Advanced Topics on Quality and Metrology

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of quality control and statistics.

Teaching Methods

The recommended teaching methods give a strong emphasis on the laboratory field work, and to tutorials in a research analytical/quality control laboratory. Some tutorial and practical work will be performed at the TAIL-UC (Trace Analysis and Imaging Laboratory), located in the Physics Department of the University of Coimbra.

Learning Outcomes

Specific learning outcomes:

A solid knowledge of the main metrology techniques used for measurement of the main physical quantities, including instrumentation and calibration;

A solid knowledge of quality control policies, including those required for laboratory and analytical methods certification;

Acquiring good laboratory working methods fulfilling the rules of quality control;

Generic learning outcomes:

Training capacities for organisation of data and documentation including bibliographic search

Development of autonomy in laboratory work, following good quality practices

Training of soft skills related to presentation of data in reports and scientific communication

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1- Quality. Quality policies. Documentation, standards, calibration, certification, traceability.
2- Quality systems.
3- Concepts of metrology
4- Measurements and uncertainties. Statistical tools.
5- Advanced topics of metrology (involving the following techniques and instrumentation: mass spectroscopy, XRF, EDS, magnetometry, interferometry, etc.

Head Lecturer(s)

José António de Carvalho Paixão

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report of a seminar or field trip: 50.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 50.0%

Bibliography

The Metrology Handbook, J.L. Bucher, 2012, ASQ press, ISBN: 0873898389

The Physics of Metrology: All about Instruments: From Trundle Wheels to Atomic Clock, A. Hebra, Springer, 2010, ISBN: 3211783806