Metrology is a term that you don’t usually come across as an average person. For those who work in industries that involve this word, then this may not be something new to you. It’s a term you don’t always hear in daily conversations, and if you ask a lot of people about it, they might not have any idea what it is. For those who have been recommended to get trusted metrology services, you have to first find out what the term implies. If you want to learn more about metrology, here is everything you need to know about it.
If you look at the term ‘metrology,’ you should know that it is Greek in origin and derives from the words ‘metron’ and ‘logos.’ If you translate them, they imply the study of measurement. The history of measurement dates back to the ancient times in Egypt and Greece. At their time, they were able to cut the precise size of stones to build their projects because of the use of a measurement standard with regular calibrations.
In the present, however, measurement systems that both professionals and average individuals use come from the industrial revolution. Prior to this time period, creating parts of items means that craftsmen need to go by each part individually. The necessary changes will be made by the craftsmen when two of these parts don’t fit well. These individuals did not pay particular attention to accuracy and the use of a measurement standard because all items they created were uniquely handcrafted each.
When the late 18th century came, though, the standards of manufacturing began changing. There were French musket producers that wanted to make sure that the parts of their products are interchangeable. For parts to fit any gun, arms manufacturers created these interchangeable parts so that the army will not have a hard time repairing their broken muskets fast.
In the years that followed, a lot of arms producers started to copy these methods and then developed more by themselves. There were also production lines created by American gun makers where every operation involved in making a product makes use of a certain machine. Different parts will then be assembled for the finished product to be created. It was not necessary anymore to utilize the skills of workers for every part to be manufactured using this technique. For this time, manufacturers relied on machines that only need operating by unskilled operator hands.
Currently, metrology or the study of measurement applies to various fields, such as engineering, manufacturing, and science and technology. Within these fields, metrology is utilized to verify and validate any predefined standards. These standards are the pillars of metrology. This is why certified laboratories must make sure to verify and test these standards against a recognized quality system. There are different subfields of metrology, namely legal metrology, industrial metrology, and scientific metrology. For those who are interested in these subfields, don’t forget to click the link for more info.