being calibrated is in good an instrument can be useful when
The procedure may be a written paper working order and the person per- describing the normal variation
or electronic document, or it may be a forming the calibration is trained and of the instrument or a population
particular test program on an auto- qualified and understands the scien- of substantially identical instru
mated calibration system. tific and physical principles of the ments. That information can also
Many calibration procedures are measurements.8 be used for process improvement.
written in conformance to the guide- For example, it can be used to
lines in Recommended Practice 3: What About Adjustment? evaluate the reliability of the
Preparation of Calibration Procedures Up to this point, I haven’t said any- instruments and change the recal-
(NCSL RP-3), which defines the proce- thing about adjustment. That’s ibration interval. If the instru
dures’ purpose and content.7 because it’s not part of the formal def- ment is adjusted before the data
The purpose of a calibration proce- inition of calibration, nor is it part of from a full calibration run have
dure is to determine and document the description of a calibration proce- been collected, then there is no
the measurement relationships of the dure in NCSL RP-3. The results (data) historical value, and it cannot be
item being calibrated. It should define of a calibration procedure may indi- used to improve the system.
the parameters to be measured, the cate a need for adjustment or other 2. Any set of similar measurements
measurement standards to be used repair, but taking such action is a sep- may be considered a statistical
Customer
cedures used for a new or repaired unit
that is in an unknown condition.
Remember, a true calibration proce
dure assumes the instrument is in good
working order. So, while acknowledg
Care Center
ing the formal technical definition, cali
bration providers also have to
recognize the practical realities of busi ASQ’s customer care center is
ness and work with the common defin
staffed with representatives to
ition as well.
personally answer each incom
REFERENCES AND NOTES ing phone call and e-mail
1. This article is the first in a series of three.
The July column will examine some of the differ during its hours of operation,
ent views of calibration, and the September col
umn will discuss the importance of calibration. which are Monday through
2. International Vocabulary of Basic and General
Terms in Metrology, second edition, International Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Organization for Standardization, 1993. It is com
monly referred to as the VIM, an acronym taken
and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
from the French title, Vocabulaire International de
Termes Fondamentaux et Généraux de Métrologie.
3. VIM, section 2.2, see reference 2.
Central Standard Time.
4. SI is an acronym taken from the French
name, Le Systéme International d'Unités.
5. VIM, section 6.11, see reference 2. 800-248-1946 or
6. VIM, section 6.10, see reference 2.
7. Recommended Practice 3: Preparation of 414-272-8575
Calibration Procedures, NCSL International (for
merly National Conference of Standards [email protected]
Laboratories), 1990.
8. Ibid.
www.asq.org.
9. W. Edwards Deming, Out of the Crisis,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1982.
by Graeme C. Payne
T
his column is the second of another method is to count the num concerned about compliance with
three that explore what calibra ber of atoms in a crystal of pure sili- requirements than measurement quali
tion is, who does it and why it con.1 ty. They also don’t always understand
is important. The May 2005 column The scientific view comprises metrol what calibration is, how poor measure
discussed the nature of metrology and ogists with national metrology insti ments affect the quality of their prod
calibration and the types of confusion tutes such as the National Institute of ucts or why calibration is important.
that arise because of differences
between the technical definitions and Average Practitioner’s View
common usage of the words. This The majority of people who do the
month’s column looks at how calibra Three groups each work of calibration have, by necessity,
tion is viewed in different ways by a more practical view of calibration.
different groups. have their own distinct The biennial benchmark survey done
by NCSL International2 indicates only
Scientific View view of calibration. 3% of calibration laboratories classify
Dedicated scientists and engineers themselves as standards labs. That
make exacting measurements in the means they only calibrate measure
scientific, high level realm of calibra ment standards for other calibration
tion. They are often called metrolo Standards and Technology, interna laboratories. The other 97% have cus
gists and may spend years examining tional organizations such as the tomers who use calibrated equipment
one particular measurement problem International Bureau of Weights and for all types of jobs.
