Product category:
Engineering Industry Developments and Awards
News Release from: NWML (National Weights and Measures Laboratory)
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 29 September 2004
China looks to NWML for best practice
The UK National Weights and Measures Laboratory has forged close links with the Chinese Government on legal metrology protocol, with the signature of an official memorandum of understanding.
The UK National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) has forged close links with the Chinese Government on legal metrology protocol, with the signature of an official memorandum of understanding Lord Sainsbury signed the charter with Vice Minister Li, which allows the result of tests carried out at NWML to be accepted by Chinese laboratories
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CAE technology conference attracts big guns
This year's Altair Technology Conference will take place on 2nd November at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon.
Jargon buster cuts through the ATEX jungle
ABB has published an "ATEX jargon buster" that helps motor users cut through the jungle of terms and definitions that make up the new ATEX Directives.
Type approval for measuring instruments in China is currently a two-stage process.
After the completion of the testing phase, manufacturers' operations must then be audited, making it more complicated for overseas businesses to set up in China.
However, the new memorandum is set to ease this process, as manufacturers of any equipment where legal metrology is a requirement, such as gas meters, checkweighers or petrol pumps can now eliminate the need for a second set if tests in China.
Further reading
New general manager for drives, motors, machines
Steve Ruddell is the new general manager of ABB's drives, motors and machines division in the UK.
Government needs to support vocational training
The Government needs to be more supportive of firms willing to participate in vocational qualifications and training schemes, a West Midlands' engineering company has warned
NWML's close collaboration with China began back in September 2003, with the secondment of a senior expert in metrology and quality supervision.
Yue Bao joined the team at Teddington to learn more about the UK legal metrology system and investigate how the two nations could collaborate to improve trading procedures.
As a highly educated employee of the Chinese Government, Bao is no stranger to best practice.
Her role as Vice Director of the Auditing Centre at the Liaoning Provincial Bureau of Metrology and Quality Supervision includes the position of Senior Lead Auditor for several quality management systems and she is internationally recognised as an IATCA-IRCA QMS Senior Auditor.
Her interest in coming to NWML stems from its recognition as an international leader in the field of legal metrology: "The UK system is now extremely well-established and many countries look to it for guidance as the leading international authority".
"With the introduction of the EU Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) in 2006, territories outside the EU could be influenced to adopt similar systems".
"Accreditation laboratories in China are certainly keen to collaborate internationally now that more foreign businesses are setting up manufacturing operations there".
During her time at NWML, Bao has carried out extensive auditing work, including projects with the BSI, NPL and DTI.
To strengthen links between the two nations, she has helped design and organise a course for Chinese Government officials in October, which will give them an introduction to the UK metrology system.
Commenting on her secondment, Jeff Llewellyn, Chief Executive of NWML said: "Mrs Bao has made an outstanding contribution to NWML during her time here".
"We have certainly gained an invaluable insight into procedures in China and have secured a platform for further co-operation between the two nations in future".
• NWML (National Weights and Measures Laboratory): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
