American Standard Measurement Plan
I. Purpose of the Plan
This measurement plan aims to establish a measurement management system that complies with the specifications of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and relevant industry regulations in the United States. It ensures the accuracy and reliability of measuring instruments used by enterprises, institutions, and various organizations in production, scientific research, trade, and other activities, as well as the authenticity and validity of measurement data. By doing so, it safeguards product quality, enhances production efficiency, promotes fair trade, and meets the strict requirements for measurement accuracy and consistency in both domestic and international markets in the United States.
II. Scope of Application
This plan applies to all enterprises, government agencies, scientific research institutions, testing laboratories, and other organizations involved in measurement activities within the territory of the United States. It covers multiple industries, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, environmental monitoring, transportation, and trade settlement.
III. Measurement Management System
(I) Measurement Organizational Structure
- Establish a Measurement Management Committee, composed of senior management personnel, measurement technical experts, quality management personnel, etc. It is responsible for formulating measurement management policies, approving measurement plans and major decisions, and coordinating measurement work among various departments.
- Set up a Measurement Technology Department, staffed with professional measurement engineers and technicians. They are in charge of the selection, procurement, calibration, maintenance, repair of measuring instruments, as well as the collection, analysis, and processing of measurement data.
- Each department designates part – time measurement administrators, who are responsible for the daily management, usage supervision, and reporting of abnormal situations of measuring instruments within their departments.
(II) Management of Measuring Instruments
- Selection and Procurement: Based on actual measurement requirements and in accordance with American national standards and relevant technical specifications, select measuring instruments with reliable metrological performance and quality assurance. When purchasing, require suppliers to provide relevant documents such as certificates of conformity and calibration reports of measuring instruments, and conduct qualification audits and evaluations of suppliers.
- Acceptance and Archiving: After the arrival of newly purchased measuring instruments, the Measurement Technology Department conducts acceptance inspections, including appearance checks, performance tests, and confirmation of metrological characteristics. After passing the acceptance, establish a file for the measuring instrument, recording information such as the name, model, specification, serial number, purchase date, manufacturer, using department, and calibration records.
- Calibration and Verification: Regularly calibrate or verify measuring instruments in accordance with American national measurement calibration specifications and verification procedures. For measuring instruments included in the national mandatory verification catalogue, they must be sent to legal metrological verification institutions for verification; for non – mandatory verification measuring instruments, they can be calibrated by internal calibration laboratories with corresponding qualifications or external calibration institutions. The calibration or verification cycle is determined according to factors such as the frequency of use, environmental conditions, and metrological performance stability of the measuring instrument, ensuring that the measured values of the measuring instrument are accurate and traceable to American national standards.
- Maintenance and Repair: Develop a maintenance plan for measuring instruments, and regularly carry out maintenance work such as cleaning, lubrication, and debugging to ensure their normal operation. When a measuring instrument fails or is damaged, repair it in a timely manner, and re – calibrate or verify it after the repair. It can only be put into use after passing the verification.
- Scrapping and Updating: For measuring instruments that fail to pass calibration or verification and cannot be repaired, or those whose performance fails to meet the usage requirements due to technological backwardness, carry out scrapping procedures in accordance with the specified procedures. At the same time, update measuring instruments in a timely manner according to the needs of production and scientific research to ensure that the measurement technology level keeps pace with industry development.
(III) Management of Measurement Personnel
- Training and Assessment: Regularly organize measurement personnel to participate in professional training. The training content includes American measurement laws and regulations, measurement standards, measurement technical specifications, operation and use methods of measuring instruments, data processing and analysis, etc. After the training, conduct assessments, and issue corresponding measurement job qualification certificates to those who pass the assessment, ensuring that measurement personnel possess the professional knowledge and skills required for measurement work.
- Responsibilities and Authorities: Clearly define the responsibilities and authorities of the Measurement Management Committee, the Measurement Technology Department, and part – time measurement administrators in each department to ensure that measurement work is accountable. Measurement personnel should strictly abide by measurement laws, regulations, and operating procedures, earnestly perform their duties, and ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurement data.
