1. NACLA Value – Navy METCAL Perspective
NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER, CORONA DIVISION
MEASUREMENT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT Bob Fritzsche (MS 20)

2. Why Calibrate?
Ensure the readiness of test equipment to perform accurate measurements and provide valid data
Limit the number of erroneous test decisions
Maintain overall measurement integrity and traceability

3. Measurement Possibilities
GOAL
Precise /
Accurate
Not Precise/
Not Accurate

4. Why Calibrate? – Data Integrity
How do we know the data is good?
Accurate? Precise? Stable?
Can you trust the person collecting the data?
Can you trust the measurement instrument?
What proof do you have that the numbers reflect reality?
Can you trust the decision you are about to make using the collected data?
What is the cost if you are wrong?
In Tolerance
Do You See A
Difference?
Out of Tolerance

5. False Accept/False Reject
Test results bad, item good:
STANDARD NFR example
Test results good, item bad
Lowers Fleet reliability
Shorter maintenance cycle => Increased costs

6. METCAL Program Overview
Z540.3
Navy METCAL Program
METCAL
Technical Agent
NIST
Acquisition
In-Service
Maintenance
Acquisition Support
Cal Rqmts Analysis
Cal Logistics
Engineering
Procedures
Intervals
Standards
Training
Database Mgmt
Traceability
Technical Support
NPSL
Navy Cal Lab
Test Equipment
R&D
Standards (State-of-the-art)
Mission
Ensure that TMDE used to make measurements on Navy Systems is accurate and traceable to National Standards to reduce or eliminate the safety and cost impacts of wrong test decisions.

7. Z540-1 Withdrawal Test & Measurement Equipment/Cal Lab Accreditation
1994
ANSI/NCSL Z540.1
Approved
2005
ANS/ISO/IEC 17025:2005
Approved
2006
ANSI/NCSL Z
Approved
2007
ANSI/NCSL Z540-1
Withdrawn
The Z540-1 had been an American National Standard since Part I of Z540-1 was based on the ISO/IEC Guide 25. Part II of Z540-1 was based on MIL-STD 45662A and was included to meet U.S. Department of Defense requirements.
The vote to withdraw ANSI/NCSL Z (R2002) as a National Standard became final on 6 April As a result, in July 2007 the standard was officially withdrawn. The standard is replaced by a combination of the newly published ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 – 2006, American National Standard for Calibration, “Requirements for the Calibration of Measuring and Test Equipment” and ANSI/ISO/IEC 17025, recently adopted by ANSI as an American National Standard for laboratory accreditation.
In the U.S., there are currently two national standards. One for calibration systems: ANSI/NCSL Z , Requirements for the Calibration of Measuring and Test Equipment and one for calibration laboratories: ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories (hereafter, “17025”).
Z540-1 is replaced by Z540.3 and 17025 7

8. Measurement and Test Equipment Internal Calibration Laboratory
9001, 17025, & Z540.3 Relationship
ENTERPRISE
Quality System
ISO 9001
Independent
Calibration Lab
ISO/IEC 17025
Products / Services
Measurement and Test Equipment
ANSI/NCSL Z540.3
The standards are related in that they consistently impose good practices on the part of the enterprise or laboratory.
17025 imposes requirements on test and calibration laboratories in order to demonstrate competence, whether they are internal to the enterprise or are independent contract calibration service providers.
9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system as needed to demonstrate that products meet customer requirements. It does not address requirements to demonstrate competence in performing specific tasks. Clause 7.6 states that measuring equipment shall be calibrated when necessary to ensure valid results, but it does not impose specific requirements for calibration, such as accuracies, measurement uncertainty, or calibration procedures, and in a note refers to ISO and -2.
Z540.3 is concerned with the management of measuring and test equipment used outside of the laboratory imposes requirements on the laboratory for calibration of the laboratory’s M&TE, not for the M&TE used on the factory floor, i.e. their customer’s units.
Internal Calibration Laboratory
ISO/IEC (or Z540.3)

9. Distribution of Z540-1 Requirements
17025
General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
Calibration service component competency demonstration
Z540-1
Part I – Cal Lab
Cal lab requirements
Cal lab competency demonstration
Part II – Cal System
M&TE cal requirements
Cal system requirements
Z540.3
Cal service component technical requirements
Optional use of ANS/ISO with SC 5.3 for Cal service component competency demonstration
M&TE cal requirements
Cal system requirements 9

10. Laboratory Competence
Roles of New Standards
ANSI/ISO/IEC 17025:
Competence of test and calibration laboratories
Demonstration requirements:
Able to operate a management system
Are technically competent
Able to generate technically valid results
ANSI/NCSL Z540.3
Technical requirements for calibration of M&TE
System for control of the accuracy of M&TE:
Calibration system performance requirements
Calibration laboratory performance requirements
Link to use of accredited cal labs
“smart customer” for ISO accredited cal lab
Laboratory Competence
Requirements
METCAL
Program
Requirements

11. NACLA Purpose for Navy…
Continue recognition of ABs
Assist ABs in evaluating to supplemental requirements identified in Z540.3, clause 5.3
Develop recognition program for determining Z540.3 compliance in organizations