www.mirs.si

The Role of an NMI Related to the Implementation of Technical

Directives

Republic of Slovenia Ministry of Education, Science and SportMetrology Institute (MIRS)

Ivan Skubic, Vinko Vitman

4th December 2003, Prague

INCOLAB CONFERENCE

I N COL A B

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1. The scope of the work for an NMI

2. Partners in the process of implementation of EU technical directives

3. The requirements for an NMI

4. The role of an NMI

5. Internal operation of an NMI

Main topics

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The scope of the work for an NMI (1)

To assure adequate metrological support for the M&T activities in the country,

needed for a competitive implementation of EU directives

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The scope of the work for an NMI (2)

Minimum quality requirements (governed by the quality of life issues):

• 320 technical EU directives;• 16 000 related EN (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI) technical standards;

High quality requirements (governed by the markets and customer satisfaction):

• Customer friendliness; • Efficiency:• Durability;• Reliability;• ….

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Partners in the process of implementation of EU technical

directives

EU structuresCEN

CENELECETSI

EUROMET(WELMEC) EA NGOs

(EU level)

GovernmentNational

Standardsbody

NMINational

AccreditationService

Calibrationlaboratories

ConformityAssesment

Bodies

Measurements TestingTechnical standards

EU technicaldirectives

Nati

onal le

vel

EU

level

Producer & CE marked products

NGOs(nat. level)

Consumers

Market requirements

www.mirs.si

Partners in the process of implementation of EU technical

directives

EU structuresCEN

CENELECETSI

EUROMET(WELMEC) EA NGOs

(EU level)

GovernmentNational

Standardsbody

NMINational

AccreditationService

Calibrationlaboratories

ConformityAssesment

Bodies

Measurements TestingTechnical standards

EU technicaldirectives

Nati

onal le

vel

EU

level

Producer & CE marked products

NGOs(nat. level)

Consumers

Market requirements

www.mirs.si

Partners in the process of implementation of EU technical

directives

EU structuresCEN

CENELECETSI

EUROMET(WELMEC) EA NGOs

(EU level)

GovernmentNational

Standardsbody

NMINational

AccreditationService

Calibrationlaboratories

ConformityAssesment

Bodies

Measurements TestingTechnical standards

EU technicaldirectives

Producer & CE marked products

NGOs(nat. level)

Consumers

Nati

onal le

vel

EU

level

Market requirements

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The requirements for an NMI

To take an active part in

1. preparatory phase2. implementation phase

of EU technical directives and standards

To play an active role in providing metrological support to producers to achieve adequate

3. high quality of products

to assure their competitive position on demanding EU and other world markets.

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The role of an NMI (1)

Preparatory phase of EU technical directives and standards:

• Clear definition of measurands

• Provisions on maximum acceptable uncertainty (how well the measurands have to be measured)

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The role of an NMI (2)

Implementation phase of EU technical directives and standards:

1. Traceability of measurement results (highest technical level in the country)

2. Knowledge transfer & common projects (with different parties concerned)

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The role of an NMI (3)

Traceability of measurement results is crucially dependent on the NMI, representing the start of the traceability chain at the national level (national and reference measurement standards).

BIPM & other NMIs

NMI

Calibrationlaboratories

Internal metrological service

Measuring instruments

Product under test(Measurement results !)

Internationalmetrology system

Nationalmetrology system

Producer

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The role of an NMI (4)

Requirements for the NMI with regard to measurement traceability:

1. Demonstration of internationally accepted calibration measurement capabilities (CMCs) by

• Successful co-operation in EUROMET intercomparisons(full EUROMET membership and signature of CGPM MRA required)

2. Proper implementation of EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard,

demonstrated by: • Accreditation• Pear evaluation• Self declaration

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The role of an NMI (5)

Co-operation (knowledge transfer & common projects):

1. Economic operators (producers)2. Conformity assessment bodies3. Calibration laboratories4. Governmental bodies5. Standardizing body6. Accreditation body 7. Educational institutions8. Non-governmental organizations

