The 2013 MSC will host the following NIST Seminars. Unless otherwise noted, all Seminars are two full days long and will begin at 8:00am on Monday, March 18th, 2013 and end at 5:00pm on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013.

NIST Seminars
Monday, March 18 – Tuesday, March 19  (N02: 2 ½ Day Course)
	NIST Two –   Three Day Seminars Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday	Instructor	Date
N01	The  ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Process,  2 Day	Barbara Belzer, Kari Harper, Dana Leaman	3/18 3/19
N02	Selection, Calibration, and use of Contact Thermometers, 2 ½ Day	Dawn Cross, Michal Chojnacky	3/18 3/20
N03	NIST Pressure and Vacuum Measurement, 2 Day	Jay Hendricks,  Douglas Olson	3/18 3/19
N04	JCGM Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement, 2 Day	Will Guthrie, Hung-Kung Liu	3/18 3/19

 

N01: The ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Process – 2 days
Presenters:

• Barbara Belzer, NVLAP
• Kari Harper, NVLAP
• Dana Leaman, NVLAP

This two-day interactive seminar will help laboratories prepare for and understand the accreditation process whether the laboratory is new to accreditation or in the renewal process.  It’s ideal as an orientation for new staff, quality managers, or as a refresher to update your knowledge of the Standard and the process.  An overview of the requirements of the Standard will be provided with examples drawn from the NVLAP Accreditation process.  Particular emphasis will be placed on Internal Audit and Management Review, Proficiency Testing, presenting measurement uncertainties and reporting them ensuring the metrological traceability of your calibrations and the complaint/corrective action process.  We will present several important ILAC documents with respect to Proficiency Testing (ILAC P9), Metrological Traceability (ILAC P10) and Reporting Measurement Uncertainty (ILAC P14). We will provide an overview of the on-site assessment process, how they are conducted and by whom.  We will also describe how NVLAP and other Accrediting Bodies become signatory to  and maintain their status with respect to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement and what it means to your lab. The schedule allows for extended discussions of those topics of particular interest to the participants.

Intended Audience:  Technical and Quality personnel from accredited laboratories as a refresher, those who are seeking accreditation, or those investigating the process.

Materials will be provided.  A laptop may be helpful.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the two day seminar, using notes and provided resources, participants will be able to

1. Analyze the adequacy of a documented management system and technical procedure to fulfill the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025.
2. Differentiate between an Internal Audit, a Management Review, and an on-site assessment as performed by an Accrediting Body.
3. Identify evidence of metrological traceability.
4. Identify proper use of the Accrediting Body Mark in terms of NVLAP and international accreditation policies.

For additional technical information, please contact:

• Barbara Belzer, NVLAP Barbara.belzer@nist.gov<mailto:Barbara.belzer@nist.gov>, 301-975-2248
• Kari Harper,

NVLAP kari.harper@nist.gov<mailto:kari.harper@nist.gov>, 301-975-6612,

• Dana Leaman, NVLAP dana.leaman@nist.gov<mailto:dana.leaman@nist.gov>, 301-975-4679

Seminar Developers Biography:
 Barbara J. Belzer joined NVLAP as a Program Manager for the Calibration Laboratories Accreditation Program in 2002. She has performed both lead and technical assessments for NVLAP since 1999 and is also has performed peer evaluations for both the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement and the Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) Multi Lateral Agreement.

Within NVLAP, Ms. Belzer is involved with many aspects of the laboratory accreditation process including the development and delivery of assessor training. She is also active with the development and coordination of calibration proficiency testing working closely with the NIST technical staff. Ms. Belzer also serves on the NVLAP Quality Committee and supports the NIST Quality System as both a peer assessor and trainer for other NIST personnel. She is active in the NCSLI, serving on the Accreditation Resources Committee and participates as a member in the Legal Metrology Committee. In 2005, Ms. Belzer became the NVLAP delegate to the Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) for which she currently serves as the Chair of the Laboratories Subcommittee and serves on the MLA (Multilateral Recognition Arrangement) Committee and Executive Committee.

Complementing her technical endeavors, Ms. Belzer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from American University in Washington, DC and regularly attends the University’s Intercultural Management Institute seminars and conferences.

 Kari K. Harper joined the Calibration Laboratory Accreditation Program of NVLAP in 2011 after more than two decades as a metrologist in the NIST laboratories.

