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Curriculum Outline

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Revised November 2007

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1.0 Fundamentals of Weights and Measures

1.1  Introduction to Weights and Measures Programs
1.2  Weights and Measures Laws and Regulations
1.3  Field Standards and Test Equipment
1.4  State Program Scope and Overview

2.0 Weights and Measures Administration

2.1  Fundamentals of Weights and Measures Administration
2.2  Administration Functions
2.3  Legislation and Regulations
2.4  Regulatory Control
2.5  Laboratory Metrology Administration
2.6  Public Relations and Communications

3.0 Laboratory Metrology

3.1  NIST Basic Metrology
3.2  NIST Advanced Metrology

4.0 Device Control Program

4.1  Safety Consideration - Device Control
4.2  NIST Handbook 44 - Introduction to Device Control
4.3  Weighing Systems - General
4.4  Dynamic Measuring Systems - General
4.5  Static Volume Measuring Systems - General
4.6  Other Measuring Systems
4.7  Quality Measuring

5.0 Market Practices, Laws and Regulations and Commodities (NIST Handbook 130 and 133)

5.1  Safety Considerations - Market Practices
5.2  NIST Handbook 130 - Laws and Regulations
5.3  NIST Handbook 133 - Net Contents of Packaged Goods
5.4  Test Purchases
5.5  E-Commerce


1.0 Fundamentals of Weights and Measures

1.1 Introduction to Weights and Measures Programs

  • History
  • Need for Weights and Measures
  • Roles of Society
  • System of Weights and Measures
  • Associations
    • Regional, State, Federal
  • Federal Agencies
  • Relationship to National and International Weights and Measures
  • Weights and Measures in U.S. and Your State

1.2 Weights and Measures Laws and Regulations

  • Relationship to National and International Weights and Measures

1.3 Field Standards and Test Equipment

  • Field Standards
  • Test Equipment
  • Metrology Laboratory

1.4 State Program Scope and Overview

  • State Laws
  • State Administrative Issues
    • Completion of Administrative Forms
    • Review of Rules and Policies

2.0 Weights and Measures Administration

2.1 Fundamentals of Weights and Measures Administration

  • Understanding the Commercial Measurement System
  • Complete Scope of Weights and Measures Inspections
  • Responsibilities of Weights and Measures Regulatory Official
    • Consumer Protection
    • Fair Competition
    • Facilitating Value Comparisons
  • Powers and Duties of Officials
    • Weighmaster Considerations
  • Organizational Structure
  • Funding Considerations
    • Licensing of Weights and Measures Devices
    • Licensing of Service Agencies
    • Conflicts of Interest
  • Roles of Stakeholders
    • Manufacturers
    • Packagers
    • Retailers
    • Service Agencies
  • Economic Impact
  • Strategic Planning and Goals

2.2  Administration Functions

  • Personnel
    • Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
    • Training
  • Management
  • Strategic Planning and Goals
  • Budget
  • Organizational Structure
  • Education
    • Officials
    • Administrative Staff
    • Public
  • Safety

2.3  Legislation and Regulations

  • Legal Considerations
    • Due Process
    • Stop Orders
    • Standards Development Prosecution
    • Court
  • Concurrent Federal and State Jurisdiction
  • Federal Pre-emption
  • Interaction with Legislature, Stakeholders and Industry

2.4  Regulatory Control

  • Device Inspection
  • Type Evaluation, Initial Verification and Subsequent Inspection
  • Commodity Inspection
  • Economic Impact
  • Complaints
  • Record Keeping
  • Forms

2.5  Laboratory Metrology Administration

  • Purpose of the Laboratory
  • Responsibilities of the Metrologist
  • NIST Expectations of the Laboratory
  • Rationale for the Requirements for Recognition of the Laboratory
  • Important Considerations for Laboratory Operation
  • Factors Driving Changes in Laboratory Requirements
  • Quality System
  • NVLAP Accreditation
  • Hierarchy of Laboratory Standards
  • Calibration Intervals for All Standards
  • Annual RMAP Round Robins and Training
  • Laboratory Facility Requirements
  • Uncertainty Analysis
  • Management Review of Laboratory Operations

2.6  Public Relations and Communications

  • Publicity
  • Public Relations
  • Communication

3.0 Laboratory Metrology

3.1  NIST Basic Metrology

  • Introduction
  • Statistics
  • Uncertainty
  • Measurement Assurance
  • Standard Operating Procedures
    • Mass
    • Volume
  • Calibration
  • Calculations
  • Traceability

3.2  NIST Advanced Metrology

  • Program Philosophy
  • New Technology
  • Calibration Design Concepts
  • Computerized Workshops
  • Statistics for Quality
    • t-tests
    • F-tests
  • Workshop on Errors
  • Advanced Uncertainties
  • Software Workshop Integration of Advanced Concepts

4.0 Device Control Program

4.1  Safety Consideration - Device Control
4.2  NIST Handbook 44 - Introduction to Device Control

  • Terminology
  • NIST Handbook 44
  • Fundamental Considerations
  • Uncertainty
  • Safety
  • Support Equipment
  • Seals
  • Supports
  • General Enforcement Guidelines

4.3  Weighing Systems - General

  • Terminology
  • Scale Types
  • Technology
  • Suitability
  • User Requirements
  • Operation/Markings
  • Scale Classes and Tolerances
  • Basic Scale Test Procedures
  • Basic Inspection

