FORUM-MD ad hoc Task Group on Harmonizing DCC and DRMC (FORUM-MD-TG-H-DCC/DRMC)

Terms of reference

The Terms of reference of the FORUM-MD-TG Harmonizing DCC and DRMC (version 1.0, approved on February 21, 2025) are the following:

Membership:

Depending on the group:

• representatives and individual scientists from NMIs members, observers and liaisons of FORUM-MD.
• Individual scientists from NMI that are not members, observers or liaisons which expertise coincides with term of references of the TG.
• Guests can be invited by the chair.
• Members are appointed by the Chair of the FORUM-MD, in consultation with the TG chairperson.

Chairperson:

The chairmanship of TG H - DCC/DRMC should rotate among TG HDCC members of FORUM-MD.

The TG chairperson is appointed by the Chair of the FORUM-MD, with the agreement of the FORUM-MD (for all).

The mandate of the chairperson is 2 years.

Area:

The purpose of this group is to harmonize procedures, to prepare guidance documents for stakeholders.

Objectives:

1. Developing Common Understanding
   The objective is to increase the awareness and understanding among calibration laboratories and stakeholders about the potential and benefits of digital calibration certificates (DCC) and digital reference material certificates (DRMC). This involves organizing seminars and workshops that focus on the use cases of DCCs/DRMCs, aimed at broadening acceptance and readiness for DCC/DRMC.
2. Identifying Stakeholder Needs
   The aim is to identify and consolidate the specific needs, expectations, and requirements of various stakeholders in the digital calibration certificate process. This will be achieved through gathering information from surveys, interviews, and interactive workshops to gather insights and feedback.
3. Harmonizations of DCC/DRMC
   The goal is to develop a harmonized approach to DCCs and DRMCs that meets the international metrological requirements and standards. By understanding and integrating the user stories and identified needs, this objective seeks to outline the areas where standardization is crucial, ensuring consistent and reliable use of DCCs/DRMCs across different sectors and regions.

Tasks:

1. Gathering User Stories
   The task involves collecting and documenting user stories and case studies that demonstrate the practical applications and benefits of digital calibration certificates. These stories will serve as a foundation to support the development of a value proposition, guidelines document, successful implementations, and identifying common challenges.
2. Developing Value Propositions
   This task is focused on analysing the gathered user stories to extract key benefits and applications of DCCs/DRMCs, which will be used to create compelling value propositions. These propositions are intended to clarify the advantages of DCC/DRMC adoption to stakeholders, facilitating wider acceptance and implementation.
3. Harmonization DCC/DRMC
   This task aims to propose specific areas and methods to harmonize practices related to DCC/DRMC. This effort will be based on insights from developed value propositions and user stories, aiming to create a comprehensive framework for implementation.
4. Preparation of Guidance documents
   After establishing a harmonized framework, the next step is to develop detailed guidelines and best practices for the design, implementation, and use of digital calibration certificates. This includes creating documentation that provides instructions to ensure effective and consistent application of DCCs across various areas and settings.