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NIST OWM and KEBS: Building Metrology Capacity for the RMOs

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KEBS mass metrology staff (higher res)
KEBS metrology staff at the main campus in Nairobi, Kenya
Credit: O. Nyangau/KEBS

NIST Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) are currently conducting an interlaboratory mass comparison as part of a larger, multifaceted mass metrology training program being developed by Dr. Ombati Nyangau, OWM’s NIST International Associate and KEBS’s lead mass metrologist.  The results of this comparison will assist the KEBS mass laboratory with improvement actions that will be integrated into its mass proficiency testing (PT) program and overall metrology training portfolio. This capacity building and knowledge transfer effort is geared toward a future rollout of a metrology training program within the Intra-Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS) community as one of six regional metrology organizations (RMOs) comprised of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs). 

 

NIST mass set at KEBS
KEBS mass metrology staff measure the values of a NIST mass comparator set in a 2024-2025 NIST-KEBS bilateral comparison. The mass set will be transported back and forth between Kenya and the U.S. and its values compared at NIST and KEBS metrology laboratories over the course of a 1-year period.
Credit: O. Nyangau/KEBS
Primary mass metrology lab at KEBS
KEBS's Primary Mass Metrology Laboratory at the KEBS Nairobi campus. 
Credit: O. Nyangau/KEBS

This mass interlaboratory comparison is being performed at the mass Echelon I level with OIML Class E2 mass standards under the purview of the NIST OWM Proficiency Testing (PT) Program. The mass standards used range from 100 g to 10 mg. The calibration methods used for this PT to determine true mass and associated uncertainties are the OIML R 111-1 (2004) ABBA weighing cycle and NIST SOP 5 (2019) ”Using a 3-1 Weighing Design.” The results of the interlaboratory comparison will assist the KEBS mass laboratory with improvement actions from past key comparisons and assist the NIST OWM training program in the evaluation of its traceability to the International System of Units (SI) via an external NMI. The results will be discussed and shared in a future article.

OWM Small Mass Laboratory
NIST OWM's Small Mass Training Laboratory at the NIST Gaithersburg campus (located in the basement of the 101 Administration Building). The initial round of measurements was conducted by four OWM staff members to determine reference values of the mass artifacts prior to transportation to KEBS.
KEBS Proficiency Testing meeting at KEBS
Dr. Ombati Nyangau (second from right) meets with mass metrology staff at KEBS to plan for the 2024-2025 interlaboratory comparison and future metrology training curricula.  

 

Throughout 2025, Dr. Nyangau will continue to work with OWM staff to develop a “blended” mass metrology training curriculum comprised of hands-on training, recorded training videos, and supplemental materials that will be available online. The resultant training videos will benefit both the OWM Laboratory Metrology Program and significantly expand the scope of training and outreach activities in KEBS. As a lead metrology trainer for KEBS, Dr. Nyangau will then travel to the externally qualified laboratory locations and institutes within AFRIMETS and provide trainer-led mass metrology instruction. NIST OWM will utilize the developed training materials to support its state laboratory metrology program and extend additional training to institutes within the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) RMO.

Metrology, Mass metrology, Weights and measures, Standards, Documentary standards and Standards education
Released January 7, 2025, Updated January 9, 2025