Ignacio Hernández-Gutiérrez Centro Nacional de Metrología MÉXICO

1. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT SIM GENERAL ASSEMBLY September 2006 to September 2007 Ignacio Hernández-Gutiérrez Centro Nacional de Metrología MÉXICO Ottawa, Canada, September, 2007.

2. Purpose To present the main activities done, and those in process, of the Professional Development Committee since September 2006.

3. WORKSHOPS • Use of Multifunction Calibrators for Medium Accuracy • Organized by CENAM on October 24, 2006 • 17 participants from SIM and one non-region participant • Calibration of hydrometers • Took place at CENAM on November 21-23, 2006 • 20 participants from 15 countries • This workshop was the technical preparation for a comparison on density measurements by hydrometers that will include countries from the whole of the Americas. Two sets of hydrometers were acquired for this comparison. • Hydrometers play an important role on the measurement of density of liquids and it is extensively used in the transactions of refined liquid hydrocarbons, food and beverage industry.

4. WORKSHOPS • Measurement of torque course • Delivered in Lima, Peru, on November 27-29, 2006. • 10 participants from 5 countries. • Torque measurements have a big industrial importance related to mechanical assembly; they are extensively used in the automotive industry. • Gasoline dispensers metering course • Aimed to Government and Regulatory Officials. • Coordinated by CENAM and LATU, organized jointly with the 18th IMEKO World Congress “Metrology for a sustainable development” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 14, 2006. • The course dealt for the first time with topics of software protection and hardware safety, recognized as of great importance in local regulations and is expected to have enormous impact in consumer protection. • Mercosur is developing a new legal directive for fuel dispensers to address these issues.

5. WORKSHOPS • Two workshops on • Calibration of Sphygmomanometers • Santiago de Chile on November 21-23, 2006. • 14 participants from 8 countries. • Costa Rica on November 28-30, 2006 • 8 people from 5 countries. • The courses were organized at different locations in order to save travel expenses. • Sphygmomanometers are one of the most used diagnostic tools for measuring blood pressure and most of the countries in the Americas do not have regulations and controls that could result in life threatening misdiagnosis.

6. OTHER ACTIVITIES INFOSIM Bulletin An issue was edited and published by CENAM at the end of November 2006. The content of this issue is focused on recently presented articles that explain the importance and impact of metrology for the development of countries. It is expected that the content will motivate SIM countries to pursue continuous upgrades of their metrology capabilities

7. IN PROCESS … SIM Guidelines on Calibration of Non-automatic Weighing Instruments. Workshop To be held in Costa Rica, on November 6-9, 2007. The workshop is aimed to discuss the SIM Guidelines for publication. Workshop on the Steps to Achieve recognized Measurement Capabilities To be delivered by ABBS, LACOMET, LATU and CENAM In Costa Rica, on November 12-14, 2007. The workshop is aimed to share experiences on preparing CMCs, addressed to those NMI who are planning to submit CMCs or to get accredited on tests and calibrations.

8. IN PROCESS … INFOSIM Bulletin An issue is being prepared by CENAM, to be published on the last quarter 2007. It is devoted to legal metrology, given the high impact it represents on the daily life of societies. Next issues may be devoted to other topics like nanotechnologies, environment, food, …, in electronic format and higher frequency. • VIM 2007 IN SPANISH • Project aimed to produce an unified version in Spanish of the VIM 2007. • A draft has been proposed by CENAM, and some comments have been received. • Waiting for the BIPM / ISO approved version to tune up the draft and address all of the comments. • Expected to end at the first quarter 2008. • A meeting to discuss comments might be necessary.

9. PLANNED Metrología de presión con aplicación especial a balanzas de presión To be held in Lima, Peru, on December 10-14, 2007. Joint organization PTB-INDECOPI Sphygmomanometers and elastic element manometers Coordinated by Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, on December 17-20, 2007 (TBC). Workshop on Selected Topics of Dimensional Metrology Coordinated by CENAMEP, Panama, on January 30-31, 2008. Course in Legal Metrology January - February, 2008. Venue and dates TBC. If necessary, meeting to discuss comments and agreements on the final version in Spanish of the VIM-2007 January - February, 2008. Venue and dates TBC.

10. … AND FOR THE FUTURE Some guidances: • Seek harmonization of methods • Establish common pattern languages • Share experiences • Glue to the neighbors • But selecting the metrology suitable for our own country circunstances • Improve communication • Take more benefits from the technology: web, on-line training, …

11. AS A SUMMARY: I N F O S I M 2 0 0 6 I N F O S I M 2 0 0 7 V I M 2 0 0 7 S P A N I S H Sphygmomanometers Multifunction Calibrators SIM Guidelines CMC Hydrometers Sphygmomanometers and elastic element Dimensional Torque Presión Gasoline dispensers Sphygmomanometers

12. Thank you very much Ignacio Hernández-Gutiérrez Centro Nacional de Metrología México E-mail: ihernan@cenam.mx www.cenam.mx