Modernising National Metrology Infrastructures: Key issues approaches lessons learned

Modernising National Metrology Infrastructures:

Key issues – approaches – lessons learned
22 – 23 May 2017

Background
The aim of a national metrological infrastructure is to meet the demands of society, industry and the scientific community for reliable and accurate measurements. However, developing a national metrology infrastructure that is both effective and relevant to the needs of its stakeholders can be a challenging process. Emerging measurement technology means that the infrastructure must be continually maintained and modernized to meet the needs of globalization and new trade agreements.

Modern metrology is characterized by a high degree of coordination and cooperation. A national metrology infrastructure encompassing scientific, legal and industrial metrology, a network of accredited calibration laboratories and verification authorities, must work together in order to form a coherent infrastructure to support various needs of the community. The national metrology legislation has to be formulated in order to define the legal units of measurement, to provide for measurement traceability and to legalize all measurements within an economy. Moreover, funding for metrology seems to be a recurring problem, especially amongst developing economies. Hence, raising awareness and approaching stakeholders is a skill that must be acquired.

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  to analyse and discuss key issues that arise when developing and modernising a national metrological infrastructure
  
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  to identify areas of joint interest and cooperation between scientific and legal metrology in order to effectively address these key issues
  
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  to share experience, approaches and available resources on good practices in the development of a national metrological infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific
  
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  to identify priorities and ways forward with respect to the improvement of metrological infrastructures at national and regional level
  

The workshop targets Directors of National Metrology Institutes and National Legal Metrology Authorities or their representatives from developing economies in the Asia-Pacific.

You will receive separate information regarding two other meetings scheduled for the same week. They are shown below to assist you when planning your travel arrangements.

The overall tentative schedule is as follows:

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  22-23 May: Joint APLMF/APMP Workshop on “Modernising National Metrological Infrastructure”
  
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  24 May: 34^th Meeting of APMPs Developing Economies’ Committee¹
  
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  25 May: Validation workshop on the evaluation of the current MEDEA phase
  

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  Metrology and the National Quality Infrastructure
  
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  Metrology legislation
  
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  Stakeholder engagement and awareness raising
  
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  Quality assurance in measurement
  

The workshop will include keynote addresses, case studies and interactive group work. In addition, the new Joint Guide 1 (“National Metrological Infrastructure”) as well as a new APMP-APLMF Web portal that acts as a repository for shared information on metrology will be introduced during the workshop.

In total, up to 2 participants per economy will be invited, i.e. one representative from each the scientific and legal metrology area. Participation is open to all National Metrology Institutes and National Legal Metrology Authorities from the Asia-Pacific, while funding support is available upon request for delegates from developing economies only. More details on the scope of financial support will be defined in a sponsorship letter.