or physical characteristic that is sub Measures, the corporate metrology This is where results of NMI level
ject to measurement, trying to trans standards laboratories of some major science are applied to meet the needs
form theory into practical application. corporations and some other govern of the end user, and the perfection of
Making measurements with the ment laboratories. pure science is balanced against the
highest levels of precision and accuracy The national metrology institutes demands of the customer paying the
is routine. At this level, the sometimes (NMI) calibrate transfer standards bills. The work has to be done quickly
abstract definitions of measurement from other calibration laboratories, and and at low cost to provide customer
units are realized as closely as possible, those calibrations are a vital link in the satisfaction, efficiently to generate
usually in terms of a reproducible documented series of comparisons that enough profit to stay in business and
method. New discoveries in funda provide traceability from a quality accurately and precisely to maintain
mental physics, chemistry, mechanics practitioner’s work to the SI units. In traceability and give confidence in the
and other sciences are often tested to most countries, the SI units as main measurement results. These goals
see whether they can be used for mea tained by the NMI are the basis of legal often conflict with each other, and it
surements with lower uncertainty than metrology—the measurements made does not help that most calibration
previous methods provided. in commerce and regulated industries. laboratories are small organizations.
For example, one of today’s current One indicator of laboratory size is
measurement challenges is to find End User’s View the NCSL International benchmark
methods that use natural phenomena The end user of calibrated tools has survey. The proportion of calibration
to replace the international prototype another view. A typical end user has laboratories that are in organizations
kilogram artifact as the definition of a requirement to use calibrated of 50 or fewer people has increased
the unit of mass. This work is impor inspection, measurement and test from approximately 21% in 1999 to
tant because the kilogram is the only equipment. The requirement may be about 44% in 2003. A different NCSL
unit of the International System of corporate policy, but it was likely International survey of the small and
Units (SI) that is still defined by a derived from external sources such as independent calibration laboratories
physical artifact, and we know it ISO 9001, a regulatory body or a cus in 2000 showed approximately 79%
changes slightly over time even tomer requirement. had 20 or fewer employees.3
though it was manufactured to be as Many end users view calibration as a Both surveys indicate most calibra
perfect as possible. nonvalue added expense that should tion labs are small businesses, which
Units based on fundamental physi be minimized. Given the parameters of implies they have limited resources.
cal phenomena, on the other hand, do fast service, high quality and low cost As with any other small business, cali
not change. One method being stud and asked to pick any two, they often bration practitioners and their compa
ied is a watt balance that would use a want the fastest possible service and nies have to continually balance the
magnetic field to determine mass; the lowest possible cost. They are more triad of speed, quality and cost while
(continued on p. 81)
being mindful of each customer ’s technician to start a procedure on one user’s side of calibration. In between
needs and desires. system and then start calibrating anoth those two groups are the organiza
There are many job titles applied to er unit at another workstation. tions that perform the majority of cali
the practical worker in calibration. Many calibration laboratories are brations and must balance the
Calibration technician is one, but a exploring other ways to improve ser perfection of science with the realities
recent check showed at least seven vice and productivity and reduce of the competitive marketplace. Most
other common job titles that include cal overall costs. Within the past 10 years, of the time the end users do not see
ibration duties.4 The ASQ Measurement for example, available technology has the high levels of science and engi
Quality Division is currently working enabled the development of calibra neering associated with calibration or
jointly with NCSL International to tion applications for notebook or the countless dedicated technicians,
update the calibration related standard handheld computers, allowing on-site engineers, metrologists, scientists,
occupational descriptions published by calibrations without the need for managers and administrators who
the U.S. Department of Labor. paper procedures or data recording make the whole system work.
