Achieving laboratory accreditation can seemingly take a long time and is a lot of work.  What should a laboratory do to prepare for an initial accreditation?  Step through the application process.  What happens to your quality manual once it's submitted?  What should you expect during an on-site assessment?  What should you expect from your assessment team?  What happens when your lab has nonconformities?  How do you respond to the accreditation body?  Will you ever have a perfect assessment?  Walk through the process as approached by NVLAP.  We will share with you tips and hints and discuss common tripping points. 

How certain are you about your uncertainties?  What is metrological traceability and why should anybody care?  Work through some practical examples with us.  How can proficiency testing impact your accreditation?  Learn about the requirement for proficiency testing, how it is used to validate claims of measurement uncertainty, and how it is approached by NVLAP.

What about Accrediting Bodies, do they have to answer to a high authority?  What are the benefits of being accredited by a recognized body?  Reduced costs and market acceptance jump to the forefront.  Learn the ins and outs of the Mutual Recognition Arrangements and how they can benefit your business. 

This two-day tutorial will be interactive with a combination format consisting of presentations, working through examples, group exercises, and with ample opportunity for questions and answers. 
 

For further information:
Barbara Belzer (301) 975-2248, barbara.belzer@nist.gov
Thomas Hettenhouser (301) 975-2013, thomas.hettenhouser@nist.gov
Sherrie Wentzel (301) 975-3994, sherrie.wentzel@nist.gov
 

This workshop on uncertainty estimation will describe the statistical framework and methods needed to develop uncertainty statements based on the “ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement”.  Methods for uncertainty estimation will be illustrated with many practical examples form different metrological areas.  The workshop will also include hands-on examples to be analyzed by the participants.  The hands-on examples will be done using propagation of uncertainty formulas, the Kragten spreadsheet, an easy-to-use computational tool for propagation of uncertainty, and other open-source uncertainty calculators. 

Pre-requisites: 

1. Laptop computers with Microsoft Excel are required to do the hands-on exercises.  Participants who have access to a laptop should bring one.  Some extra laptops are also available for those who cannot bring their own.  Please contact the instructors in advance if you will need a laptop. 

2. Participants should have some experience with the use of Microsoft Excel for the analysis of data.  As part of the hands-on exercises, it will be necessary for participants to be able to copy and paste spreadsheet contents and to enter simple formulas.  Advanced knowledge of Excel is not required. 

For further information:
Will Guthrie (301) 975-2854, willguthrie@nist.gov 
 
 

This two-day seminar serves as an ideal introduction to the field of time and frequency metrology.  It is intended for anyone who makes time and frequency related measurements in a metrology or engineering setting, or is involved in any application involving precise frequency and time information.

The primary focus of the seminar is on reference standards and the measurement methods and techniques used for frequency and time calibrations, for devices ranging from stopwatches to atomic oscillators.  It covers both quartz and atomic frequency standards, and the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) disciplined oscillators.  It explains how to measure frequency offset and stability, and how to establish traceability for frequency and time interval measurements through NIST to the International System of Units (SI).  Actual measurements will be demonstrated in the classroom, and the students can participate in the hands-on demonstrations.

Topics will include:

* Time and Frequency Terminology 
* Fundamentals of Time and Frequency Measurements and Calibrations 
* Stop Watch and Timer Calibrations 
* Time Synchronization 
* Frequency Standards (Quartz, Rubidium, and Cesium Oscillators) 
* Global Positioning System (GPS) Disciplined Oscillators 
* Traceability and Legal Metrology 
* Time Domain Stability and Noise Analysis 
* Measurement Uncertainty Analysis 
* Time and Frequency Related Instrumentation 

For further information:
Michael Lombardi (303) 497-3212, lombardi@.nist.gov
 
 

This seminar will be a short course to include highlights from the NIST “Basic Mass for Industry” seminar which is a 1-week,"hands-on" seminar.  The seminar will focus on the understanding and application of the procedures, the equations, and calculations involved, including repeatability, statistical and error analysis, care and handling of mass standards, operation of the laboratory equipment, use of measurement assurance methods and review of publications, specifications, and tolerances relevant to the measurements likely to be performed by the metrologist at a Basic level. 

