Edwards measurement lab passes evaluation with precision

Published Feb. 9, 2011
By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien
95th Air Base Wing

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Edwards Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory passed with precision a recent evaluation that ensures the lab performs measurements that are safe, accurate, reliable and traceable.

The Air Force Metrology and Calibration Center performed the biannual evaluation Jan. 18 through Jan. 27.

"Overall we did outstanding," said Daniel Tibayan, PMEL flight chief. "There are six areas inspected and we passed in every one of them."

"Each PMEL has to be recertified every two years," Mr. Tibayan said. "A team comes and they spend two weeks here assessing our calibration lab and they found no discrepancies, certifying us to perform calibrations for another two years."

Mr. Tibayan said that calibration is an integral part of Edwards because it validates the specific measurement techniques of equipment across the base.

"Calibrations are very important to flight test because we ensure that the equipment they are using makes valid measurements. So when a test is performed they know the platform they're testing on is correct," he said.

"We calibrate everything from micrometers, to torque wrenches and airplane scales. And it's not just limited to flight test. We also calibrate the radar guns used by the 95th Security Forces Squadron and equipment used at the base hospital along with just about everything else that has some type of physical property," Mr. Tabiyan said.

The assessment was conducted on a pass or fail basis in the primary functional areas of management system, measurement capability, quality program, facility, environmental control system and proficiency testing/measurement assurance program.

Along with passing the evaluation in each functional area, the PMEL also had four noteworthy findings including management review and their upgrade training program.

"I'm happy with my team for the hard work they put forth each day," Mr. Tibayan said. "The positive findings of this assessment are a reflection of what our team does every day."

They selected 25 items and reviewed them for accuracy," Mr. Tibayan said. "None of our outgoing items failed."

"In our over-the-shoulder evaluation we had zero defects with eight of our technicians, all of which had less than three years‟ experience," he said.