From 1988 to 2011 she worked at NIST, in different capacities including

• Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Automated Production Technology Division. Areas of concentration included geometric-thermal effects and their mapping, as well as spindle metrology.
• Office of the Director, Program Office, Program Analyst. As a Program Analyst, Ms. Harper performed planning, analysis, and evaluation of NIST’s programs and policies for use by the NIST Director.
•  Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Manufacturing Metrology Division. Ms. Harper resumed work on machine tool metrology, concentrating on linear motor technology. In 2001, Ms. Harper changed her focus to the area of vibration metrology. She was detailed for one year, starting in 2005, to the United States Measurement System (USMS) Assessment Committee and Report Editorial Board. USMS Committee received NIST Bronze Metal for this assessment and the resulting report.

Ms. Harper earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 2000, building on the Bachelor of Science that she earned at Drexel University in 1988, also in the mechanical engineering discipline. Ms. Harper attended the inaugural BIPM Metrology Summer School in 2003.

Dana Smith Leaman serves as a Program Manager with the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) in the Information Technology Security Testing program.  She provides assistance in the daily accreditation operations and serves as a staff contact for laboratories performing Cryptographic and Security Testing, Common Criteria Testing, Voting Testing and Healthcare IT Testing.

Previously, she was employed with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and assisted with the management of the calibration accreditation program and the assessment of the calibration laboratories within that program.  She also performed ISO/IEC 17025 quality system assessments in the testing fields as well.

Mrs. Leaman joined the NVLAP staff as Program Manager in December 2008.
Mrs. Leaman is a member of the NCSL International Board of Directors currently serving as the Vice President for Special Programs.  She has served on the Board since 2005 serving terms as the Vice President of the Southeastern US as well as Vice President of the Northeastern US and Documentary Standards.  Beginning in 2013, Mrs. Leaman has been appointed to assume the role of Secretary on the NCSLI Board of Directors.

She also participates as a tutorial instructor at the Measurement Science Conference and the NCSLI Workshop and Symposium on topics pertaining to accreditation.

Mrs. Leaman has a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Chemistry from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN.
In March 2009, Mrs. Leaman completed training and has been approved as an ISO/IEC 17011 Peer Evaluator.

N02: Selection, Calibration, and Use of Contact Thermometers – 2 ½ days
Presenters:  Dawn Cross and Michal Chojnacky
NIST, Process Measurements Division

In this seminar, we will discuss contact thermometers commonly used in industry for applications that use platinum resistance thermometers, thermistors, thermocouples, and liquid-in-glass thermometers.

Lecture topics covered will include:

• · Thermometer overview of each type, characteristics, and expected uncertainties;
• · Selecting a thermometer for a specific application;
• · Creating a calibration uncertainty budget and a temperature measurement uncertainty budget,
• · Selecting and using alternative digital thermometers (e.g. replacing mercury thermometers),
• · Digital thermometers for cold chain monitoring of vaccines,
• · Calibration techniques and measurement validation methods,
• · Alternatives to traditional calendar recall dates for recalibration,
• · Statistical process control and maintaining traceability to NIST,
• · The step-by-step development of a Scope of Accreditation (e.g. uncertainty budgets) for different temperature calibration services,
• · An assessor’s point of view during an on-site technical assessment, and
• · Proficiency tests for achieving accreditation.

Laboratory session will include:

• · Using digital thermometers
• · Using an ice melting to check the calibration status of your thermometer
• · Determining the uncertainty of a dry-well block calibrator
• · Exploring the measurement differences and uncertainties between alternative thermometers

For additional technical information, contact Dawn Cross at (301) 975-4822 or
dawn.cross@nist.gov.

Seminar Developers Biography:
Mrs. Dawn Cross has worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the Thermometry Group since 1994. Mrs. Cross is responsible for the Industrial Thermometer Calibration Laboratory (ITCL) calibration of industrial platinum resistance thermometers, thermocouples, thermistors, and liquid-in-glass thermometers over the range of -196 °C to 550 °C. As part of her responsibility for the ITCL, Mrs. Cross maintains the NIST quality system documentation and measurement assurance to maintain compliance with the NIST QMs and ISO/IEC 17025. Mrs. Cross started being a NVLAP assessor in 2005 for NIST and 2008 for outside laboratories.
When not performing calibrations, Mrs. Cross performs temperature research related to the uncertainty of industrial thermometer calibrations and finding alternatives to Hg-in-glass thermometers. Additionally, Mrs. Cross performs NIST technical assessments covering the areas of temperature (contact and non-contact), ceramics, pressure and vacuum and fluid flow.

