Davlin M. D. Chokazinga
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSTRUMENTATION REPAIR AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN MALAWI - A HISTORIC BACKGROUND AND NATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Malawi is one of the developing countries in Africa, as such her economy is donor driven. Being a developing nation, there are a number of scientific institutions such as Universities, National Standards Body, Polytechnics, Medical Institutions, Government Agricultural Research Centres, Water Development, Research Institutes, Environmental Protection and Research Institutes, Industrial Research and Development Centres, Telecommunications Development and many more. These institutions house from simple to most complicated electronic equipment /instruments. Since 1964, when Malawi became independent, there has been a great acquisition of such instruments.
Over the years, instruments inventory surveys showed that Malawi had received a large variety of measuring instruments. However, notable was the fact that there was no local capabilities developed to repair and service such equipment. 1980's most of the institutes had most of their useful instruments broken down. In order to solve the problem first repair and maintenance contracts were concluded with the manufacturers, then Malawi technicians were trained to provide the necessary services. Neither of the methods could operate successfully and the national instrument inventory showed that about 50% of the available instruments in various institutions were nonfunctional, such that most of vital functions could not be undertaken locally. Hence there is need for the establishment of local capability which can provide the needed services on the site.

Mohamed Lakhloufi
A MAINTENANCE STRATEGY FOR THE SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT IN THE MOROCCAN UNIVERSITY

The scientific equipment pool in the Moroccan universities has suffered from the lack of maintenance policy. This is why the LIS has built an appropriate strategy of maintenance, constructed on 3 main pillars: i) The knowledge of the current state of the existing equipment and human resources. So, according to the inventory, launched by LIS since 1998, in average, 19% of the scientific equipment is out of use. This percentage is higher than 50% for complex instruments. Only less than 1% of the equipment have maintenance contract, 4% have technical manuals and 14% with maintenance manuals, etc. ii) The consolidation of the capabilities in maintenance is based on 3 types of training. Accordingly, since mid 1999, more than 100 technicians were trained on maintenance methods, electronic integrated circuits, maintenance and repair of NMR spectrometer, repair and work of laboratory glassware. Surface Mount Technology (STM) repair is also concerned. iii) The creation of a national network of maintenance cells is scheduled to start in 2003, in cooperation with the France Embassy in Rabat. This network will be created, organised and supervised, by LIS, the national unit of maintenance.

Ivan Skubic, Nineta Majcen, Paul De Bièvre, Philip Taylor
METROLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS RELATED TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN SLOVENIA

An approach to set up an appropriate and optimal national infrastructure for measurements related to quality of life in Slovenia is described. It is based on an analysis of the needs of the global society, of the national needs and priorities and on the national capabilities. The implementation of the conclusions into practice has started. As in general measurements in chemistry and microbiology were not yet systematically tackled, the approach given here might serve as a model to enable other countries to establish a suitable national metrology infrastructure, which would adequately support the national needs in chemical and microbiological measurements.

Salvador Echeverría-Villagómez
EVOLUTIONARY MECHANISMS FOR STRUCTURED GROWTH OF METROLOGICAL SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES

The paper presents a robust methodology and an integral strategy to develop optimal metrological infrastructures in unstable economic environments and imperfect markets, as those presented in developing economies. This methodology can be applied at two levels:
I.- Within an organization, e.g. an industry or company, and
II.- Within an economy, e.g. an economy, country or region.
The methodology is the MESURA® Program which is applied by metrology consultants to particular organizations and the corresponding strategy is the creation of a laboratory network based on a franchise scheme, the MESURA® Network.
The paper presents the objectives, principles and mechanisms of operation of MESURA®. Emphasis is given to the evolutionary principles of the strategy, which allow the implementation of metrological systems and infrastructures with the following characteristics:
• Adapted to their environment
• Viable in technical aspects
• Viable in economical aspects
• Fit for structured growth
• Fit for reproduction
The MESURA® Program and the Network have been developed, implemented and proved in Mexico and have found conceptual acceptance and application also in other countries. The final section includes an evaluation of its development and recommendations for its potential application in other developing economies.

Austin S. Khulumula
DEVELOPMENT OF METROLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN AFRICA

The development of metrology infrastructure in African Member States has been the mandate given to ARSO by the African Union (AU) previously the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in its Treaty. ARSO fulfils this role through coordination mechanism that harmonizes the sub-regional metrology programmes, arrangements of training of personnel with the support of cooperating partners and African Governments. ARSO ensures, through its programmes the maximum sharing of facilities among African Member States in order to enhance the measurement capabilities of countries in the African economies for better competitiveness of goods and services.