Metrology and the Panama Canal: A Historical Overview

When the Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914, it stood as a monument to engineering prowess and the quiet, often invisible discipline of measurement. The accurate control of water levels, the precise alignment of massive lock gates, and the seamless operation of the canal’s machinery were feats that depended on precise, reliable, and consistent measurements—what we now recognize as core elements of metrology. Yet, at that time, Panama had no national metrology infrastructure of its own.

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Digital Product Passport: A Game Changer for Textile Compliance

A recent project scoping mission to Pakistan highlighted how busily textile and garment exporters prepare for the upcoming EU regulations affecting their sector. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is particularly relevant to them and will include the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as an essential implementation tool. By 2027, textile & apparel exporters must have implemented DPP solutions that satisfy EU import controls. 

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New frontiers in quality infrastructure research

Quality infrastructure refers to the technical institutions supporting global trade while ensuring consumers can purchase safe, healthy, high-quality products and services.

In recent years, scientific interest in quality infrastructure (QI) has grown continuously. The Google Scholar results from 1997 to 2024 confirm this trend.

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Understanding Global Accreditation Capabilities

The scope and competencies of accreditation have developed considerably in recent decades. Accreditation bodies (AB) demonstrate their competence by participating in international agreements such as the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) and the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). Building on this basis, we have developed a novel indicator to assess the accreditation experience of an economy.

Please read our article published in the IAF Outlook:

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