What is Metrology Part 10: Certification

CMS Certified

In any field or industry, being certified makes one a hot commodity. I personally think that the school model is out of date and that people who are serious about certain industries, should focus solely on getting certified. A lot of market sectors and businesses look at certification as a sign that you can come in and do a job without the need of training and coaching. Time is of value to an organization. Hiring individuals without requisite skills is daunting, so certifications make life easy for organizations. In the field of metrology, there seems to be a big push towards certification. It makes sense that this field would want this though. Dealing with such precision requires people who know what they are doing. Anyone who is off in the way they work will cost the organization a various amount of problems. Today we will look into the metrology industry and how it is looking to utilize certifications.

3D Metrology is being integrated into manufacturing processes at a rapid pace. Data collection technologies were originally only used by scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. These technologies are now being used by technicians and shop-floor personnel for industrial applications. Measurement equipment is calibrated and certified to performance standards. A majority  of people operating this equipment lack certification. Many operator-induced variables and errors can influence the quality of the data collected.

From my understanding there is a high value for individuals in this field with certification. The first value add is showing that you actually care for precision. Someone who is gaining a certification in metrology is essentially stating that they want to be in the small percentage of people who have such a technical and precise certification. The second value add of this certification is the ease of access to employment. Manufacturing jobs are readily growing, and the need for precision on the shop floor is increasing everyday. Thus having a certification in 3D metrology puts you in the driver’s seat of an interesting and rapidly evolving technical career.

Metrology Global Market

The main entity that focuses on metrology certification is The Coordinate Metrology Society. CMS is comprised of users of 3D portable and traditional measurement technologies, service providers, and OEM manufacturers of close-tolerance industrial coordinate measurement systems, software, and peripherals. The professional organization offers Level-One and Level-Two Certification programs for career enhancement. The membership gathers each year at their annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) to gain knowledge of the advancements and applications of any measurement system or software solution that produces and uses 3D coordinate data.

3D Coordinate Data

Currently there seems to be a large retiring workforce within the field of metrology. This can leave that field to be very lucrative for anyone who is young and willing to break into a field that seems to have low level barriers to entry. It also shows that there is room for disruption within this field, but it just depends on who decides to enter it. From the outside, it does not seem like the most exciting field, but truthfully it is extremely universal and it allows anyone to touch various sectors within the manufacturing industry. Everything that is manufactured needs to have dimensions attached to it. Thus the field of metrology is essential in all types of manufacturing industries. This is where the real excitement comes.

The current mission of the Certification Committee for the CMS is to satisfy the identified industry need for professional certifications in 3D metrology. The committee is currently identifying existing certification programs that may fulfill this need and, where such programs do not exist, develop appropriate certifications. The vision of the Certification committee is to be an integral part of the CMS Education Strategy, supporting the educational goals for the future of metrology outreach, STEM, and skills for industry and science. The CMS committee is aware of the value that can be garnished from actually beginning the certification process of metrology. Being certified in this now can lead to a long career of technology. This committee just announced this year the launch of the CMM Level 1 Certification Programs in 2019. The CMS Certification Committee will continue to develop examinations for the industry’s first 3D Scanner User Communities. I find this very interesting as this is showing that the field recognizes the need for certification, and I am assuming that manufacturing organizations are looking for individuals skilled in this field as well.

Currently my main takeaways are the following:

• Certification is a great way to stand out within your industry of choice.
• In the manufacturing field, there is a greater need for metrology experts than one would imagine.

I am excited to learn more about this and how one can involve themselves within metrology and the manufacturing fields.