Measurement Uncertainty Budgets

PROGRAM (Subject to change)

DAY 1

1. Basic Terminology
      a)   Why do we need uncertainty and what is it?
      b)   Importance of uncertainty in measurements
      c)   Uncertainty analysis concepts
      d)   Measurements, error and uncertainty
      e)   Uncertainty components (contributors to error)
       f)   Random and systematic errors

2. Basic Statistics Concepts

      a)   Populations and Samples
      b)   Data, means, modes and medians
      c)   Standard deviation and variance
      d)   Distributions
      e)   RSS (Root-sum-squares)
       f)   Confidence levels
      g)   Combination of uncertainties
      h)   Statistical math for uncertainty analysis
       i)   The analysis process
       j)   Type A computations
      k)   Type B computations
       l)   Combining uncertainties (Applying RSS)
     m)   Correlated and uncorrelated data
      n)   Sensitivity coefficients (multipliers for weighting)
      o)   Degrees of freedom
      p)   Expanded uncertainty

3. Understanding the Uncertainty Budget

      a)   Role in accreditation, liability, traceability
      b)   Accepted definitions of uncertainty, e.g., GUM (others?)
      c)   Analyzing and interpreting data
      d)   Uncertainty statements and notes

DAY 2

4. Controlling Measurements and Processes

      a)   Measurement assurance programs
      b)   Check standards
      c)   Control charts
      d)   Error budgets

5. Reporting Uncertainty

      a)   ISO “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement”

6. Developing an Uncertainty Budget

      a)   Evaluation of accuracy ratios for instruments
      b)   Quantifying random uncertainties (examples and problems)
      c)   Quantifying systematic uncertainties (examples and problems)
      d)   Addition of notes