Qualified calibration technicians and eliminating errors from manual In the September 2005 column, I
must be educated in the relevant sci data transfers. will discuss how calibration reduces
ence to the extent necessary to perform At the same time, there has been a variation in a production process,
the work for which they are responsible. proliferation of calibration oriented facilitates global commerce and affects
Technicians must be adaptable laboratory databases and information the products you buy every week.
because the lab probably supports systems. These systems typically
hundreds of types and models of manage inventory, data collection and
equipment, and the technicians are recording, procedures and other doc REFERENCES
usually expected to become qualified uments, calibration recall systems and 1. Michael Shirber, “Time To Redefine the
Kilogram, Scientists Say,” LiveScience.com, April
to calibrate most or all of them. To physical traceability from measure 25, 2005, www.livescience.com/technology/
keep up with advances in the mea ment standards to the workload items 050425_redef_kilo.html.
surement fields, calibration techni they have been used on. 2. J. Wade Keith III, “2003 NCSL International
Benchmarking Survey,” proceedings of the
cians should also partake in ongoing Many systems also aid regulatory NCSL International Workshop and Symposium,
professional education. compliance or quality management August 2003.
Instead of seeking the “best possi 3. Malcolm Smith and Carol Rake, “Small
system conformance with features Business Issues,” proceedings of the NCSL
ble” measurement, the practical view such as user identification and data International Workshop and Symposium,
of calibration looks for efficient cali security, automatic data audit trails August 2004.
4. Christopher L. Grachanen, “Metrology Job
bration procedures and measure and authentication and digital signa Description Initiative,” presentation to the NCSL
ments that are sufficient for the task. tures based on public-key encryption. International Board of Directors, January 2005.
If the measurement uncertainty is Other improvements include apply
sufficient (a 4:1 to 10:1 ratio from the ing barcode tags to equipment to
specification to the measurement stan speed laboratory check-in processes GRAEME C. PAYNE is the president of GK
dard), there is little incentive to seek and using the laboratory database to Systems Inc., a technical consulting company
out a better measurement standard or print calibration labels to eliminate near Atlanta. A Senior Member of ASQ, Payne
method. No matter how much the lab the problem of dates mismatched has been working in electronic calibration and
product testing since 1981. He is a certified
might want to approach the scientific between the computer record and
quality engineer, calibration technician and
ideal, the customers will probably not handwritten label. quality technician. He is also the chair of the
pay for the extra time or equipment. Measurement Quality Division and a member
Instead, most labs will try to improve Three Interdependent Layers
of NCSL International.
productivity by automating as many The essential measurements, the
measurement systems and laboratory research and development to support
processes as possible. them and the national and interna Please
Automation does not always—or tional standards of measurement that
comment
even necessarily—increase speed. It are a foundation of global commerce If you would like to comment on this
does, however, improve repeatability of all exist in the high level, scientific article, please post your remarks on
the procedure and may reduce the view of calibration. Those who use
the Quality Progress Discussion
uncertainty of the method. If the unit calibrated inspection, measurement
under test is controlled by the measure Board at www.asq.org, or e-mail
and test equipment to make the mea
ment system, automation may nearly surements essential to production, them to [email protected].
double productivity by allowing the service and commerce see the end
I
n my July 2005 installment in this Joshi says these conformity assess- measuring devices regulated by the
series of articles on calibration, I ment arrangements address the opera- states include electricity meters, gaso-
talked about the trilogy of fast ser- tion of calibration and testing line pumps, supermarket scales,
vice, high quality and low price. laboratories in conformance to parking meters, and rulers and steel
Though some may think calibration lab- ISO/IEC 17025 and the operation of measuring tapes. All these devices
oratories skimp on quality because cus- manufacturing and service organiza- measure products or services you buy
tomers often demand low price and fast tions in conformance to the ISO 9000 because the state wants to ensure you
service, most calibration laboratories get what you pay for.
strive to deliver the best work they can In most industries, using calibrated
while meeting other demands of the It affects everything instruments is important for financial
marketplace. Why? Because the people reasons. Good measurement quality is
doing and managing the work know
from global commerce essential to minimize the costs of pro-
how important it is. Disagreements in a to our personal lives. duction processes. Measurements are
lab are more likely to center around one useful only when they are made at the
question: Yes, it’s good, but why can’t correct time and place, have sufficient
we do it better? It is a culture in which series of standards. Article 6 of the accuracy and precision for the task, and
“close enough” isn’t part of the vocabu- TBT Agreement established the sys- are repeatable and reproducible. If these
lary; we can always do better. tem of international mutual recogni- conditions are met and the data are
Metrology and calibration are impor- tion arrangements among conformity recorded and used appropriately, the
tant to all areas, from global commerce assessment bodies. measurement data can aid management
to our personal lives. There have been On the national and state levels, his- in making important business decisions.
