Abstract
A modern industrial society depends upon the availability of a sound metrological infrastructure for its success. In the UK this is provided by the metrologists and standards laboratories that contribute to the National Measurement System. Although it is known that the total cost of measurement activity is very high, there is a surprising dearth of detailed information about the numbers of metrologists in the NMS, their qualifications, and the roles that they play. Consequently, although there is general agreement as to the existence of a shortage of skilled metrologists, it is not clear what should be done to rectify the situation.
In this paper the role of the metrologist is first briefly discussed. It is concluded that recent rapid advances in technology have created the need for a new breed of gnetralagist, who must combine the traditional skills of his predecessors with a more flexible approach and a greater breadth of coverage. He must also be computer literate. Estimates are then presented for both the total number of metrologists in the NMS and the number that should be trained annually.
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