It is now widely recognized that, in order to maximize its utility, measurement data should be properly analyzed to include an evaluation of their associated uncertainties. Such uncertainties allows for a meaningful comparison of the measurement data and for an assessment of their reliability. Therefore the expression of uncertainty is important not only in the specialized field of scientific metrology, but also in industry, trade and commerce. In particular, many test and calibration organizations are now tasked to meet the requirements set forth in ISO/IEC 17025, which calls explicitly for methods of evaluating and reporting measurement uncertainty in all kinds of measurement. General rules for these purposes are given in the internationally accepted Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement, generally known as the GUM.
The GUM represents a consensus of the world metrology community, reflecting a huge effort of the following seven international organizations: BIPM, IEC, IFCC, ISO, IUPAC, IUPAP, and OIML. An international organization was established in 1998: the Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM). Working Group 1 of the JCGM has the task to promote the use of the GUM and to prepare supplementary guides and other documents for its broad application. Its members are the seven organizations listed above, together with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
The documents currently planned by Working Group 1 of the JCGM (JCGM/WG1) comprise an introductory document, a document concerned with concepts and basic principles, three supplements to the GUM, and two documents concerned with the use of measurement uncertainty in the context of (a) conformance to specified requirements and (b) the application of the method of least squares1.
1 W. Bich, M.G. Cox, and P.M. Harris: Evolution of the 'Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement', Metrologia 43 (4), S161-S166, 2006
Scientists, engineers, managers, auditors, consultants and representatives from universities, governmental agencies, industry and commerce, calibration and test laboratories, and national metrology institutes. It is assumed that the attendees are familiarized with the GUM.