Industrial (Applied, Technical) Metrology

Industrial metrology is concerned with the application of measurement science to manufacturing and other processes and their use in society, ensuring the suitability of measurement instruments, their calibration and quality control of measurements.

It ensures that instruments used in industry are functioning properly. The industry is forced to make measurements on raw materials, processes and finished products, dealing among other applications, that the finished products conform to quality standards and specifications or keep within the parameters of  established manufacturing processes. The quality of a product may not be better than the quality of measurements to manufacture, they are inextricably linked.

Industrial Metrology is mainly concerned with the measurement of length, mass, volume, temperature, pressure, voltage, current and several other physical and chemical parameters needed for industrial production and process control. It involves the maintenance of accurate dimensional and other physical parameters of manufactured products to ensure that they conform to prescribed quality standards.

Metrological activities, calibration, testing and measurements are valuable inputs to ensure the quality of many industrial and quality of life related activities and processes. This includes the need to demonstrate traceability, which is becoming just as important as the measurement itself. Recognition of metrological competence at each level of the traceability chain can be established through mutual recognition agreements or arrangements, for example the CIPM MRA and ILAC MRA, and through accreditation and peer review.