Page 9 - 4150

2 Setting up a metrological function
The three key components of a metrological function have to be
under control:
– adequacy of means to needs;
– traceability of the means of measurement to international
standards;
– administrative management of the equipment (measuring
instruments, standards, etc.).
The preliminary analysis of the needs will produce a first set of
specifications. There is a good chance that these analysis are going to
be a bit theoretical and take little heed of the notions of profitability.
You have to accept the principle which says that the specifications
will evolve and obtain agreement from the major actors taking part in
the drafting of the specifications. For a new measuring instrument, all
the stages from conception to utilization must be taken into account by
the specifications. This is fundamentally the concern of the
manufacturers, but potential users may sometimes take part in the
elaboration of the specifications. The specifications for a new
measuring laboratory must ignore all of the environmental
characteristics of the measurement, and take into consideration the
problems of maintainability (for instance, the maintenance of air
conditioning), of access to the personnel, of user-friendliness, etc.
However big or small the problem is, one must always begin by
analyzing one’s real meterological need.

III Answer the questions:
1 What kind of metrological needs do you know?
2 Name the three key components of a metrological function?

IV Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:
1 It is … to analyze the metrological needs 1 possibilities
carefully. 2 elaboration
2 In order to realize … correctly, it’s necessary 3 primordial
to have appropriate means. 4 utilization
3 These means are found after analysis of the … 5 measurements
and the … of the instruments.

7