Measurement and Statistics : Metrology
Measure for Measure: Know Your Surroundings
Ambient conditions during tests and calibration activities can have a big influence on measurement results. Some of these influences affect the device being measured; some affect the measurement system; and some affect both....
Measure for Measure: Verifying the Art
Measurement may be considered a science and an art. It is a science in that it is based upon the laws of physics and math. Some consider it an art because elements of human judgment are needed to translate measurement from abstract to real application....
Measure for Measure: What If?
There are no requirements that call for traceable calibration to the National Institute of Standards and Technology or any other National Metrology Institute (NMI). Nor are there any requirements for other countries to be traceable to their NMIs....
Measure for Measure: On Solid Ground
There are a few fundamentals every calibration or metrology department should know to get moving in the right direction....
Measure for Measure: Military-Grade Advice
In 1990, the new chief of the U.S. Air Force's laboratory certification office offered a few words of advice to the managers of the USAF calibration laboratories on how to set
themselves up for success—advice still applicable today....
Measure for Measure: History Lesson
During my years working in the metrology field, I have been frequently reminded of how technological advancements affect the design and functionality of inspection, measurement and test equipment, and the methods used for making measurements....
Back to Basics: Assessing Failure
A measuring instrument, gauge or device failed recalibration, and you have been asked to determine the influence on previously produced products. Where do you start, and what do you do?...
Volviendo a los Fundamentos: Evaluar la Falla
Un instrumento de medición, calibre o dispositivo falló durante la recalibración y se le pidió que determine la influencia sobre productos producidos con anterioridad. ¿Por dónde empezar, y ¿qué haces?...
Measure for Measure: Balanced Budget
In a previous edition of this column, I discussed Type-A
and Type-B contributors of measurement uncertainty and what goes into a measurement budget. In this installment, I will
outline a process for building that budget....
Measure for Measure: Matter of Life and Death
In too many cases, lack of traceability is a daily occurrence. I'm not talking about the traceability of a batch or lot of product. I’m referring to the traceability of test instruments....
Measure for Measure: Short Supply
ASQ’s Measurement Quality Division (MQD) and the National Conference of Standard Laboratories International (NCSLI) have partnered on several projects to promote and enhance the metrology field with an education and training outreach program for...
Measure for Measure: Qualitative Indications From Quantitative Measuring Instruments
When we make measurements with inspection, measuring and test equipment (IM&TE), we assume and expect that all of the measurements are quantitative....
Measure for Measure: Challenges of Instrument Innovations
Humans are innovators. We are always inventing new materials, methods, devices or ideas. From time to time, certain innovations cause major, unforeseen shifts in theory and practice....
Measure for Measure: Managing the Measurement System
ISO 10012:2003 helps you plan your total measurement system....
Measure for Measure: Comparing Specifications Made Easy
Manufacturers have many different ways to specify the performance of measuring instruments. It is often a struggle for us, the instrument users, to derive useful information from that multitude....
Measure for Measure: Working With Fixed Value Measurement Standards
Most instruments for measuring electrical quantities are calibrated by comparing their indication to a value provided by a measurement standard. Usually, the measurement standard can be adjusted to make the unit under test indicate the nominal value....
Measure for Measure: Four Steps to Ensure Measurement Data Quality
Part one of this column, published in July, posed four questions you should ask to ensure your measurements are providing data that are good enough for the given application....
Measure for Measure: Four Steps to Ensure Measurement Data Quality
Millions of measurements are made every day in this country, ranging from the very simple to the extremely complex. Unfortunately, many do not obtain valid results because they make unrealistic assumptions about their measurement capability....
Measure for Measure: Appraiser Variation in Gage R&R Measurement
In part one of this column, I said if our data analysis is inaccurate, it does not represent the true quality characteristics of the part or product being measured, even if we're using quality improvement tools correctly....
Measure for Measure: Improved Gage R&R Measurement Studies
Many manufacturers are
using tools like statistical
process control (SPC) and
design of experiments (DoE) to monitor
and improve product quality and
process productivity. However, if the
data collected are not accurate and
precise, they do not...
American Statistical Association Conference on Statistical Practice
February 16–18 | Orlando, FL
Visit www.amstat.org/meetings/csp/2012/index.cfm.
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