5581: C-RMAP Tutorial 3: Hands-on Workshop on Assessing and Reporting Measurement Uncertainty (3 days)

This workshop on uncertainty evaluation will describe the statistical framework and methods needed to develop uncertainty statements based on the JCGM Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. Methods for uncertainty estimation will be illustrated with practical examples from different metrological areas. The workshop will also include hands-on examples to be analyzed by the participants in class. The hands-on examples will be analyzed using propagation of uncertainty formulas and the Excel add-in metRology for Microsoft Excel. This add-in makes open-source tools for statistical metrology from the R data analysis environment available via Microsoft Excel. These tools can also be accessed directly through RStudio, an open source integrated development environment for R.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• DESCRIBE the uncertainty estimation process for various areas of metrology; 
• ANALYZE hands-on examples of uncertainty budgets using Excel, R, RExcel, and statconnDCOM software;
• COMPLETE more advanced approaches to estimating and calculating uncertainties for calibrations.

Materials & Supplies:

All materials and supplies provided by NIST. (Laptops are only provided in the event that the participant does not have access to a laptop that can have software installed with administrative rights and new Excel add-in activated in a user-defined file location.)

Prerequisites:

1. Laptop computers with Microsoft Excel are required to do the hands-on exercises. Participants who have access to a laptop should bring one. Instructions outlining the installation of all additional software needed (available at no charge) will be sent out prior to the workshop. Some extra laptops are also available for those who cannot bring their own. Please contact the instructors in advance if you will need to borrow 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. Some familiarity with the use of descriptive statistics like the sample mean and standard deviation and experience with basic linear regression analysis would also be helpful, but is not required.

Minimum Requirement(s):

Successful completion requires that participants fully participate in all classroom and hands-on exercises and be present for the entire course.

Audience:

For weights and measures metrology staff and other metrologists who are regular attendees of the Regional Measurement Assurance Program (RMAP) training sessions. Additional metrology staff are welcome to register for the training.

Cost:

The registration fee for this tutorial is $200 and confirmed participants will be provided with payment instructions. The due date for payment is Monday, May 13, 2019.

Instructor(s):

Will Guthrie and Hung-Kung Liu

Technology Requirement(s):

Laptops with Excel as noted in the prerequisites are required.