All eighteen resident test engineers (TE) of the UPLB Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) attended the Industrial Calibration training facilitated by the DOST Metal Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) through a Zoom webinar last October 10-11, 2024. 

The two-day virtual training was part of the ongoing project to prepare the center for ISO 17025:2017 accreditation by equipping its staff with the essential knowledge and skills to improve its laboratories’ operations. As the lead technical staff directly managing the technologies in the unit’s premiere laboratories, the TEs were acquainted with the processes and procedures vital to maintaining the several test equipment available in the Center.

In particular, the training involved lectures and discussions mainly focused on proper calibration practices and technical principles for calibrating temperature, pressure, and mass-measuring instruments. It also highlighted the significance of calibration as a requisite for ISO quality systems, such as ISO 17025. 

Furthermore, the participants also had an opportunity to tour the calibration facility operated by the DOST-MIRDC virtually.  It was an opportunity for the TEs to raise their questions and tackle some essential matters that are more contextualized to AMTEC’s laboratories.

Apart from calibration, relevant topics such as document control, tracking of measurement equipment, training records, and planning for customer contacts were also discussed during the training. The event was kicked off and wrapped up through a pre and post-test administered by the training facilitators, to assess the participant’s level of learning outcomes. 

AMTEC is set to join more related training events in the months to come in continuation of its program in capacitating the technical and other administrative staff for the Center’s goal of making its laboratories accredited to ISO. 

Meanwhile, the Center also aims to strengthen its partnerships with agencies and other non-government institutions by collaborating through training and other similar events. To date, DOST-MIRDC has already provided multiple avenues for AMTEC to benchmark and learn from its best practices that will be relevant to the Center’s operations.