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1、J. L. Bagley 4-20-2000 HomeMetrology Education in the New MillenniumAuthor/Presenter J. Lyle Bagley, Chair Engineering and Industrial Technology Division Tidewater Community College 1700 College Crescent Virginia Beach, VA 23456-1999 Voice: (757) 822-7198fax: (757) 822-7334 tcbagljtcc.vccs.eduAbstra
2、ctThe metrology community has agreed for years on the need for systematic training in metrology. Where have we been, where are we now, and where are we going? Pockets of training in the military still exist, and some private sector companies have developed training courses using a variety of media.
3、A few colleges and vocational training institutions have taken on the challenge, but demonstrating economic benefits of these programs remains a struggle. Is there really a need for formal, comprehensive metrology education, or should on-the-job training suffice for private industry and the military
4、? If it is needed, then who are the customers and are there enough of them to warrant the cost of maintaining a comprehensive metrology education system? What methods of instructions should be used and how can the cost effectiveness be optimized? This paper reports the results of a study of these an
5、d related questions as well as action taken at Tidewater Community College in response to the results. From Past to PresentThe U. S. Military played a prominent role in the advent of metrology training, particularly in the dimensional measurements made by machinists and others that serviced measurin
6、g instruments. After the beginning of World War II the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) designated personnel qualified in instrument repair as “Special Artificer Instrument” (SAI) to offer a promotion path to machinist mates who staffed instrument shops. Prior to that, in order to advance in rate,
7、 these personnel had to be qualified in engineering, after which they were reassigned and often lost their instrument skills. In 1943, two specialized formal courses of instruction were established: (1) repair of watches and clocks and (2) repair of typewriters. 1 The U. S. Navy established the rati
8、ng of Instrumentman (IM) in 1947 (1) to install, test, calibrate, overhaul, and repair such mechanical instruments as watches, clocks, office machines, gages, and meters; and (2) to repair mechanical parts of electrical measuring instruments. As equipment became more sophisticated, training in the v
9、arious branches of the military became crucial to proper operation and maintenance, and formal military metrology schools began to evolve. For example, the U. S. Air Force began its metrology training program at Lowry Air Force Base in 1959.2J. L. Bagley 4-20-2000 Around 1961, the Navy Metrology Eng
10、ineering Center at Pomona, CA offered metrology courses in most measurement disciplines. After the mid-sixties, a Tri-Services agreement provided for gradual consolidation of the courses at Lowry.3 Such military training organizations remained the main source of metrology training from the 60s throu
11、gh the 80s.4 Other training has been carried on at military bases at San Diego and Norfolk.5 As documented in the Navy film entitled Why Calibrate, calibration is an important part of effective delivery of weaponry.6 Comprehensive calibration programs evolved in all branches of the armed services (e
12、.g., the U.S. Navy METCAL Program). Calibration laboratories sprouted up all over the world, and it became obvious that not only would standards laboratories be required to support the calibration laboratories, but also a system for training metrology personnel was vital to the success of the progra
13、m. Numerous military schools came into being and utilized the NAVAIR 17-35QAL-SERIES training manuals. These schools trained military and civil service personnel in the calibration of assets in the Navys inventory and the associated, basic theory. Schools were held at a variety of sites including th
14、e Naval Plant Representative Office in Pomona, CA, and Lowry Air Force Base.As time passed, and DOD budgets shrank, consolidations eliminated the schools at Pomona and Lowry, and only the school at Keesler Air Force Base remains today.7 However, the need for metrologists has continued to rise as evi
15、denced by the DACUMs held to develop metrology curricula, and increasing needs in the private sector with the advent of ISO Guide 25 and ISO 9000 series. The PresentThe size of military metrology training community, while still a significant presence at Keesler Air Force Base, which also maintains m
16、arine and navy metrology schools, seems to have diminished. This should pose no surprise, given the downsizing of the military and the associated reduction in the number of assets and facilities. Metrology training, which is required to support private industry as well as the public sector, is now also provided to one degree or another by several commercial test equipment manufacturers, by some commercial training
