Apr 19, 2017

Yesterday, ASTM International and NCSL International, two global organizations whose members share an interest in metrology, signed a memorandum of understanding. Metrology, the science of measurement, is a field that cuts across many industries represented by ASTM International’s 145 technical committees.

The MOU was signed at ASTM International’s global headquarters during the meeting of its committee on quality and statistics (E11). Simultaneously, ASTM International launched a subcommittee of that group devoted to metrology, which involves many members of NCSL International.

“Collaboration throughout the measurement science community has been an NCSLI priority for years,” said Craig Gulka, executive director of NCSL International. “The missions of both organizations go hand-in-hand, and there is a need for sharing measurement-science information across industries, so we are well aligned for this partnership.”

The MOU was signed by Gulka and Dan Smith, vice president of technical committee operations at ASTM International.

Collaboration between the organizations dates back to a jointly sponsored workshop in 2014 on the topic of temperature. The idea for an MOU moved forward as Dr. Ralph Paroli, ASTM International’s 2016 board chairman, gave the opening keynote address at the NCSLI Workshop & Symposium last year.

“Issues such as metrological traceability, which links measurement systems around the world, are becoming more and more important to governments, businesses, and society as a whole,” said Andrew Oldershaw, sector leader in measurement systems engagement at the National Research Council of Canada, where Paroli works as director of R&D, measurement science and standards. “The new MOU and the new subcommittee could play an important role in helping National Metrology Institutes, laboratories, the accreditation community, and many others who depend on credible and independent methods and practices.”

Organizers say the collaboration could involve standards development and other activities related to:

•    measurement methods for calibration, measurement-focused implementation and interpretation guides for higher level requirements;
•    verification and validation of measurement methods;
•    quality management for measurement systems;
•    measurement risk management in metrology; and more.

Anyone interested in joining the new subcommittee can go here: www.astm.org/JOIN.

Media Inquiries: Nate Osburn, +1.610.832.9603; nosburn@astm.org
Technical Contact: Andrew Oldershaw, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, tel +1.613.990.5968;   Staff Contact: Katerina Koperna, +1.610.832.9728;  Release #10305