Make metrology a standard occupation (Guest Commentary)
By Chris Grachanen, Hewlett-Packard -- Test & Measurement World, 6/2/2008 2:00:00 PM
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Chris Grachanen |
We know that metrology is the bedrock upon which all US commerce and manufacturing is built and that persons engaged in metrology/calibration activities provide services vital to the US economy and national defense. It is also widely known that in the US there is a critical shortage of technical personnel posed to replace retiring baby boomers. The DOL’s SOC provides formal recognition of job descriptions, which are the basis for its Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) used by educators and counselors to inform students about career opportunities. If the SOC does not include metrology job descriptions neither will the OOH. SOC 2010 proposed changes may be found at: www.bls.gov/soc/soc_structure_2010.pdf.
The SOC is updated once every 10 years. The proposed changes to the 2010 SOC has a comment period from May 23 to July 21, 2008. We need your help to convince the DOL that metrology job descriptions should be included in the 2010 SOC.
Please e-mail your comments to:
soc@omb.eop.gov with the subject line: 2010 SOC
Your comments should include the logic and reasoning as to why the SOC should include metrology job descriptions, because this is the focus of SOC administrators when evaluating comments.
Some compelling arguments for including metrology job descriptions in the SOC are:
“There are no existing standard occupational classifications that describe what tasks metrology/calibration practitioners perform.”
“Searching the SOC for ‘Calibration’ and ‘Metrology’ finds no standard occupational classifications. Searching the SOC for ‘Calibrate’ finds two unrelated standard occupational classifications that erroneously use the word ‘calibrate’ to describe ‘alignments’ they perform.”
“Metrology/calibration practitioners provide services critical to the US economy and national defense.”
“There are thousands of people in the US employed in metrology/calibration positions.”
You may also contact Katherine K. Wallman, Chief Statistician, Office of Management and Budget, 10201 New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, phone: (202) 395-3093, fax: (202) 395-7245.
It is critical that the SOC hears from you! We can make a difference if we all get involved!.
Chris Grachanen is Master Engineer/Operations Manager at Houston Metrology Group, Hewlett-Packard, Houston, TX, and the recipient of our 2004 Test Engineer of the Year award.
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