As a result of the seminar, a metrologist should be able to obtain additional hands on experience in their own laboratory performing Basic measurements to gain the proficiency needed to perform Basic calibrations of mass standards (without air buoyancy corrections).  Air buoyancy concepts are introduced but not covered extensively due to the lack of time and complexity of the subject. 

Completion of the Basic Mass Metrology CD-Rom (NISTIR 1001) and some laboratory experience are recommended for students attending this seminar.  NIST IR6969 is used as the main text.  The CD is available by request from owm@nist.gov and the calibration procedures are available at: http://www.nist.gov/labmetrology.  Computers are NOT allowed for calculations in this seminar.  Users must bring a scientific calculator and be familiar with its use.

For further information:
Val Miller (301) 975-3602, val.miller@nist.gov
 
 

Spreadsheets are widely used by scientists and engineers because of their ease of use for the analysis and presentation of results.  However, spreadsheet errors are both common and often very difficult to detect.  In addition, there are the inherent errors built into the most widely used spreadsheets, which can result in strange computation errors.  NPL's experience over many years is that the most effective antidote is to treat the development of spreadsheet applications as a software development project.

The course will consist of presentations and hands-on exercises using Microsoft Excel and will cover a number of key topics, including (but not limited to):

•    Basic approach to spreadsheet development 
•    Use of formulas
•    Spreadsheet application documentation 
•    Spreadsheet user interactions
•    Simple validation 
•    Spreadsheet integrity 
•    Spreadsheet testing 
•    Spreadsheet unit testing 
•    Delivery of spreadsheet applications 
•    Overview of quality assurance issues 

Attendees will receive a complete set of course notes, a copy of the Software Support for Metrology, Best Practice Guide No 7, Development and Testing of Spreadsheet Applications, December 2006, model answers to all the exercises and a recommended book list.

Lecturing Team:
The course will be given by Graeme Parkin and Robin Barker.  Graeme has worked on software validation for some years.  He has used formal methods for both specification and proof of properties of systems.  He also has practical experience of managing and developing software developments.  Robin has also worked on software validation for some years and used formal methods for both specification and testing of systems.  Both Graeme and Robin are co-authors of the Best Practice Guide on which the course is based.

Pre-requisites:
1. Laptop computers with Microsoft Excel are required to do the hands-on exercises.  Participants who have access to a laptop should bring one. 
2. The course is suited to attendees with a science or engineering background, knowledge of Excel and some experience of programming.

For further information:
Graeme Parkin (tel) 020 8943 7104, (fax) 020 8977 7091, graeme.parkin@npl.co.uk
 
 

Making good pressure measurements from ultra-high vacuum to atmospheric pressure requires the correct use of many kinds of gauges and proper use of vacuum technology.  Among the most widely used gauges are ionization gauges, spinning rotor gauges, thermal conductivity gauges, capacitance diaphragm gauges, quartz bourdon tube gauges, and resonant silicon gauges.  However, the incorrect use of any of these gauges can result in bad measurements that cost time and money.   New this year will be a section devoted to basic vacuum system pumping and design that are essential to making good pressure measurements in vacuum systems.  
 
This two-day course will cover the fundamentals of pressure measurements from 10-8 Pa to 10+5 Pa (10-10 torr to 10+3 torr), focusing on the selection and proper use of appropriate gauging technology for a given application.  A survey of calibration techniques will be presented along with recommendations for obtaining best performance.   Part of the class time will be devoted to set-up of a simple vacuum calibration system.  This will enable live demonstration of some of the gauges discussed in the course, and give students an opportunity to participate in the vacuum system set-up and disassembly.  Attendees are invited to share their own pressure measurement and or vacuum system design problems for in-class discussion. 

For further information:
Jay Hendricks (301) 075-4836, jay.hendricks@nist.gov