Metrologytechnicians perform investigation work in addition to calibrations. They also applyproven principles to known situations and evaluate unexpected or contradictory results.

Specificeducation in metrology was formerly limited to sub-professional work. Most of thebranches of the US Military train 'enlisted-grade' technicians to meet their specific needs.

Largeindustrial organizations also develop people who demonstrate aptitude in testing functions.When this is combined with an engineering degree, it qualifies the person as a metrologyengineer. Over the last 15 years, Universities such as the University of North Carolinaat Charlotte created a specific curriculum in metrology engineering. In England,metrology was part of the fifth year of some undergraduate engineering programmes.

Metrologistsare people who perform metrology work at and above the technician levels,generally without the benefit or acknowledgement of a college degree.

Theaccuracy and traceability of commercial measurements is enforced per the laws of theindividual states. Commercial measurement generally involves any material sold by any unitof measure. Some intuitive or obvious measurement is generally exempted, such asselling cloth on a cutting table that has a yardstick fastened to it. All counting-basedtransactions are generally exempt also. But each state has its own rules, , responding tothe accumulated concerns of the state residents.

Commercialmetrology is also known as "weights and measures" and is essential to commerce of any kind above the pure barter level. Every state maintains its own weightsand measures functionality with traceability to the national standards inaintainedby NIST. Large states further divide this effort by county, where a "Sealer" or otherappointee is responsible for the validity of most common commercial measurements such as mass balances (scales) in grocery stores and gasoline pump measurements of volume. The sealer's staff and agents make periodic inspections to >, verify compliance, maintaining the integrity of commercial measurements.

Depending on the specific state, other state government agencies can be involved. For example, electricity watt-hour meters and water delivery flow meters are commonly, monitoredby the state's "public utilities commission" who enforces the measurement tolerances andtraceability to NIST through the utility providers. Highway State Police andthe State Highway Department generally run the commercial truck weight measurement programs for safety purposes and to minimize the damage to road surfaces thatoverloaded trucks cause. Nearly all states license weighmasters, weighmistresses, scalecalibrators and other specialists involved in commercial measuring equipment maintenance.

The term"commercial metrology" is also used to describe calibration laboratories that are notowned by the companies they serve.

Scientificmetrology addresses measurement phenomena not quantified in ordinary commerce,such as the test bed pictured at the beginning of the article. Calibration laboratoriesthat serve scientific metrology are regulated as businesses only. They may chooseto have their work accredited by voluntary certification organizations based on customerdesires, but there is no requirement to do so.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 715