Role in the technical infrastructure
The National Measurement Institute (NMI) is Australia’s measurement authority, responsible for the administration of the National Measurement Act and for advising the Australian Government on issues relevant to scientific and legal metrology.
NMI realises, develops, maintains and disseminates Australia’s peak measurement standards for physical, chemical and biological measurement (see case studies below), conducts world class research into new measurement techniques, and is responsible for Australia’s legal metrology framework. It also regulates the use of measuring instruments, such as petrol bowsers and supermarket scales, in domestic trade in Australia.
NMI ensures Australia’s measurement standards are internationally recognised and are at a level comparable to those of its major trading partners, and that industry, commerce, government authorities and the general community can have confidence in transactions based on measurement.
NMI supports the other elements of the standards and conformance infrastructure by contributing measurement expertise in relevant activities. For example, NMI experts work as assessors with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) in accreditation of laboratories and proficiency testing. NMI experts are also members of Australia’s delegations to the international standards setting committees of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), on behalf of Standards Australia.
Structure and governance
NMI is a division of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It is accountable to the relevant minister for industry, and through the minister, to the Australian Parliament. NMI’s Chief Metrologist has functions conferred under the National Measurement Act 1960 and subordinate regulations.
NMI was established on 1 July 2004 by bringing together 3 agencies into one organisation responsible for the Australian Government’s peak metrology functions. On 1 July 2010, NMI became responsible for the national trade measurement system when the Commonwealth assumed responsibility for trade weights and measures from the states and territories.
NMI has staff working across Australia, including research and analytical laboratories in Sydney and Melbourne, along with a network of trade measurement offices in other capital cities and regional locations.
Operations
NMI undertakes scientific research to keep Australia’s measurement standards in step with the ever-increasing technological demand for accurate measurements. NMI also develops reference materials to meet the needs of regulators and industry for analysis and testing in chemistry and biology.
NMI provides calibration and consultancy services for Australian industry, trade, defence and commerce, and provides measurement standards in support of environmental protection, health and safety.
It also provides pattern approval for measuring instruments. These include all types of weighing equipment and liquor, petrol, liquid petroleum gas and compressed natural gas dispensers.
NMI constantly aims to improve client satisfaction and productivity by monitoring key performance indicators including revenue, costs, and turn-around times. NMI also plays an active role in the development of measurement skills in industry, government and the community by offering training courses, collaborative research projects, and supervising under- and post-graduate students.
International engagement
In the area of metrology, Australia is a signatory to the 2 inter-governmental treaties in metrology:
- Convention of the Metre
- Convention of the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML).
NMI fulfils Australia’s responsibilities under both of these treaties. It provides expert representation in the peak scientific committees and activities of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) established under the Metre Convention and corresponding committees established under the Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP). Similarly, NMI officers participate in the technical committees in legal metrology established under the OIML and actively participate in relevant fora under Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF).
The participation of our experts in these peak global forums is important to maintaining the currency of NMI’s expertise (including through international research collaboration), to ensure that Australia keeps abreast of international trends and drivers and to voice Australian interests and issues at these levels.
NMI is Australia’s signatory to the international frameworks for recognition and acceptance established under the Metre Treaty and the OIML Convention. These are the CIPM MRA and the OIML Certification System (OIML-CS).
Under the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA), signatories participate in a range of international measurement comparisons to demonstrate their capabilities. Signatories also submit their calibration and measurement capabilities for rigorous international peer review before publication in the international database that forms the technical basis of the CIPM MRA. NMI’s participation in these activities ensures international credibility for Australia’s measurement system and underpins testing and certification of traded products and services.
NMI is also an active participant in activities of the OIML, including development of model regulations for pattern approval of measuring instruments used for trade or regulatory purposes. OIML has established an international certification scheme as well as the OIML-CS for the international acceptance of test reports. NMI also cooperate with international counterparts on the development of measurement and documentary standards to support new and emerging technologies.
Regional cooperation
In the Asia-Pacific region, NMI is Australia’s official representative to the 2 key regional bodies for scientific and legal metrology, the APMP and the APLMF respectively. NMI participates at the governance level (executive committee) of both the APMP and APLMF.