legal requirements for the accuracy and torical records show virtually all Accurate data can help reduce process
standardization of weights and mea- nations regulate weights and mea- variation, scrap, rework and other costs
sures for at least 5,000 years. The cur- sures. For example, one of the promis- of poor quality. However, good quality
rent system of international agreements es acceded to by King John in the measurements can only be achieved if
on weights and measures has existed Magna Carta was the establishment of calibrated instruments are used.
since 1875, when the Metre Convention a single system of weights and mea- Calibration, as part of an overall mea-
treaty was signed by the United States sures throughout England. 5 In the surement management process, reduces
and 16 other nations. There are now United States, establishment of uni- the risks associated with measurements
almost 70 member and associate form national weights and measures (such as form, fit and function), regula-
nations.1 The International System of can be traced back to Article IX of the tory requirements and international
Units, also called the modern metric Articles of Confederation in 1777.6 Ten acceptability. Measurements made with
system, is the legal basis for measure- years later, the same governmental uncalibrated instruments could con-
ments in almost every country and is in authority was added to Article I, sec- ceivably result in various legal liability
common daily use in every major tion 8 of the U.S. Constitution. issues. It is not economically possible to
country except the United States.2 Today, the federal government regu- eliminate the risks, but a good measure-
lates many measurements and has ment management process can quantify
An Impact on Multiple Levels several calibration requirements. the level of risk and make it visible to
At the international level, measure- Federal regulations cover areas such top management. ISO 9001 refers to ISO
ment incompatibility is recognized as a as accuracy requirements for radio sta- 10012 as the relevant guidance for a
serious trade barrier. In the foreword to tion transmitter frequencies, aircraft measurement management system.7, 8
S.K. Kimothi’s book, The Uncertainty of altimeters and automobile speedome-
Measurements, S.K. Joshi discusses the ters, conditions such as ozone and Positive Effects
issue of products manufactured in one other pollutant levels in the air or What, exactly, can a calibrated
country that aren’t accepted for use in water, and occupational health and weighing device do? Here are some
another.3 The World Trade Organization safety. In most cases, any measure- examples:
also addresses it in the Technical ment taken to assess compliance with • A scale can be used to make mass
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement.4 a regulatory requirement must be measurements that are part of
Article 5 of the agreement recognizes the made with a calibrated instrument. an interlaboratory comparison
right of each country to establish appro- In the United States, each of the 50 among several national metrology
priate, fair and equitable standards for states, plus American Samoa, the institutes (NMIs). The results can
protection of its environment, public District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto provide assurance of measure-
safety and health interests without giv- Rico and the Virgin Islands, has an ment comparability at the interna-
ing domestic products an unfair advan- office of weights and measures. These tional level.
tage. It also expects member countries offices regulate weighing and mea- • An NMI can calibrate mass stan-
to minimize barriers by having confor- suring instruments used for com- dards using the same scale for state,
mity assessment arrangements. merce in the state. Some examples of (continued on p. 69)
corporate and independent com- Top management has to balance the 6. Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby, Our Nation's
Archives, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers,
mercial calibration standards labs cost of regular calibration of the 1999, pp. 138-142.
that use them as transfer standards. scale against the rework cost or the 7. ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q9001-2000: Quality
• Manufacturers of package weigh- unknown cost of paying too much Management Systems: Requirements, note to clause
7.6, ANSI/ASQ, 2001.
ing instruments can use their own for shipping. 8. ISO 10012:2003: Measurement Management
standards, which are calibrated Calibration can make an impact at Systems—Requirements for Measurement Processes
using the transfer standards, to several levels: international, national, and Measuring Equipment, International
Organization for Standardization, 2003.
check and adjust their products. If state, business and individual.
