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The aim of this paper is to describe and evaluate the use of a five‐step foresight process and the application of scenario methods to grasp the range of future alternatives that might confront researchers and research managers in European metrology research institutes. The sector is to be examined as a part of a larger study that aims to reflect on the potential future roles for the public research institutes, in several sectors (the other sectors in the study included civil space, plant science, geosurveys, and marine), towards the development of the European Research Area (ERA).

The paper illustrates how scenario methods were used to, first, serve as a basis for policy recommendations for the field of European metrology research institutes and, second, help experts and stakeholders to network and actively discuss a shared vision of the future of the field.

This case demonstrates the need for proactive strategic management which goes well beyond the institutional boundary, into national policy and European decision making. As other areas of European research begin to think about the importance of European cooperation, lessons can be drawn from the experience of this particular sector. The process of looking forward took on board the political context and allowed participants and the researchers to think beyond these boundaries.

Although this is a pioneering study, there is a danger that some inputs may not have been captured. The results build on the input of a limited number of experts only and on the literature available in the public domain. There were few participants discussing the future of a vast field of research and this may mean that important input has not been captured. Time limitations in the workshops necessarily limit the scope for experts and policy makers to engage with the concepts. Follow‐up activities based on the research outputs are required for the findings to go forward.

Bringing together different stakeholders for shaping a shared vision through scenario workshops led to rich interactions and creative thinking. The workshops created a space for experts to consider policy options for reforming and making better use of the institutes in building the ERA.

Using scenario workshops for foresight research results as an opportunity for stakeholders to visualise different futures for metrology research within Europe. The public research institute sector tends to be more generally under‐studied as a component of modern innovation systems. We evaluate and show that the foresight process is an appropriate methodology to look at what is inherently a political process at the implementation level.

According to the ISO 9001 standard, all the certified companies should calibrate their measuring equipment. By doing so, companies can guarantee, with rigor and quality, its measurement and use reliable data for monitoring the quality of their products. However, a metrology laboratory is not required to have an ISO 9001 certification or ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. At this moment, there are companies with their quality management systems certified according to the ISO 9001 standard which have metrology laboratories to make internal checks of their measuring equipment. On the other hand, there are companies with ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. Finally, there are companies that have their QMS certified according to ISO 9001 and also their metrology laboratory accredited by ISO/IEC 17025. In this case the metrology laboratory must comply with the requirements of both standards. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the level of importance of the ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 standards from the perspective of a metrology laboratory.

The research methodology used to conduct this research was supported in case studies that had been carried out in nine metrology laboratories. The information was gathered based on semi-structured interviews.

After an analysis and discussion over the data obtained, the authors verified that the impact on customer perception is significantly positive, if the metrology laboratory is simultaneous certified and accredited.

From the laboratories perspective, the issue analyzed in this paper is of the utmost importance and the aim is to give the contribution in order to clarify this kind of organizations of which could be the best option for their context.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a strategic approach with an intelligently integrated management system in advanced manufacturing industry to meet the requirements of high precise measurement tasks and essential measurement know-how within the sophisticated production systems.

The continuous development toward ever-higher precision and closer tolerances in the manufacture of workpieces is in line with the perspective of nanotechnology. To meet the metrological requirements new high precision intelligent measuring instruments have been developed, which are proposed in this paper.

In modern industrial production, need for high precision metrology at micro and nano scale provides high quality requirements as well. Therefore, while providing adequate metrology applications, good management of resources and environmental, energy consequences shall be addressed in an integrated manner with an integrated management system of quality, environment and energy.

Metrology as the measurement science provides the functional methodology for quality control under the defined specifications and standards. New levels of manufacturing precision are the key requirements to enable advanced machining processes that demands improved techniques of metrology.

The practical industrial use is now quite possible, but uncertainty and calibration with respect to certain questions still open. In various technical fields, there are increasingly new applications being mainly mechanical engineering, precision machining, biomedicine and precision engineering are mentioned.

This paper provides measurement results and experimenting a strategic approach to develop a smart integrated system applicable in manufacturing industry using the intelligent networking for the digital factory by first an inter-university network that accesses, cooperates and operates at distance in the laboratory of distant research laboratories that can be applicable to all other industrial organizations.

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of awareness of the public about Weights and Measures Act, the awareness of Metrology Corporation Malaysia (MCM) services such as verification sticker and the awareness about ways to file a complaint by the public.

A quantitative research methodology survey was used to collect data. The quantitative collected data were analysed to achieve the objectives of this study.

The results of this study showed a low awareness level of the general public, especially non-stakeholders, knowledge, attitude and actual behaviour about the work of verification and re-verification and checking for verification sticker as well as ways of complaining if the instrument is not verified. In addition, the number of stakeholders working in the legal metrology area was high and Facebook was one of the most preferred media by the public to get awareness messages.

