PMEL receives outstanding marks

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here recently received outstanding marks during an Air Force Metrology and Calibration inspection.

A team from the 562nd Combat Sustainment Group, Metrology Laboratory Certification Division inspected Moody's laboratory to ensure that their processes are up to Air Force standards, said Tom Calloway, PMEL manager.

PMEL is responsible for the maintenance and calibration of more than 6,300 items of Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment used by Moody AFB and the Jacksonville, Fla., Air National Guard.

"I've been at Moody since 2001," said Mr. Calloway. "This is probably the best inspection I've seen here."

The critical areas inspected were management system, measurement capability assessment, quality program, facility, environmental control system and proficiency testing. In addition, management functions, pre-assessment data, technical proficiency, production control and material control were also accessed.

All areas must meet established requirements to qualify the PMEL to be certified to perform accurate measurements traceable through the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Basically, we make sure that anything the Air Force uses to make measurements is not only up to standards, but exceeds them, said Mr. Calloway.

Equipment types supported are electronic and physical dimensional and ranges from highly complicated communication or tactical navigation equipment to the simpler weight scales used for the Air Force fitness program.

The most critical area of the inspection is the over-the-shoulder measurement capability assessment, added Mr. Calloway.

During the assessment, items of all categories are randomly selected from a pool of recently calibrated equipment and recalibrated. An over-the-shoulder inspection is performed on the selected items and during recalibration, assessors validate quality and process compliance by observing the technician.

"The accomplishments of this shop are a reflection on everyone here," said Gournette Richardson, PMEL lead technician. "Everyone working together made our inspection scores what they are."

Maintaining this standard of excellence ensures that vital equipment such as a pre-flight speed and altitude indicator, a device that ensures speed and altitude instruments on an aircraft are adjusted and working properly, are as precise as possible, added Mr. Richardson.

The PMEL maintains quality functions through an in-house Quality Program by performing random quality sampling of completed TMDE and periodic technician proficiency reviews, said Sherry Gallagher, PMEL quality assurance.

"The Quality Program is only one of the contributing factors for our overall success," added Mrs. Gallagher. "We want to ensure the customer's equipment is calibrated to the highest standard."

The PMEL is now certified by AFMETCAL for the next two years and we'll continue to provide Moody and their off-base customers with the most technically sound equipment possible, said Mr. Calloway.