In order to maintain visibility and protect the interests of NIST and U.S. industry, Mrs. Cross serves on several national standards committees within ASTM E20 (Thermometry) and committees within NIST. She is the Sub-Chairman for ASTM E20.05 Thermometers and Hydrometers, the Membership Secretary for ASTM E20, and a member of ASTM D.02 Petroleum Committee. Mrs. Cross is also the Division Safety Representative and a member of the Environmental Management Services Committee.
Membership on the ASTM committees is used to help write thermometry standards and guidance documents for U.S. industry, while the NIST positions are used to help NIST technical staff find suitable replacements for Hg-in-glass thermometers.
Mrs. Dawn Cross attends Continuing education courses at Montgomery College, MD.
Mrs. Cross has taught courses at the Measurement Science Conference, March 2010, covering SPRT’s, LiG’s, PRT’s, Thermistors, Assessing Labs.
Assessor training received from Pi Group, NVLAP, and PMD Quality Manager.
 
Ms. Chojnacky has worked in the NIST Thermodynamic Metrology group since 2009, where she is responsible for realizing, maintaining, and disseminating the International Temperature Scale of 1990 from the Ar TP (83.8 K) to the Ag FP (1234.9 K). She provides customers from industry and NMIs with standard platinum resistance thermometer calibrations, fixed-point cell certifications, NVLAP proficiency testing, and other inter-laboratory comparison tests. She is currently piloting CCT Key Comparison No 9: Realizations of the ITS-90 from 83.8 K to 692.7 K.

Ms. Chojnacky conducts research on the properties of SPRTs as well as methods for proper cold-storage and temperature monitoring of vaccines. She has published four papers from the results her vaccine storage studies, covering topics such as a thermal analysis of various refrigeration systems and their efficacy for vaccine storage, safe cold storage and handling practices, and accurate temperature monitoring. She has been invited to share her findings in presentations at Centers for Disease Control-sponsored conferences and continuing education courses.

Ms. Chojnacky is also the instructor for the NIST ITS-90 Fixed Point Cell Mini Workshop, in which participants from industry and national calibration laboratories learn proper SPRT handling practices, fixed-point realization techniques, and uncertainty budget calculations in an intensive 2-day, hands-on laboratory course.

Ms. Chojnacky has a bachelor’s degree in physics from George Washington University, where she also worked for one year as an undergraduate fellow designing and building optical-tweezers apparatus.
 
Mrs. Garrity has performed thermocouple calibrations and research in the NIST thermocouple laboratory for 16 years. She is a technical assessor for the NIST Sensor Science Division.
Mrs. Garrity’s duties include calibrations of noble metal thermocouples, base metal thermocouples, and refractory metal thermocouples by comparison and fixed-point methods. She is also responsible for building freezing-point cells for the laboratory. She has led several international thermocouple comparisons as well as providing thermocouple proficiency tests for NVLAP.

Mrs. Garrity has published papers on thermocouple performance and uncertainties, thermocouple comparison, and improved furnace designs. She actively participates in ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials). Mrs. Garrity has taught at the SIM Metrology School and at the NIST MSC tutorials on the use of thermometers.

Mrs. Garrity received a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Maryland.
 
 

N03:  NIST Pressure and Vacuum Measurement – 2 days
Presenters: Jay Hendricks and Douglas Olson,
NIST, Thermodynamic Metrology Group
 
Making good pressure measurements from ultra-high vacuum to atmospheric pressure and higher requires the correct use of many kinds of gauges and proper use of vacuum technology.  Among the most widely used gauges are ionization gauges, spinning rotor gauges, thermal conductivity gauges, capacitance diaphragm gauges, quartz bourdon tube gauges, and resonant silicon gauges.  However, the incorrect use of any of these gauges can result in bad measurements that cost time and money.
This two-day course will cover the fundamentals of pressure measurements from 10^-8 Pa to 10⁺⁸ Pa (10^-10 torr to 10⁺⁶ torr), focusing on the selection and proper use of appropriate gauging technology for a given application.  A survey of calibration techniques will be presented along with recommendations for obtaining best performance.   Part of the class time will be devoted to set-up of a simple vacuum calibration system.  This will enable live demonstration of some of the gauges discussed in the course, and give students an opportunity to participate in the vacuum system set-up and disassembly.
New for this year is a section devoted to the use of piston gauges as the reference standard.  We will also bring back the popular overview of good vacuum system design and construction using off-the-shelf vacuum equipment and fittings.  Basic vacuum system design do’s and don’ts will be covered.  Pumping systems, sealing systems, valves, and vacuum plumbing solutions will be briefly covered.  For pressures substantially higher than atmosphere, proper selection and operation of piston gauges for gas and oil calibrations will be covered.  Attendees are invited to share their own pressure measurement and or vacuum system design problems for in-class discussion.
For further information, contact:
Jay Hendricks at (301) 975-4836, jay.hendricks@nist.gov
Douglas Olson, Douglas.Olson@nist.gov