their standards are not calibrated Therefore, it is important to remember
GRAEME C. PAYNE is the president of G.K.
properly, then the scales produced the dedicated men and women at the
Systems Inc., a technical consulting company
may be inaccurate. heart of the system who strive to pro-
near Atlanta. A Senior Member of ASQ, Payne
• Weight can affect an international vide their customers with the best has been working in electronic calibration and
shipping company that recently possible calibration service in a timely product testing since 1981. He is a certified qual-
purchased a package weighing manner and at a fair price. ity engineer, calibration technician and quality
scale in several ways. First, pack- technician. He is also chair of the Measurement
ages are transported in the compa- REFERENCES AND NOTES Quality Division and a member of NCSL
ny’s aircraft. All airplanes have 1. International Bureau of Weights and International.
Measures, www.bipm.fr/en/convention.
limits on the amount of weight 2. United States Metric Association, www.
they can carry, and the weight has metric.org. Please
to be properly distributed so the 3. S.K. Kimothi, The Uncertainty of comment
Measurements, ASQ Quality Press, 2002.
plane will fly correctly. Weight and 4. World Trade Organization, “Agreement on If you would like to comment on this
balance calculations are a critical Technical Barriers to Trade,” www.wto.org/
english/docs_e/legal_e/legal_e.htm. article, please post your remarks on
part of preflight checks on every 5. National Archives and Records
airplane. Administration, Magna Carta exhibit, www.
the Quality Progress Discussion
Second, all packages are, at some archives.gov/exhibit_hall/featured_documents/ Board at www.asq.org, or e-mail
magna_carta/index.html. See clause 25 in the
point, transported in trucks. Both translation of the Magna Carta as reconfirmed them to [email protected].
the truck and the road have weight by King Edward I in 1297.
limits, and states tax or fine truck
drivers based on the weight they
are carrying.
Third, the shipper charges the
customer by weight. If too little
was paid for shipping, the cus-
1-800-374-3818
weigh packages to determine the
shipping cost. If it doesn’t pay
WWW.XLP.COM
enough, the package will be
returned, causing rework. If the
company pays too much, it is sim-
ply wasting money. (I have never
seen a package or letter come back
because I paid too much to send it.)
A number of laboratory metrology seminars will be offered by the NIST Weights and
Measures Division between 2005 and 2007. A description of each course, cost and travel
guidance are available on our Internet site at http://www.nist.gov/labmetrology. The
current schedule and a sign-up form to be returned by e-mail, mail or facsimile are
attached and are also available on the Internet site. The duration of all courses (unless
otherwise noted) is one week, with the exception of the Basic Mass, Length, and Volume
seminar for States, which is two weeks. The current course offerings are:
Location
All courses will meet at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD Campus unless otherwise indicated.
The sign-up form must be returned by facsimile, e-mail, or mail. Telephone requests will
not be accepted. Once your application is received you, will be notified whether the
class is still available, and a confirmation notice will be sent to you approximately six to
eight weeks before the seminar with detailed information about the schedule, suggested
their metrology knowledge base and opportunity to interface with like minded persons.
October 29 to November 3, 2006 Regional break-out meetings to discuss round robins will
begin on Sunday afternoon and finish on Friday morning
with round robin planning and business sessions
Title: __________________________________________________________
Organization: __________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
E-mail: __________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
(If different than above)
__________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________________________
MSC 2006
6
Help Us Craft Next Year’s Technical Program – Visit the MSC 2006 Booth
TECHNICAL PROGRAM
Preliminary Program Tracks:
DoD METCAL Base Realignment and Closure
What Will Change in DoD? Automation of Measurement
RF & Microwave Lab Management
State of Support for Professional Associations
State of Education in our Profession and all the Associated Issues and Challenges
Math Behind the Measurements – Calculating Uncertainties, Intervals, MAPs, correlation, etc.
Accreditation: Everything You Should Know About Lab Accreditation Process
Tutorials Workshops or Seminars
Panel Discussion
Suggestions Welcome
Please
put in the suggestion box
Please Visit the MSC Website www.msc-conf.com for the latest updates.