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Internal operation of NMI

1. Systematic and on time identification of national needs2. Prioritisation3. Strategy and tactics4. Business planning5. Resources for operation6. Execution of metrological work: • set up and maintenance of national and reference meas.

standards• EUROMET comparisons & CGPM CMCs• full implementation of EN ISO/IEC 17025 quality system• implementation of EU legal metrology directives • Co-operation with other parties involved in EU directives

implementation• knowledge transfer• common projects

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Cryteria for setting the priorities

EU requirements- EU directives- harmonized standards

National capacities

- Laboratories- Public institutions

- Faculties, - Research institutes

- Government

National needs- Departments & Resorts

PRIORITIES

!

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Conclusions

• The role of NMI in the process of implementation of EU directives starts with the preparation of directives and standards.

• In implementation phase, both metrological aspects for the products have to be considered:

• requirements of directives and standards• market requirements (highest quality of

products)

• NMI should provide adequate measurement traceability at highest technical level in the areas of national importance as well as knowledge transfer and co-operation in common projects with other parties involved in implementation of directives.

• NMI should set up its internal operation in terms of on time identification of needs, prioritisation, strategic planning and resource allocation to cope with its demanding tasks.

www.mirs.si

The Role of an NMI Related to the Implementation of Technical

Directives

Republic of Slovenia Ministry of Education, Science and SportMetrology Institute (MIRS)

Ivan Skubic, Vinko Vitman

4th December 2003, Prague

INCOLAB CONFERENCE

I N COL A B

www.mirs.si

Co-operation – Economic operators

1. NMI has to make metrological knowledge accesible

• special role of the small and medium enterprises

2. Knowledge transfer in M&T: • Measurement traceability• Measurement uncertainty• Mastering specific kinds of measurements and tests

3. Common projects: • Introduction of new technologies• Improvements in production processes• …

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Co-operation – Conformity assesment bodies

In the case of independent testing laboratories:

1. Knowledge transfer: • Measurement traceability• Measurement uncertainty (!)• Mastering specific kinds of measurements

2. Common projects: • Proficiency testing (intercomparisons at the level of working standards

(especially in smaller countries, metrology and conformity assesment are many times combined within the same institution)

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Co-operation – Calibration laboratories

In the case of independent calibration laboratories:

1. Knowledge transfer: • Measurement traceability• Measurement uncertainty • Specific problems in calibration

2. Common projects: • Intercomparisons at the level of calibration labs (if needed)

(especially in smaller countries, scientific and industrial metrology – calibration laboratories - are many times combined within the same institution)

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Co-operation – Governmental bodies

Special programmes for the inspectors:

1. Awareness and knowledge transfer: • Role of metrology • Measurement traceability• Measurement uncertainty • Specific problems (i.e. interpretation of T&M results)

2. Common projects: • Preparation of regulations (concerning metrological

provisions)

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Co-operation – Standardizing body

1. Knowledge transfer for the users of standards: • Interpretation of metrological requirements in standards

2. Common projects (participation in Technical committes at international and national level): • Preparation of standards (standards with the metrological provisions)

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Co-operation – Accreditation body

1. Knowledge transfer for the users of EN ISO/IEC 17025 and

similar (EN 45004, EN ISO 9001, EN ISO 14 000,…) standards, subject to accreditation or certification

• Interpretation of metrological requirements in standard

2. Common projects: • Accreditation procedures (experts for the assesments)• Participation in different working groups and committies at

national and international level) • Proficiency testing schemes in certain cases

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Co-operation – Educational institutions

1. Awareness and knowledge transfer for the professors in

secondary scools and universities: • Role of metrology• Measurement traceability• Measurement uncertainty • Specific areas

2. Common projects • Curricula in metrology, testing and quality in different areas

(universities, secondary scools)

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Co-operation – Non-governmental organizations

1.Knowledge transfer:

• Use of SI units • Quality of measurement results• Interpretation of T&M measurement results • Quality of measurements in specific areas

2. Common projects • Awarenes campaigns in technical quality and safety

(in the case of specialised organisations – i.e. national members of EUROLAB, the co-operation might be on specific metrological topics)