Seminar Developers Biography:
A world-class expert in low pressure and vacuum metrology, Dr. Hendricks and leads the activities of the NIST Ultrasonic Interferometer manometer primary pressure standards laboratory in the Thermodynamic Metrology Group. Jay received his M.A. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Johns Hopkins University, and his B.S. in chemistry from Penn State University. He started his career at NIST in 1996 as a post-doctoral fellow conducting research on a novel low-temperature CVD that resulted in a US patent. He has 25 years of vacuum science and technology experience and has worked on many aspects of vacuum technology & metrology.  His research interests include the development of primary low pressure and vacuum standards, the characterization of resonant silicon gauges, capacitance diaphragm gauges, piston gauges, force-balanced piston gauges, the study of the interaction of water with technical surfaces, and outgassing from vacuum materials. He is team lead of a 5-year Innovation in Measurement Science project aimed at re-inventing the realization and dissemination of pressure, temperature, and length through the use of optical Fabry-Perot interferometer cavities. He has presented invited papers at both domestic and international vacuum symposia and has authored 40 papers on vacuum science/ technology/ metrology, and ion-beam laser spectroscopy.   He enjoys committee work and is an active member of the CCM low and high pressure working groups and the AVS-Mid Atlantic Chapter executive committee.  He has 5 years of experience as a short-course seminar instructor for the Measurement Science Conference.  He chairs or serves on a variety of national and international vacuum standards meetings and symposia including the AVS vacuum technology division program committee, and the International Vacuum Congress vacuum science and technology division program committee.

Dr. Douglas A. Olson is a member of the in the Thermodynamic Metrology Group in the Sensor Science Division of NIST. He is an expert in piston gauge pressure standards and is responsible for realizing, maintaining, and disseminating the national measurement standards for pressure for the range from 360 kPa to 300 MPa.  Under his leadership NIST established gas piston gauges as primary pressure standards and substantially reduced uncertainties for the gas pressure scale.  He has experience in electronic pressure measurement, automation of calibration processes, high pressure standards, finite element methods, and heat transfer.  He is a member of the Low Pressure and High Pressure Working Groups of the Consultative Committee for Mass (CCM), the SIM Pressure Working Group, and the Deadweight Pressure Gauge Committee of the NCSLI.  He serves as a technical expert in pressure for the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

N04: JCGM Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement – 2 days
Presenters:
William Guthrie, NIST, Statistical Group
Hung-Kung Liu, NIST, Statistical Group

This short course covers many aspects of the propagation of uncertainty using the methods outlined in the JCGM Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement. Exercises and hands-on applications will use functions for uncertainty analysis from the free software package, metRology, written for the open-source R statistical computing environment. The functions will be accessed via an Excel graphical user interface that is available as a free add-in.

For additional technical information, please contact:
William Guthrie, William.guthrie@nist.gov, 301-975-2854, NIST, Statistical Group
Hung-Kung Liu, hung-kung.liu@nist.gov, 301-975-2718, NIST, Statistical Group

Seminar Developers Biography:
William F. Guthrie received a B.A. degree in mathematics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, in 1987 and an M.S. degree in statistics from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH, in 1990. He is currently a mathematical statistician in the Statistical Engineering Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD. Since joining NIST in 1989, he has collaborated with scientists and engineers on applied research in a wide range of areas including semiconductor and microelectronics applications, building materials and fire research and chemical science. His statistical interests include uncertainty assessment, Bayesian statistics, design of experiments, calibration, modern regression methods, and statistical computation.

If you have any questions, please contact the NIST Seminar Chairman using the form below.