Materiales de referencia y comparaciones interlaboratorios
55
II. Development of the National Metrology Network
II.1. Decision base on economic benefit study
The economic importance of measurement structure arises from the fact
that all industrial activity depends on accurate measurements of compo-
nents and production processes at each stage from R&D, through pro-
duction to marketing. Indeed in a wider sense the use of measurement
in society also adds an economic dimension, as does the requirement for
measurement and testing after a product’s death that is when the envi-
ronmental impact of disposal has to be taken into account.[2]
There are some concepts related with the evaluation of the cost - benefit
ratio that was taking in count to establish the Chilean Metrology Net-
work, those were:
1. Market Selection
2. Appropriation
3. International Trade
The market place concept was fundamental to fix which measurement
technologies or which technical measures and measurement tech-
niques were necessary to solve the market place requirements.Often the
process of competition leads to one product or service becoming domi-
nant within the market and perhaps even setting the market standard.
Based on that, the decision was taken to solve the requirements of some
specific industrial measurements like pressure,length,mass,temperature
and force.
The second step was how to solve the potential conflict between appro-
priation and the social benefits of the network structure. Measures and
measurement techniques have many of the elements of a public good
and wide scope to deliver positive externalities.These are maximised the
wider is the diffusion of knowledge. However this leads to a conflict be-
tween the social benefits that arise from measurement technology and
the private costs of producing the technology in the first place.
To solve that the Chilean metrology network has been establish under
the concepts of “laboratories contestable”, this means that the designat-
ed laboratories are not “owner ” of “designation”, only they manage the
magnitude, meaning that If there is another institution which has inter-
est and best measurements capabilities (BMC`s) in some specific magni-
tude, there will be a new designation.[3]
In other way there is some incentive to participate of the network like:
1. recognition
2. access to public funds to maintain their BMC`s or to improve that.
3. access to an increase number of metrological services
The third step was the understanding of how the national measurement
systems were a potential source of competitive advantage, which could
support domestic industries and industrial development and could pro-
tect domestic markets by creating idiosyncratic standards, which differ-
entiate domestic goods in terms of quality and familiarity.
The concepts was when international measurement standards are ad-
opted there is an opportunity for specialization in production of mea-
surement instruments.Domestic investment in measurement know-how
can help support the domestic measurement instrumentation sector,
which in turn can have positive spillovers to other industries.
II.2. Formal designation and corporate image
To improve the Chilean Metrology Network the Physikalisch-Technische
Bundesanstalt (PTB) of Germany has been supporting that implementa-
tion by funds, know how and training. In that way was establish that the
mission of the National Network of Metrology of Chile (RNM) is to guar-
antee and to scatter the traceable of national measurements that are
made with the finally to in benefit of the industry and the manufacture,
the export and the commerce, the protection of the consumer and the
environment, the regulating beings and the society in general. For that
reason the RNM must obtain and fortify the international recognition.
Also the mission of the RNM create conscience and spread the knowl-
edge and the importance of the metrology in the industry and the com-
Institution
Decree
National Desi-
gantion
Cesmec
775 de 30 de Diciembre de 1999 Mass
Cesmec
775 de 30 de Diciembre de 1999 Temperature
Enaer
76 de 21 de Abril de 2003
Pressure
Table 1. National Laboratories Decree
merce, science and teaching, the public and the private sector as well as
in the society in general.
The RNM is working under a formal regulation, which include the nomi-
nation to all laboratories by the Ministry of Economy of Chile,as is shown
as example in table 1,and the recognition of a internal regulation (Regla-
Figure 2: Chilean Metrology Network
Logo
mento Red Nacional de Metrologia ).That regulation include the respon-
sibilities to all constituent part as Ministry of Economy (MINECON), Na-
tional Institute of Standardization (INN), and the National Laboratories.
The next step was to create a corporate image dealing with a national
Logo, as shown in Fig.2, and to create the conscience that the Chilean
Metrology Network must be work under the concept of“ Virtual National
Metrology Institute”
Figure 3: Chilean Metrology Network
