Metrology infrastructure for sustainable development of the Americas: The role of SIM

Reliable measurements are essential to guarantee all aspects required for the sustainable development of nations. There is an increasing awareness of the need to discuss, compare and improve infrastructures in the context of global economic efficiency, and market access for goods and services for both developed and developing countries. This is where metrology, standardization and conformity assessment come in. In order to further develop these activities, countries have been organizing themselves into regional cooperation groups. The Inter-American Metrology System (SIM) brings together the National Metrology Institutes of all 34 OAS member countries, aiming at the further development of a sound metrological basis, what lays in the basis of the technical infrastructure necessary for the sustainable development. In this paper the goals and objectives of SIM and some of its main projects will be analyzed, emphasizing the initiatives of chemical metrology and of quality management systems in the region. © Springer-Verlag 2009.