Imperatives of Metrology and Standardization for Global Trade

Abstract

International buyers look for quality products from all over the world. Global trade demands adherence to stringent quality standards. World class quality is required at competitive prices. Metrology and standardization are two integral determinants of quality in the international trade. India is having a sound infrastructure of metrology laboratories. Most of these laboratories are established by the Government of India and are accredited with the National Accreditation Board of Laboratories. There is an urgent need that India should be a signatory to the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and the calibration certificates from Indian metrology laboratories should be recognized internationally through the mechanism of Mutual Recognition Agreements. A national policy and commitment for the promotion of metrological infrastructure is required. New metrology laboratories should be encouraged in the private sector. Appropriate fiscal incentives and institutional support are required for private enterpreneurs to establish metrology institutes with state-of-the-art test and calibration equipment. Further a planned effort is required to maintain and upgrade the existing test and calibration equipment in government funded laboratories. Corporatization of government metrology laboratories will improve their productivity, make them more efficient and ensure optimum utilization of existing facilities. The work ethos in government laboratories require attitudinal transformation so that services can be delivered to the customers efficiently. The emergence of ISO 9000, QS 9000 and ISO 14000 standards have brought tremendous pressure on metrology laboratories for calibration and testing. The multi-lateral government agreements and global trade will depend upon the quality of metrology institutes in India.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anil Jain

ANIL JAIN, born on 17th August 1951, Dr Jain obtained the degree of Master of Science in Physics with specialization in Solid State Physics from the Kurukshetra University in 1974. He obtained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (Rajasthan) in 1991. His doctoral research work was guided by Dr S R Gowariker, then Director, Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh. His PhD thesis was awarded “Excellent” grade by the Board of Examiners.

Dr Jain is currently the President of Vaiseshika Electron Devices, Ambala Cantt. and established this company as an entrepreneur. He has designed and developed an array of calibration standards for temperature and pressure calibrations. The Vaiseshika calibration standards have been used in most of the regional test laboratories and state test laboratories in India with great confidence. Further the company has exported calibration standards to USA and Europe. His company Vaiseshika Electron Devices has been awarded the ISO 9002 accreditation by the Standardization, Testing and Quality Certification Directorate of the Government of India, New Delhi having affiliation to the Dutch Council for Accreditation, Utrecht, Netherlands. His company was also awarded the Best Instrument Trophy at WISITEX 1981 in Bombay for designing Digital Thermocouple Test Set and Calibrator.

Dr Jain has been teaching the subject of Instrumentation Technology at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani since 1989 as Associate Faculty. He has been awarded IMM- Bata Silver Trophy for Excellence in Management in 1989. He has been awarded the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award for Import Substitution and Design of Calibration Standards by the Government of Haryana in 1999.