5531: Mass Metrology Seminar

The Mass Metrology Seminar is a 2 week, "hands-on" seminar. It incorporates approximately 30 percent lectures and 70 percent demonstrations and laboratory work in which the trainee performs measurements by applying procedures and equations discussed in the classroom. The seminar focuses on the comprehension and application of the procedures, the equations, and calculations involved. The seminar includes the operation of the laboratory equipment, review of publications, standards, specifications, and tolerances relevant to the measurements. Training covers mass calibration procedures published in NISTIR 6969 and are suitable for the calibration of mass standards to OIML R111 Class E2 through M3 tolerances, ASTM classes 1 through 7 and NIST HB 105-1 Class F. Training is provided to enable the participant to correctly identify and implement the correct calibration process for each weight classification. The entire seminar incorporates statistical analysis, process measurement control methods, uncertainty analyses and generation of ISO/IEC 17025 compliant calibration certificates for all measurements made during the seminar.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this seminar, using Standard Operating Procedures 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 29, and 30 and Good Measurement Practices 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, participants will be able to:

• IDENTIFY mass artifacts and use appropriate procedures to ensure good quality, accurate, traceable mass measurement results;
• EXPLAIN highlights and key concepts of each topic to each other and to your managers using the slides and reference materials; and
• PERFORM mass calibration procedures, use and validate the job aids, and use reference materials to perform laboratory calibrations, including hands on handling of mass standards and balances, calculation of measurement results, integration of measurement assurance, uncertainty analysis, and software validation to produce valid calibration results and certificates.

Materials & Supplies:

Participants are encouraged to bring template versions of the mass calibration certificates issued by their laboratory as a starting point for the calibration certificates to be submitted during the seminar. Alternatively, participants should bring the calibration certificate they generated during the Fundamentals of Metrology seminar as a starting point. The former is recommended! Feedback and suggested changes to ensure ISO/IEC 17025 compliance will be provided during the seminar. Generation of calibration certificates will be required, so come prepared. A number of notebooks and course materials will be provided, so please ensure you have extra luggage space to carry these items. Download the Basic Mass Metrology CD. It is strongly recommended that you complete the material on the CD as it will give you a head start on the Mass Seminar. Completing the CD should take 16 to 40 hours. If you have problems downloading the material, please send Yvonne Branden (yvonne.branden [at] nist.gov (yvonne[dot]branden[at]nist[dot]gov)) a request to mail out a copy of the CD.

Prerequisite(s):

Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Metrology Seminar is a prerequisite for the Mass Metrology Seminar. The Mass Metrology Seminar is built on the concepts learned during the Fundamentals of Metrology Seminar, applying units, measurement uncertainty, measurement assurance, traceability and Quality Management System concepts to the mass calibration procedures.

Pre-Work:

Additional guidance is provided to registered students to prepare for the seminar. Pre-work includes reading specified procedures, creating equations in Excel , and completing the Basic Mass Metrology CD-ROM (SP 1001).

Post-Work:

Laboratory Auditing Program (LAP) problems are assigned at the completion of the course to those metrologists who participate in the NIST OWM State Laboratory Program. Acceptable completion of the problems is required for NIST Office of Weights and Measures laboratory Recognition in support of mass calibrations. (See Handbook 143, Program Handbook training requirements.)

Post-Work Deadline:

One (1) year after class.

Minimum Requirement(s):

To receive a Training Certificate for this course, successful completion requires participants to actively participate in the entire course (e.g., take notes, engage in discussions, ask questions), achieve stated learning objectives for each module, participate in classroom sessions, homework*, and application exercise assignments, and submit a series of calibration certificates as evidence of completion of all application exercises conducted during the hands-on portion of class exercises (guidance is provided in the course). A written final exam contributes 50 percent of the grade and classroom and laboratory exercises contribute 50 percent of the grade. A passing grade (70 % minimum) on both portions is required, in addition to demonstrating achievement of the learning objectives in each module are required to obtain a training certificate that indicates “successful completion”. *Homework note: students generally report taking one to two hours for homework each night.

Audience:

This training seminar is open to industry and government metrologists.

Cost:

The current fee for this seminar is $4,200* and is due by April 23, 2018. This registration fee does not cover travel, lodging or meal costs. Registration fees for State weights and measures regulatory officials and metrologists are funded by NIST OWM. *Registration fees will be increasing in 2019.

Instructor(s):

Georgia Harris, Mark Ruefenacht, and Jose A. Torres Ferrer
Office of Weights and Measures
Phone: (301) 975 - 4014
Email: g.harris [at] nist.gov (g[dot]harris[at]nist[dot]gov)

Technology Requirement(s):

You will need to bring a 10-digit scientific calculator to use during this seminar. Participants MUST be familiar with the use of the hand-held scientific calculator. Additionally, use of a laptop or tablet PC is required to succeed in the seminar. Participants must have access to Microsoft Word and Excel (version 2010 or newer are acceptable) and be able to open and use template Excel workbooks that will be provided on either CD-ROM or USB media. You must also be able to save/store files to USB media devices or CD-RW to facilitate printing. Internet access is not provided during the seminar.