Developing a test assessment strategy for measurement systems

Test solutions can range from simple manual visual inspection to highly sophisticated automated functional measurement systems. The complexity of a test solution is not important when deciding its appropriateness for implementation, the key is determining whether the solution meets its specified requirements and is capable of doing so in a repeatable and reliable manner. A comprehensive assessment of how the solution satisfies the requirements is highly recommended in order to document and plan this activity. The assessment includes the requirements for compliance, test methods used, and how to determine if the test solution is meeting its capability and performance goals. Statistical tools offer the most consistent and unbiased approach for determining capability and performance. This paper will provide test assessment development guidelines for evaluating and documenting compliance to requirements, including how to use statistical tools to verify and validate that the proper measurements are being made using the techniques and instrumentation provided.