Metrology initiatives planned by association

The GTMA has announced a series of initiatives planned for the metrology section of its membership.

"During the past twelve months we have worked hard to put in place the infrastructure to support our metrology members and we are now in a strong position to further develop the range of benefits and activities specifically designed to benefit them.

John Adams, chairman of the GTMA Metrology Section, shares some important developments planned for the coming year.

"Our efforts so far have already been rewarded by an impressive influx of new metrology members during 2006.

For some time we have been keen to work with NPL and we are currently involved in discussions with Ian Muir, NPL Business Development Manager, on a project designed to provide GTMA members with direct access to technical expertise, through a GTMA Metrology Helpline.

The Metrology Matters 2006 Roadshow - which attracted many high profile companies - was held at Aston Villa and proved to be a great success.

We are therefore planning to hold a similar event this year.

In addition, there have been many requests from members to organise smaller, sector-focused events at major OEMs around the UK and we are already talking to several possible host organisations, including JCB and BMW.

GTMA is on the committee for the Instrumentation Industry Liaison Group which meets with the DTI to represent the views of metrology members.

At our recent meeting we discussed such issues as the National Measurement Strategy (NMS).

This strategy divides the programmes into three types: the Knowledge Base comprising companies producing high-value outputs; metrology R and D; and cross-cutting programmes.

The new structure would enable NMS priorities to be more readily aligned with those of the wider DTI, the Research Councils and Other Government Departments.

One of the aims for the future is to have business cases approved for a six-year period together with corresponding funding envelopes.

Road mapping and external engaugement will become important activities in the NMS.

A new Measurement Advisory Group (MAG) will supersede the Measurement Advisory Committee in October.

We also discussed the continuation on a long-term basis of the new Measurement for Innovators programme.

GTMA is meeting in January with representatives of UKAS to discuss how the association can become more actively involved in matters regarding metrology accreditation and standards in this country, with particular emphasis on the GTMA Metrology World Class profile.

Metrology is key to the development and success of advanced engineering solutions and GTMA is putting metrology at the centre of its plans for 2007.

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