Weighing Devices General Points

  • Common traits
  • Contents of EPO
    • Examination Specifications
    • User Requirements
    • Suitability
    • Test Equipment
    • Examination, Installation and Maintenance
    • Test Specifications
    • Evaluation
  • Field/Practical Exercises
    • 4.3.1    Static Electronic Weighing Systems, General
    • 4.3.2    Static Mechanical and Hybrid Weighing Systems, General
    • 4.3.3    Dynamic Weighing Systems, General
    • 4.3.4    Precision Weighing Systems Class I and II
    • 4.3.5    Small Capacity Weighing Systems Class III
    • 4.3.6    Medium Capacity Weighing Systems Class III
    • 4.3.7    Vehicle Scale Class III or IIIL
    • 4.3.8    Vehicle Scale Class III or IIIL – Advanced
    • 4.3.9    Railroad Track Scales
    • 4.3.10  In-Motion Railroad Track Scales
    • 4.3.11  Hopper Scale Systems
    • 4.3.12  Automatic Bulk Weighing Systems
    • 4.3.13  Automatic Weighing Systems
    • 4.3.14  Belt Conveyor Weighing Systems
    • 4.3.15  In-Motion Monorail Scales
    • 4.3.16  Point-of-Sale Scale Systems
    • 4.3.17  Other Specialty Weighing Systems

4.4  Dynamic Measuring Systems - General

  • Terminology
  • Measuring Device Types
  • Technology
  • Suitability
  • User Requirements
  • Operation and Markings
  • Tolerances
  • Basic LMD Tests
  • Basic LMD Inspections

Measuring Systems General Points

  • Terminology
  • Measuring Device Types
  • Technology
  • Suitability
  • User Requirements
  • Operation and Markings
  • Tolerances for LMDs
  • Basic LMD Test
  • Basic LMD Inspections
    • 4.4.1    Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers
    • 4.4.2    Loading Rack and Other Stationary Metering Systems
    • 4.4.3    Loading Rack and Other Stationary Metering Systems – Advanced
    • 4.4.4    Vehicle-Tank Meter Systems
    • 4.4.5    Vehicle-Tank Meter Systems – Advanced
    • 4.4.6    Milk Metering Systems
    • 4.4.7    Water Meters
    • 4.4.8    LPG/Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid Metering Systems
    • 4.4.9    LPG/Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid-Metering Systems - Advanced
    • 4.4.10  LPG Vapor Meter Systems
    • 4.4.11  Mass Flow Metering Systems
    • 4.4.12  Other Metering Systems (Cryogenics, Carbon Dioxide, etc.)

4.5  Static Volume Measuring Systems - General

  • Terminology
  • Measuring Device Types
  • Technology
  • Suitability
  • User Requirements
  • Operation and Markings
  • Tolerances
  • Basic Tests
  • Basic Inspections
    • 4.5.1     Liquid Measures
    • 4.5.2     Farm Milk Tanks
    • 4.5.3     Dry Measures

4.6  Other Measuring Systems

  • Terminology
  • Other Device Types
  • Technology
  • User Requirements
  • Operation and Markings
  • Tolerances
  • Suitability
  • Basic Tests
  • Basic Inspections
    • 4.6.1    Taximeters and Odometers
    • 4.6.2    Wire and Cordage Measuring Systems
    • 4.6.3    Linear Measures
    • 4.6.4    Timing Devices
    • 4.6.5    Weights
    • 4.6.6    Multiple Dimension Measuring Systems

4.7  Quality Measuring

  • Terminology
  • Measuring Device Types
  • Technology
  • Suitability
  • User Requirements
  • Operation and Markings
  • Tolerances
  • Basic Tests
  • Basic Inspections
    • 4.7.1     Grain Moisture Meters
    • 4.7.2     NIR Grain Analyzers
    • 4.7.3     Carcass Evaluation Systems


5.0 Market Practices, Laws and Regulations and Commodities (NIST Handbooks 130 and 133)

5.1 Safety Considerations - Market Practices

5.2 NIST Handbook 130 - Laws and Regulations

General Points

  • Terminology
  • NIST Handbook 130 Specifications and Requirements
  • Safety
  • Support Equipment
  • General Enforcement Guidelines
    • 5.2.1     NIST Handbook 130 - General Provisions
    • 5.2.2     Packaging and Labeling Requirements
    • 5.2.3     Method of Sale Regulations
    • 5.2.4     Quality of Automotive Fuels and Lubricants
    • 5.2.5     Price Verification

5.3 NIST Handbook 133 - Net Contents of Packaged Goods

General Points

  • Examination Specifications
  • Contents of EPO
    • Test Equipment
    • Examination
    • Test Specifications
  • Evaluation
  • Field/Practical Exercises
    • 5.3.1     Commodities - General
      • Terminology
      • Wet / Dry Tare
      • NIST Handbook 133 Specifications and Requirements
      • Uncertainty
      • Safety
      • Support Equipment
      • General Enforcement Guidelines
    • 5.3.2     Packages Labeled by Weight, Standard and Random
    • 5.3.3     Packages Labeled by Weight, Special Commodities
    • 5.3.4     Packages Labeled by Volume (Volumetric and Gravimetric Testing)
    • 5.3.5     Packages Labeled by Volume, Special
    • 5.3.6     Packages Labeled by Length / Area / Thickness
    • 5.3.7     Packages Labeled by Count
    • 5.3.8     Other Package Types

5.4 Test Purchases

  • Terminology
  • NIST Handbook 130 Specifications & Requirements
  • Safety
  • Support Equipment
  • General Enforcement Guidelines

5.5 E-Commerce

  • Terminology
  • NIST Handbook 130 Specifications and Requirements
  • Safety
  • Support Equipment
  • General Enforcement Guidelines

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Photos Courtesy of City of Seattle