QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE-
BUILDING CONFIDENCE FOR THE ABAA The Antigua & Barbuda Bureau of Standards is all about providing quality infrastructure services. One major service that we provide is calibration and verification of scales used in industry to ensure that the instrument's measurements are accurate in accordance with international measurement and testing standards. Even though many people do not think about and see actual evidence of it, standards come into play in every aspect of our lives, especially with respect to safety. Here’s an example of how our work impacts lives: Currently, the Bureau is working along with the Antigua & Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) to verify the scales at the airport, specifically, the ones that are used to check the weight of passengers’ luggage for flights. This simple process of annually verifying the performance of baggage scales is one item in the ABAA checklist to ensure quality in the check-in process. This quality assurance activity provides airline crew and loading agents the information necessary to ensure the safe and accurate loading and piloting of the aircrafts.
On the flip side, it is not enough just for the scales to work properly but to have the proper documentation to provide proof of accuracy. To this end, each scale is provided with its own certificate of verification. The proof that the scales have been tested and are verified to international standards provides confidence and credibility in the readings of each scale. The certification also serves as a safeguard in case of any flight anomalies involving the weight and balance of aircrafts. Just imagine the consequences if the scales gave inaccurate readings for all luggage on a flight, the aircraft is then overloaded and then, due to the excess weight, there’s an accident. This verification of baggage scales for the ABAA, provides confidence for passengers who want to know that they are not being shortchanged on the charges for their checked luggage. The airlines will have greater confidence in ABAA as a service provider. Finally, ABAA will have the confidence that they are in turn delivering quality services to both airlines and passengers alike. In this case, excellence in quality … may literally go much further than we can imagine. •
BusinessFocus
Sep /Nov
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