(IV) Management of Measurement Data
- Data Collection: Standardize the methods and processes of measurement data collection to ensure that the collected data is true, accurate, and complete. Adopt advanced measurement data collection equipment and technologies to realize automatic data collection and transmission, reducing the impact of human factors on the data.
- Data Processing and Analysis: Use appropriate statistical methods and data analysis software to process and analyze the collected measurement data. Timely identify abnormal situations and quality problems in the measurement process, and take corresponding corrective and preventive measures. At the same time, through the analysis of measurement data, provide decision – making basis for production process control, product quality improvement, cost accounting, etc.
- Data Storage and Preservation: Establish a measurement data storage management system, and use secure and reliable data storage equipment and technologies to classify, store, and back up measurement data. The retention period of measurement data shall comply with relevant American laws, regulations, and industry standards to ensure data traceability.
IV. Implementation Process of the Measurement Plan
(I) Plan Formulation
At the end of each year, the Measurement Technology Department formulates the measurement work plan for the next year based on the organization’s production, scientific research, and business plans, combined with factors such as the calibration cycle and usage status of measuring instruments. The plan includes the calibration plan for measuring instruments, the training plan for measurement personnel, the purchase and update plan for measurement equipment, etc. The measurement work plan is issued to each department for implementation after being approved by the Measurement Management Committee.
(II) Plan Execution
Each department organizes and implements the use, maintenance, calibration, and other work of measuring instruments in accordance with the measurement work plan. The Measurement Technology Department is responsible for supervising and guiding the implementation of measurement work, and resolving problems that arise in a timely manner. During the implementation process, if special circumstances require adjustments to the measurement work plan, approval from the Measurement Management Committee is required.
(III) Process Monitoring
Establish a measurement work process monitoring mechanism, and monitor the use, calibration, and maintenance of measuring instruments, the operation specifications of measurement personnel, and the collection, processing, and analysis of measurement data through regular inspections and unannounced spot checks. When problems are found, issue rectification notices in a timely manner, requiring the responsible departments to rectify within a specified time limit, and track the rectification situation to ensure that the measurement work meets the requirements of the plan.
(IV) Effect Evaluation
Evaluate the implementation effect of the measurement plan every quarter. The evaluation content includes the qualification rate of measuring instruments, the accuracy of measurement data, and the impact of measurement work on product quality and production efficiency. Through evaluation, summarize experience, identify existing problems and deficiencies, and provide a basis for the continuous improvement of measurement work.
V. Measurement Supervision and Improvement
(I) Internal Audit
Conduct at least one internal measurement audit per year. The Measurement Management Committee or a third – party audit institution with corresponding qualifications is entrusted to conduct a comprehensive audit of the operation of the measurement management system. The audit content includes the compliance of measurement management system documents, the implementation of measurement work, and the accuracy and reliability of measurement data. For non – conformities found during the audit, formulate corrective and preventive measures, specify responsible persons and rectification deadlines, and track and verify the rectification effect.
(II) Management Review
At the end of each year, the Measurement Management Committee organizes a management review meeting to review the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the measurement management system. The review content includes the operation of the measurement management system, the implementation effect of the measurement plan, internal audit results, customer feedback, and changes in laws, regulations, and standards. Based on the review results, adjust and improve the measurement management system to ensure that it continuously meets the organization’s needs and development.
(III) Continuous Improvement
Establish a continuous improvement mechanism and encourage all employees to actively participate in measurement improvement activities. By collecting employees’ opinions and suggestions, analyze problems and potential improvement opportunities in measurement work, formulate corresponding improvement measures, and organize their implementation. At the same time, pay attention to the development trends of domestic and international measurement technologies, and introduce advanced measurement technologies and management methods in a timely manner to continuously improve the measurement management level and measurement technical capabilities.
VI. Supplementary Provisions
- This plan shall come into effect from the date of issuance, and the Measurement Management Committee shall be responsible for its interpretation and revision.
- Each department shall, in accordance with the requirements of this plan and combined with the actual situation of its own department, formulate specific implementation rules and file them with the Measurement Management Committee for record.