SOP 19 OWM OJT and Mentoring Worksheet (Rev 20200714) Page 1 of 5

OWM On-the-Job Training and Mentoring 

Worksheet Form 

Employee/Trainee Name:

Trainer/Mentor Name:

Topic/Procedure: SOP 19 Standard Operating Procedure for Calibration of Graduated Neck-Type Metal Provers (Volume 

Transfer Method) (Plus GMP 3, GLP 10, SOP 17, 20, 29)

GENERAL Measurable Training/Learning Objectives Applicable for all 

SOPs

Trainee Initials 

and Date

Mentor Initials 

and Date

DESCRIBE (and FOLLOW/USE) applicable safety and protective equipment 

requirements for this SOP

DESCRIBE (and PERFORM) laboratory process for receipt, handling, storage, and 

return of related customer standards (noting issues unique to this SOP)

DESCRIBE (and FOLLOW) laboratory process for preparing calibration certificates 

(and amendments)

DESCRIBE (and FOLLOW) laboratory process for documenting non-conformities to 

laboratory procedures and/or ISO/IEC 17025

PERFORM this SOP while DESCRIBING steps as if for an assessor

SOP _19_ Measurable Training/Learning Objectives Trainee Initials 

and Date

Mentor Initials 

and Date

Section 1, metrologist can:

LOCATE applicable documentary standards (e.g., HB 105-3, OIML R 1200 in the 

laboratory;

LOOK UP or CALCULATE tolerance values for unknown standards;

IDENTIFY and DESCRIBE non-compliance of submitted standards (for both 1) 

specifications and 2) tolerances - use the checklists in

105-3!).

Section 1.3, the metrologist can:

DESCRIBE the submission requirements, care, and handling of unknown standards 

submitted for calibration and whether there is a laboratory policy, cleanliness/condition 

standard practice, and where the unknown items will be placed and logged in prior to 

calibration.

Section 1.3, the metrologist can:

IDENTIFY and SELECT applicable working standards for calibration of unknown test 

items;

FIND, DESCRIBE, and EVALUATE the applicable calibration certificates, traceability 

hierarchy, calibration intervals, and current status of

laboratory working standards (Part of LAP Problem evaluations).

SELECT appropriate values and uncertainties from the calibration certificate for use - or 

verify embedded values in laboratory software;

DESCRIBE meniscus observations based on reading GMP 3, observing demonstrated 

meniscus readings, and practice reading sample

meniscus demonstrations;

IDENTIFY and VERIFY that laboratory facility is operating within limits and

DESCRIBE what happens if environmental limits are not met (non-conformity; should 

be an Admin Procedure and Action Item Forms);

DESCRIBE laboratory water source, water quality, and how GLP 10 is met;

DISCUSS how staff members use check standards and/or repeatability assessments in 

control charts and/or standard deviation charts to

monitor measurement operations;

VERIFY that standards to be calibrated are clean and have equilibrated if applicable 

(DESCRIBE Admin Procedure for Care and Handling of

Submitted/Laboratory Standards).

Section 1.4

This section is NOT covered as a part of NIST training and should be "rare". 

Laboratories that do not comply with facility requirements will have to address this 
SOP 19 OWM OJT and Mentoring Worksheet (Rev 20200714) Page 2 of 5

section and the new metrologist can DESCRIBE what and how measurement validity is 

ensured.

Section 2.3, the metrologist can:

IDENTIFY and FOLLOW safety considerations in the laboratory (especially with wet 

floors, use of stairs/ladders, lifting).

IDENTIFY, SELECT, SET UP, and PROPERLY use: Standards, Equipment, Meniscus 

Readers, Thermometers, Timing Devices, Hoses, (everything listed in this section if/as 

applicable) Etc....

IDENTIFY and SELECT proper calibration and uncertainty values for laboratory 

standards and environmental standards.

DESCRIBE good "mise en place" for a volume transfer calibration.

Section 2.4.1, the metrologist can:

DESCRIBE the application of cleanliness evaluations within the laboratory. (In OWM 

seminars, there are no "dirty" or contaminated standards used.)

Section 2.4.2, the metrologist can:

DESCRIBE the laboratory practice for conformity assessments and

ensuring unknown standards comply with documentary standards (E.g., 105-3) and 

if/when neck scale calibrations are performed.

DESCRIBE the steps of SOP 31 and its purpose.

NOTE: Laboratory supplement may be needed to describe laboratory policy regarding 

SOP 31 and its implementation. During training

this is likely presented as a requirement for conformity assessment and meeting 

requirements of the documentary standards. If NOT performed, notations are needed in 

that section of a calibration certificate and uncertainties need to address the values (or 

lack) for it.

Section 2.4.3, the metrologist can:

DESRIBE the process/steps of the procedure based on reading SOP 18 and SOP 19, 

observing the SOP 18/19 video, and observing a

demonstration of the SOP in the laboratory.

PERFORM a calibration following each step of the procedure, including:

Measurement of standard temperature(s);

Setting the meniscus or slicker plate on the standard;

Delivery of volume from the standard;

Proper pour/drain cessation/timing;

Reading the meniscus in the unknown test measure or prover;

Measurement of temperature(s) in the unknown test measure or prover;

Emptying the unknown following the appropriate process for the wet down and for each 

run;

Repeating steps when multiple deliveries from the standard are required (up to how 

many???); and

Complete all applicable runs for the calibration (minimum of two).

