Calibration Laboratories: Risk Management and the Problem of Assessing Opportunities

An evaluation of resources required for the opportunity management (OM) of calibration laboratories is presented. In this study conducted at the Mendeleev All-Russian Institute for Metrology, a correlation is noted between methods for assessing risks associated with calibration laboratory activities and the topic of opportunity management. It is shown that risk identification methods play an important role in enhancing opportunities to achieve the laboratory’s purpose and objectives. Opportunity management involves the use of new approaches to the allocation of laboratory resources. This work considers OM approaches relying on the Pareto distribution and logistic curves. In addition, the prospects of using hyperbolic distributions in the management of resources required to introduce innovations are noted. It is recommended that risks and innovations be managed taking into account the characteristic parameters of hyperbolic distributions. The consideration of characteristic parameters is aimed at optimally combining frequently performed and new types of work. The novel described approach is shown to support the appropriate selection of solutions for managing opportunities and ensuring the sustainable development of calibration laboratories. This approach is applicable when improving secondary standards and working to higher level standards.