It is recommended for other researchers to enlarge the sample size and implement the study on more companies in the industry.

The findings of this study revealed that public awareness, knowledge and intention have significant and positive relationship with actual behaviour of the public and that awareness, knowledge and actual behaviour among the non-stakeholder were low compared to the stakeholder. The results also enriched the stakeholders in legal metrology for improving public awareness, knowledge and actual behaviour toward the legal metrology and Wight and Measure Act, 1972.

This study shows that Facebook was one of the most preferred media by the public to get awareness messages. This reflects the important role that social media plays. This is useful to the companies because it helps them understand the preferences of public in the society. In addition, the results of this study are useful to the decision-makers in the industry, which is expected to impact the performance of such companies.

This study is among the few studies conducted in the Malaysian context.

This case study aims to investigate how locally additively manufactured functional parts can make African metrology institutes more sustainable and independent. These institutes provide calibration services, which links the measurement units to industrial and everyday measurements. This traceability is critical to overcome technical barriers to trade and industrialisation. Most African countries have such a designated institute that requires advanced scientific instrumentation. These instruments are custom-built for a specific application, hard to procure or sometimes obsolete. Servicing these instruments or obtaining spare parts are also difficult. The purpose aims to evaluate if three-dimensional (3D) printing can significantly improve this situation, by providing six institutes with a 3D printer and training.

Therefore, a 3D printer pilot project was launched, involving six African metrology institutes, with the aim of developing the basic manufacturing capabilities of these institutes so that they can produce functional parts. The project included training on both digital part modelling and 3D printer usage. This case study reviews the technology selection method, project risks, needs, challenges and results, with the aid of research questions.

The results of the project illustrate how additive manufacturing (AM) has started to enable metrology in Africa and how it can be expanded to the general scientific endeavour on the continent.

The success of this project can be used to motivate the further adoption of AM in African National Metrology Institutes, as well as other scientific institutes.

The project is the first AM project of its kind for African National Metrology Institutes.

High speed image processing is the basis of a unique 3‐D measurement system developed by British Aerospace and the City University Optical Metrology Centre. The system can produce 3‐D coordinates for over a hundred measured points up to every 1/25th of a second. As a result it can simultaneously measure locations of components during assembly or guide a robot end effector in drilling operations. This work has recently won the 1998 Metrology for World Class Manufacturing Award for Innovative Metrology and a DSP in Action Award for 1998.

Technological advances in recent years have led to the development and implementation of a variety of techniques and platforms in three‐dimensional (3D) metrology. These techniques include improvements in sensory capabilities, computational speed, flexibility in reporting, and ease of use. The purpose of this paper is to address several developments in this regard.

Metrology, or the science of measurement, continues to enjoy relevance and importance in the quality and handling of manufactured goods. In most instances, measurement requires a 3D quantification of an object's dimensions. These data are used for product quality or for robotic guidance applications.

As technology progresses, a snapshot of trends is presented in 2009. Notable amongst these trends are advances in sensory capabilities, computational speed, flexibility in reporting, and ease of use. These continuous improvements are helping to increase adoption curves in an ever‐competitive quality and cost driven, and increasingly international, manufacturing market. According to Paul Kellett, Director of Market Analysis at the Robotics Industries Association (www.robotics.org), there have been, in the past, typically three impediments to adoption: ease of use, cost, and performance of technology.

In conclusion, metrology and 3D trends are evolving continuously to equip manufacturers with enhanced tools for measurement, quality control, robot guidance and absolute accuracy. Much work lies ahead in the area of software for applications and specifically for vertical applications.

Industrial metrology is being radically alerted by advanced technology, as an expert reports.

Robot calibration and metrology systems vary widely in performance, but, as a general rule, they are considered to be expensive systems that are normally beyond the budget of the average company. A market survey involving some of the leading systems available reveals that the leading performers are characteristically easy to set‐up, operate and, most important, more economical. Nevertheless, the price range of these systems is still too high for them to be in widespread, regular use. The development of systems that combine these characteristics, but at a low‐cost, would fill an important void in the automated manufacturing industry.

To illustrate the importance of nanometrology, the discipline of metrology at the nanoscale, and to describe the techniques involved.

This firstly highlights the importance of nanometrology and considers some future applications with particularly demanding metrological requirements. The main techniques used to characterise nanoscale devices are described. Research and the activities of certain national metrology institutes are discussed.

This illustrates that nanometrology is a critical discipline that will underpin the nanotechnology revolution. It shows that a range of techniques exist for characterising nanomaterials and devices, although most are costly and complex. It further shows that nanometrology developments are underway on a global scale.

This paper demonstrates the importance of nanometrology and describes in detail the techniques used.