1. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 1 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Presented by: Dan Newcombe State of Maine Metrologist A summary presentation describing methods successfully used in Maine to achieve a fair and complete job re-evaluation A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions

2. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 2 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Goals & Objectives: Provide a strategy for approaching the job evaluation process Awareness of the US Department of Labor Law Library as a resource

3. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 3 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions A short history of prior unsuccessful reviews of Maine Metrology Lab jobs Discussion of standard Human Resources tools and approach to job classification from a Metrologist’s perspective NCSLI and ASQ Measurement Quality Division’s Metrology Job Description Initiative Description of a systematic approach successfully used to achieve an equitable job reclassification This Presentation Covers:

4. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 4 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions About the Author 20 years experience with mass and large volume metrology in a state laboratory setting o Maine’s Lab accredited for Mass Echelons I – III, Volume I – III o NIST, WMD recognized for linear, time, frequency and force Training: from NIST, Division of Weights and Measures, State Metrology Program Technical Assessor for NVLAP * NOT an HR Professional *

5. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 5 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Background Maine Department of Agriculture - Metrology Laboratory - succession planning needed Human Resources directed to recruit for Assistant Metrologist opening o 3 of 4 candidates qualified by BHR were short order cooks o 4th - thought he was applying for a position as a Meteorologist o HR rejected: A manufacturing quality inspector with dimensional metrology experience

6. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 6 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Background continued: Impediments to recruiting qualified applicants: o “Official” job descriptions were written to typical HR (not Metrologist’s) specifications & used in all advertising o Low salary - all positions o Limited advancement opportunities; top position – was at significantly lower pay relative to other comparable ones in state government

7. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 7 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Metrologist job reclassification request submitted a few years ago HR used Hay Evaluation Method; did not truly understand job scope, minor change to classification Appealed through the MSEA with arbitration Was unable to adequately educate union rep or arbiter concerning the attributes of the position Appeal partially successful Job Reclassification: 1 st Pass

8. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 8 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions 1. Determine salary target – state to state and within state comparisons for equitable salary Steps Followed – Upgrade 2 nd Pass 2. Metrologist job reclassification request submitted – 2005, believed to be well researched & presented o Compared complexity of Maine Lab workload to other states using the “State Metrology Program Workload Survey” o US Department of Labor statistical data used to determine expected regional differences o Calculated equitable Maine Metrologist pay level after normalization for complexity and regional pay differences

9. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 9 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions 3. HR used Hay Evaluation Method; did not truly understand job scope, did not change classification 4. The Metrologist reviewed HR Evaluation methods & recognized similarity to how a Metrologist determines the value of an artifact by comparing to a standard 5. The Metrologist reexamined issue from HR’s perspective, found & documented additional evidence 6. Needed a “standard” that HR would recognize and accept as unbiased and accurate Steps Followed - Upgrade 2nd Pass

10. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 10 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions HR Compares the “weights” of different job requirements In order to be able to judge their comparative worth. MetrologistChemist

11. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 11 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Job Reclassification: Finding a Standard NCSLI and ASQ Measurement Quality Division’s Metrology Job Description Initiative Discovered US Dept of Labor Law Library dictionary of occupational titles o Not complete at time of this reevaluation request o Draft form not sufficient o HR recognized this as an unimpeachable source. o Law Library rates the required skill levels in reasoning, mathematics and language for job functions HR routinely deals with

12. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 12 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions US Dept of Labor Law Library Dictionary of Occupational Titles - Metrologist 012.067-010 METROLOGIST (profess. & kin.) Develops and evaluates calibration systems that measure characteristics of objects, substances, or phenomena, such as length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, luminous intensity, and derived units of physical or chemical measure … GOE: 05.01.04 STRENGTH: S GED: R6 M6 L6 SVP: 8 DLU: 77

13. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 13 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions US Dept of Labor Law Library Dictionary of Occupational Titles - Chemist 022.061-010 CHEMIST (profess. & kin.) Conducts research, analysis, synthesis, and experimentation on substances, for such purposes as product and process development and application, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and improvement of analytical methodologies … GOE: 02.01.01 STRENGTH: L GED: R6 M6 L5 SVP: 8 DLU: 81

14. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 14 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Job Reclassification: 2 nd Pass Results The Metrologist and laboratory management appealed HR decision Laboratory upper management reviewed evidence to support the upgrade request with HR appeal team Initial decision was reversed & Metrologist salary level was adjusted to parity with top level chemists employed by the State

15. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 15 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Broader Implications – Succession Planning Maine state government uses 3 levels of compensation classification for Science Professionals Correcting the Metrologist job classification to an appropriate level opened the door for creation of a mid level position Facilitates an apprentice-like progression Without the unimpeachable information the decision would not have been reversed

16. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 16 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions Conclusion Approach job evaluation by calibrating to a set of standards Research other job descriptions for proper action verbs Define the body of knowledge and abilities required for the position Provide collaborative evidence from unimpeachable sources Avoid exaggeration, focus on level of work actually performed

17. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 17 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions 2005 – 2006 State Laboratory Program Workload Survey; by NCSLI Legal Metrology Committee; http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/resources.cfm http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/resources.cfm U.S. Department of Labor; Office of Administrative Law Judges Law Library. http://www.oalj.dol.gov/PUBLIC/DOT/REFERENCES/DOT01A.HTM http://www.oalj.dol.gov/PUBLIC/DOT/REFERENCES/DOT01A.HTM To contact the author: Danny.newcombe@maine.gov References

18. NCSLI - 2008 Dan Newcombe, State of Maine Metrologist Slide # 18 A Measurement Standard for Evaluating Metrology Positions An 18th century spring balance The Science Museum, London Tangent Galvanometer W.M. Welch Scientific Company ( c.1930) Robert A. Paselk Scientific Instrument Museum What are those pictures?