Metrological Timelines in Traceability

Abstract

There is a growing requirement for an internationally accepted system of recognition of measurement capabilities and relationships within and among countries, to facilitate seamless global commerce and trade. As a result, metrologists worldwide have recently developed increased interest in the concept and definition of traceability. Classically, traceability provides a way of relating the results of a measurement (or value of a standard) to higher level standards. Such standards are usually national or international standards, and the comparisons used to provide the traceability must have well-understood uncertainties. An additional complexity arises because all instruments and standards are subject to change, however slight, over time. This paper develops approaches for dealing with the effects of such time-dependent changes as a part of traceability statements. The use of metrological time-lines provides a means of effectively visualizing these relationships in a statement of traceability. When the rate of change in the measurement process is sufficiently small, the approach proposed here is less important. However, documented measurement assurance procedures are required at all levels so that appropriate uncertainties may be estimated with confidence. When laboratory or national boundaries are crossed in the traceability process, other factors come into play, and the original concept of traceability can become obscure. It is becoming common to hear the term "equivalence" used to describe these more complex measurement relationships.

Keywords: calibration; equivalence; measurement assurance; measurement comparisons; measurement uncertainty; metrology; timelines; traceability; traceability statements.

Fig. 1

Simple metrological timeline indicating three metrological “events” in a National Metrology Institute.

Fig. 2a

Metrological timeline explicitly detailing an internal measurement assurance system in a National Metrology Institute.

Fig. 2b

Metrological timeline explicitly detailing an internal measurement assurance system in a Calibration Laboratory.

Fig. 3a

Measurement assurance (control) chart containing sample data taken at the times t₁ and t₂ according to the metrological timeline of Fig. 2a.

Fig. 3b

Measurement assurance (control) chart containing sample data taken at the times t₁ and t₂ according to the metrological timeline of Fig. 2b.

Fig. 3c

Measurement assurance (control) chart containing sample data illustrating a shift in performance of the calibration laboratory standard C at time t₂ from its performance at time t₁.

Fig. 4

Metrological timeline demonstrating the traceability of a measurement result in a Calibration Laboratory to a standard in a National Metrology Institute.

Fig. 5

Metrological timeline demonstrating the traceability of a measurement result obtained in a laboratory lower in a traceability hierarchy to a standard maintained in a laboratory higher in the traceability hierarchy.

Fig. 6

Metrological timeline demonstrating two possible traceability paths for a measurement result obtained in a laboratory lower in a traceability hierarchy to a standard maintained in a laboratory higher in the traceability hierarchy.

Fig. 7

Metrological timeline demonstrating traceability of a measurement result obtained in a testing laboratory to a standard maintained in a laboratory higher in the traceability hierarchy, through a laboratory intermediate in the traceability hierarchy.