The impetus for and development of the National Analytical Measurement System (NAMS)

The National Analytical Measurement System (NAMS) underpins S&T innovation, economic and social development, and technical infrastructure for environmental protection and public health. It is a system that aids the economic growth of China. The purpose of NAMS is to effectively utilize analytical measurement resources to continually improve analytical measurement capabilities nationally, and to promote international comparability of measurement results. With the growth of economic globalization, China, wishing to promote economic links with countries around the world, needs to construct an effective NAMS which can contribute to the establishment of the global measurement system. By studying developed countries, drawing upon their experiences, and then considering the corresponding situation in China, this article proposes the establishment of a modern multi-level and multi-area virtual NAMS, which includes several analytical measurement resource databases, and a website platform providing technical services and technology dissemination. This article also describes the progress of The Establishment and Improvement of NAMS of China programme, supported by the central Chinese government, and implemented by a collaboration of more than 20 laboratories.Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Metrology – Trends and Applications in Calibration and Testing Laboratories, November 4–6, 2003, Eilat, Israel.