Ivan Skubic, Nineta Majcen, Paul De Bièvre, Philip Taylor
METROLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS RELATED TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN SLOVENIA

An approach to set up an appropriate and optimal national infrastructure for measurements related to quality of life in Slovenia is described. It is based on an analysis of the needs of the global society, of the national needs and priorities and on the national capabilities. The implementation of the conclusions into practice has started. As in general measurements in chemistry and microbiology were not yet systematically tackled, the approach given here might serve as a model to enable other countries to establish a suitable national metrology infrastructure, which would adequately support the national needs in chemical and microbiological measurements.

Salvador Echeverría-Villagómez
EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISMS FOR STRUCTURED GROWTH OF METROLOGICAL SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

The paper presents a robust methodology and an integral strategy to develop optimal metrological infrastructures in unstable economic environments and imperfect markets, as those presented in developing economies. This methodology can be applied at two levels:
I.- Within an organization, e.g. an industry or company, and
II.- Within an economy, e.g. an economy, country or region.
The methodology is the MESURA® Program which is applied by metrology consultants to particular organizations and the corresponding strategy is the creation of a laboratory network based on a franchise scheme, the MESURA® Network.
The paper presents the objectives, principles and mechanisms of operation of MESURA®. Emphasis is given to the evolutionary principles of the strategy, which allow the implementation of metrological systems and infrastructures with the following characteristics:
• Adapted to their environment
• Viable in technical aspects
• Viable in economical aspects
• Fit for structured growth
• Fit for reproduction
The MESURA® Program and the Network have been developed, implemented and proved in Mexico and have found conceptual acceptance and application also in other countries. The final section includes an evaluation of its development and recommendations for its potential application in other developing economies.

Austin S. Khulumula
DEVELOPMENT OF METROLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA

The development of metrology infrastructure in African Member States has been the mandate given to ARSO by the African Union (AU) previously the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in its Treaty. ARSO fulfils this role through coordination mechanism that harmonizes the sub-regional metrology programmes, arrangements of training of personnel with the support of cooperating partners and African Governments. ARSO ensures, through its programmes the maximum sharing of facilities among African Member States in order to enhance the measurement capabilities of countries in the African economies for better competitiveness of goods and services.

Carlos Hall Barbosa, Elisabeth Costa Monteiro, Flávia Pompéia
LOCALIZATION OF MAGNETIC FOREIGN BODIES IN HUMANS USING MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS

A technique had been previously developed, based on magnetic field measurements using a SQUID sensor, to localise in three dimensions steel needles lost in the human body. In all six cases that were treated until now, the technique allowed easy surgical localisation of the needles with high accuracy, decreasing by a large factor the surgery time and also reducing the generally high odds of failure. The method is accurate, non-invasive and innocuous, with clear clinical importance. In this paper we present preliminary measurements performed with a fluxgate magnetometer instead of a SQUID.

Zdenek Malec, Petr Beneš
AN AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FOR MEASURING OF PROPERTIES OF PRECISION GEARBOXES

This paper deals in its first part especial requirements which must be fulfilled by gearboxes being used in applications demanding very high accuracy: uniformity of motion, exactly described hysteresis loop, limited vibrations and good efficiency. In the second part the basic conception of a realised experimental stand is described. The stand allows to perform all measurements, data acquisition and evaluation mentioned later. The control of all components of the measuring stand and the necessary data processing and final presentation of results is performed by a PC.