What is Metrology?

Metrology is the science of measurement.

It also deals with the correctness of measurement.
In industrial terms metrology is primarily concerned
with methods and techniques of measurement based
on agreed units and standards. The practice of
metrology involves precise measurement which
requires the use of apparatus and equipment to
permit the degree of accuracy required to be
obtained.
In a broader sense, metrology is not limited to length
measurement but it is also concerned with the
industrial inspection and its various techniques from
the raw material to the finished product or even
assembled parts.
Need and Function of Inspection

1. Determine good or bad parts
In industrial terms, inspection is defined as the function of
comparing or determining the conformance of a product to
specifications or requirements. Thus the function of inspection
is to inspect a product in order to determine whether it is 'good'
or otherwise and hence it can be accepted or rejected. More
specifically, inspection refers to the measurement, visual
assessment or testing of a product, process or the act of
making a product.

2. Achieve interchangeabilty
New production techniques have been developed and products
are being manufactured in large volume due to economic of
scale. It is very essential that products must be fit and mate if
any product is chosen at random for interchangeability
purposes. Thus, to achieve interchangeability of products,
inspection has to be performed sufficiently and this can be done
either by measuring or gauging. The gauging method is very
economical for mass production.

3. Improve and develop precision measuring instruments
Inspection also led to the development of precision
measuring instruments and improvement of inspection
methods due to demands of high accuracy and precision
works or products. Inspection has also created a spirit of
competition and led to the production of quality products
on a large scale basis by eliminating variations thus
improving processing techniques.

4. Support the manufacturing department
Inspection also supports the manufacturing department
by designing and maintaining a system that assesses the
quality levels of the work that is done, and the products
that are made must be in accordance to specifications or
criteria.
Objectives of Metrology

1. Ensure the products designed are within the process and
measuring instrument capabilities available in the
company/plant.

2. Determine the process capabilities and ensure that these are
better than the relevant parts tolerances.

3. Determine the measuring instrument capabilities and ensure
that these are adequate for their respective measurements.

4. Minimize the cost of inspection by effective and efficient use
of available facilities, and to reduce the cost of rejects and
rework through application of SPC etc.

5. Standardization of measuring methods: This can be achieved
by laying down the inspection methods for any product right at
the time when the production technology is prepared.

6. Maintenance of the accuracy of measurement: This is
achieved by periodical calibration of all measuring instruments
used in the plant.
Fundamental Units and Standards

Units are defined and expressed in standards. Units are the language
of measurement and must be constant. The measuring unit of length is
Metre.

In 1889, a Metre is defined as the distance between two lines on a
specific bar (standard) which is made platinum-iridium rod to represent
the length of a Metre. Thirty bars were manufactured. One was kept at
the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris as the
international standard while the others were sent to laboratories
around the world. However, this standard bar is not stable and has
certain limitation due to the effect of temperature and environmental
factors.

In 1960 a Metre was redefined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of a
particular orange light emitted by the gas krypton 86.

In 1983 the Metre was redefined in terms of speed of light. The new
definition says: The metre is defined as the length of path traveled by
light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.
 Dimensions & Units

 Dimension - abstract quantity (e.g. length)

Dimensions are used to describe physical quantities
Dimensions are independent of units

 Unit - a specific definition of a dimension based upon a

physical reference (e.g. meter)
Units used in Metrology
SI system (SI = System International).

Quantity Units Symbols

Length Meter m
Mass Kilogram kg
Time Second s
Thermodynamic
Kelvin K
Temperature
Electric Current Ampere A
Force Newton N
Fundamental Units and Standards

Units are defined and expressed in standards. Units are the language
of measurement and must be constant. The measuring unit of length is
Metre.

In 1889, a Metre is defined as the distance between two lines on a
specific bar (standard) which is made platinum-iridium rod to represent
the length of a Metre. Thirty bars were manufactured. One was kept at
the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris as the
international standard while the others were sent to laboratories
around the world. However, this standard bar is not stable and has
certain limitation due to the effect of temperature and environmental
factors.

In 1960 a Metre was redefined as 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of a
particular orange light emitted by the gas krypton 86.

In 1983 the Metre was redefined in terms of speed of light. The new
definition says: The metre is defined as the length of path traveled by
light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second.