CMC approval process

CMC approval process

 

CIPM MRA

The outcomes of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA) are the internationally recognized (peer-reviewed and approved) Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) of the participating institutes. Approved CMCs are publicly available in the BIPM Key Comparison Database (KCDB).

For full details please refer to the CIPM MRA documents. In case of any queries please contact the Executive Secretary of the Joint Committee of the Regional Metrology Organizations and the BIPM (JCRB).

CMC approval

 

Three fundamental elements

The three fundamental elements leading to approval of an Institute's CMCs are:

01

Participation by the Institute in reviewed and approved scientific comparisons;

02

Operation by the Institute of an appropriate and approved quality management system;

03

International peer-review (regional and inter-regional) of claimed calibration and measurement capabilities.

For CMC Writers

 

Preparing a CMC submission

The 3-point Checklist is for CMC Writers to confirm preparedness of a submission against the acceptance criteria before submitting the CMC claim for review.

3-point Checklist →

After publication

 

Monitoring the validity of published CMCs

Participation in comparisons and confirmation of the consistency of the results with the CMCs is an important method to monitor the validity of CMCs.

Confirmation of the quality management system used to support the CMCs is undertaken by the Regional Metrology Organizations (RMOs). It shall include methods below to achieve this monitoring.

  • Review of annual reports of the Institutes
  • A periodic review at the same level as the initial review, undertaken at an interval not exceeding five years.

CMC requirements

 

When a CMC does not fulfil the requirements under the CIPM MRA

CMCs that do not fulfil the requirements are either placed under temporary withdrawal ("Greyed-Out") or deleted from the KCDB. Greyed-Out CMCs are reinstated according to an established confirmation process to ensure that the CMC acceptance criteria are again fulfilled.

CIPM MRA

 

Operation of the CIPM MRA

The JCRB is responsible for the coordination of data provided by the RMOs, and other actions undertaken by them to promote confidence in calibration and measurement certificates. The JCRB operates under the auspices of the CIPM and comprises representatives of the RMOs. The BIPM Director chairs the JCRB, supported by the JCRB Executive Secretary, and the BIPM maintains the CIPM MRA database (KCDB).