|
|
|
|
News
|
|
|
|
The keepers of Oregon's measurement standards
|
|
|
7/28/2010
|
|
Article Content ODA's Metrology Lab receives high marks following audit
Simply put, the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Metrology Laboratory is one of the best in the country. So says a two-person, third party auditing team that completed an extensive review last week of the lab in Salem. The audit verifies accreditation and compliance requirements prescribed by national and international organizations that deal with accuracy in measurement. To the average Oregon consumer, the great report card supports the claim that the marketplace is governed by accurate standards of measurement. That greatly increases the likelihood that the consumer is getting what they pay for.
"I am very proud to have this metrology lab in the Oregon Department of Agriculture," says ODA Director Katy Coba. "The audit report is outstanding and validates the professional expertise and execution within our Measurement Standards Division."
Metrology is the science of measurement and goes back to the days when the Egyptians needed precise measurement to build the pyramids. In today's world of commerce, accuracy in measurement is essential for monetary reasons and more. It's estimated that approximately $80 billion in annual sales in Oregon involves weighing and measuring at some point. When weighing and measuring devices are even slightly off, the inaccuracy can have an impact of millions of dollars, either for or against consumers. Accuracy in measurement is critical in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals that contain a specific number of milligrams. If a company's scales are not correct, the consumer won't be getting the right dosage.
The equipment used by Measurement Standards Division inspectors to check all 54,000 licensed devices used in Oregon is calibrated by ODA's Metrology Lab. In short, the lab calibrates all of the industry standards for measurement so that the tools used to check weighing and measuring devices for accuracy are themselves accurate.
"We are in the business of ensuring accuracy of all weighing and measuring devices," says Aaron Aydelotte, one of two ODA metrologists. "We offer high precision mass and volume calibrations. By calibrating all weights and measures volumes for ODA inspectors, that ensures the scales and meters used in commerce in Oregon are accurate and meet national standards."
The inspectors are the ones who go out and test a business's scales, but it's the metrology lab that tests and calibrates the inspectors' equipment.
"The precision attained by the lab lays out the foundation of all Oregon weights and measures," says the division's assistant administrator, Clark Cooney. "The further you get away from those standards and that precision, the more uncertainty comes into the measurement."
ODA inspectors aren't the only ones using the lab's calibration services. Private sector clients needing accurate measuring devices rely on the metrology lab, including high tech companies, food processors, aircraft manufacturers, and even forensic labs that aid in criminal investigations- wherever precise measurement is needed, The ODA lab has provided service for dozens of private customers and has calibrated well more than 4,000 individual pieces of equipment.
"We've even performed calibrations on other states' standards for their metrology labs," says Cooney.
How precise does the lab get? ODA metrologists often use balances that measure weight in micrograms. Imagine cutting up a paper clip into a thousand pieces. Each piece weighs a milligram. Now, cut each of those into a thousand pieces. At that point, each piece would weigh a microgram. The measurement is so precise, the balance needs to be protected from dust mites, air drafts, body temperature, and any other environmental impacts that could alter the calibration. That's why the work is done in a secured facility at ODA.
At the other end of the spectrum, the lab is able to calibrate equipment that can weigh something as heavy as 5000 pounds.
The two auditors who poured over all the procedures in place at the ODA lab gave it exceedingly high marks. The two-day assessment included a thorough look at the capability and proficiency of the instruments and the staff. Not only did the lab successfully pass with what the auditors called "zero non-conformances", it was the first time either had not documented at least one non-conformance issue. Both auditors stated that ODA's was the best state metrology lab in the western region and is one of only four or five state metrology labs in the country operating at such a high level.
"We just had two guys considered among the leading metrologists in the world come into our laboratory, look at what we do, and basically say we are doing a real good job," says Aydelotte. "That's great news."
This marks the second consecutive perfect score for ODA's lab. A similar audit in 2008 also showed zero deficiencies. As a result, ODA's metrology lab has maintained its good standing with the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and is one of just nine mass laboratories nationwide to achieve an Echelon 1 designation, permitting the highest precision calibrations available.
Jason Barber, administrator of the Measurement Standards Division, gives credit to the staff for keeping the lab in high esteem.
"Our two metrologists, Aaron Aydelotte and Ray Nekuda, have consistently attended training sessions in order to maintain the lab's solid reputation," says Barber. "The presence of our metrology laboratory and our field inspectors in the marketplace fosters fair competition amongst businesses."
ODA's metrology lab does the intricate work to compare somebody else's mass standards with Oregon's official set. No way- or perhaps more accurately- no "weigh" should the lab's efforts be taken for granted.
For more information, contact Jason Barber or Clark Cooney at (503) 986-4670.
Story of the Week pdf version
http://oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/100728metrology.pdf
Audio Story of the Week
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/100728metrology_audio.shtml
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|