Section 3, the metrologist can:

Review Appendix A against the laboratory data sheet/spreadsheet and the calculations in 

this section to ensure that 1) all data is recorded for calculations what will be performed 

and 2) all information is recorded that will be needed for the calibration certificate.

Section 3.1, Note: A simple calibration with a SINGLE DELIVERY will be used for the 

orientation webinars. The Volume Seminar provides opportunities for multiple delivery 

practice and calculations; Mentors may cover multiple deliveries after covering a single 

delivery process and ensuring new metrologist can meet all the learning objectives.

The metrologist can:

DESCRIBE each variable in the V-60 equation (from Table 2) and IDENTIFY the 

source and appropriate values for the equation;

CALCULATE the volume of the unknown based on a reference temperature of 60 °F;

DESCRIBE what is meant by a volume at a reference temperature and why that is 

important.

VERIFY calculations against official laboratory spreadsheets as appropriate.

Section 3.3., OWM recommends the volume be included on the calibration certificates. 

IF/WHEN the laboratory is evaluating tolerance,
SOP 19 OWM OJT and Mentoring Worksheet (Rev 20200714) Page 3 of 5

the error/correction must also be determined to perform conformity assessment (even if 

errors/corrections are not reported).

the metrologist can:

CALCULATE the Prover (or Test Measure) Error and

DETERMINE compliance with applicable tolerances in the documentary standards 

(Decision rules have two components: 1) uncertainty

must be less than the tolerance and 2) value and uncertainty must be within limits to state 

compliance.)

DESCRIBE laboratory adjustment policies and practices to ensure test measures and 

provers (values and uncertainties) are within tolerance.

Section 3.5, the metrologist can:

CALCULATE the standard deviation of the two runs performed (and VERIFY 

laboratory software if the calculation is usually automatic).

DETERMINE if the repeatability is within acceptable laboratory limits (See 

Measurement Assurance).

Section 3.7, Note: The average of the V-60 volumes is calculated and reported (not each 

individual or one of the runs). This section just specifies that the mean is used.

For the orientation webinars, the mean of the calculated values from 3.1 is to be used. 

Hopefully, if the metrologist can calculate the value in 3.1, they can also calculate an 

average value.... Mentor/Instructors to verify this is followed and true....

Section 4, the metrologist can:

FIND and DESCRIBE the overall measurement assurance practices used in the 

laboratory for volume calibrations. FIND applicable

laboratory control charts and standard deviation charts and applicable limits for this 

procedure.

EVALUATE laboratory control charts for compliance with SOP 9 checklist. presence of 

values outside limits, and/or obvious trends;

IDENTIFY mean values, suitable repeatability for the process, and what values are 

transferred to the uncertainty calculations.

For any item that says "May" for measurement assurance, the metrologist will need to be 

able to DESCRIBE the laboratory process/policies for incorporating and reviewing that 

item (e.g., check standards, t-test, F-test).

Note: For SOP 20 and volume procedures OWM recommends "standard deviation 

charts" instead of "range" charts. One or the other is needed. Standard deviation of check 

standards is "better" and usually a larger standard deviation, but repeatability estimates 

are needed to ensure a process and the unknowns are in control and repeating properly 

and for later extrapolation and evaluation of repeatability for larger provers.

Section 4.2, the metrologist can:

DESCRIBE and ASSESS a process with repeatability failures.

Note: Instructors and Mentors will describe examples of what/when a process might not 

repeat in addition to what is stated in the SOP based on their experience and knowledge 

of this measurement process.

Section 5, the metrologist can:

Read SOP 29 and be able to LIST and DESCRIBE the 8 steps in the uncertainty process 

in the context of SOP 19.

Step 1. SPECIFY - refers to SOP 19 and the measurement equations listed in the SOP 

(e.g., see Equation 3.1).

Step 2. Metrologist should be able to IDENTIFY, DESCRIBE, SELECT, QUANTIFY, 

CONVERT all sources/components from Table 5 to:

CALCULATE the COMBINED uncertainty using a root sum square method.

COMPARE and EVALUATE - this section and TABLE 5 with the official laboratory 

uncertainties. (Part of the LAP Problems).

VERIFY calculations in the laboratory spreadsheets for uncertainty using this SOP.

Section 6.1, the metrologist can:

CREATE a calibration certificate that COMPLIES with SOP 1 and items that must be 

included per SOP 19, Section 6.1.

Note: LAP Problems include evaluation of laboratory templates against section 7.8 in 

ISO/IEC 17025 and SOP 1. Laboratory administrative procedures for calibration 
SOP 19 OWM OJT and Mentoring Worksheet (Rev 20200714) Page 4 of 5

certificates to be reviewed and assessed for compliance as part of the LAP Problems as 

well.

Section 6.2, the metrologist can:

DESCRIBE the two requirements for conformity assessment and assess the measurement 

results and uncertainties for compliance with the

applicable documentary standards.

Note: Assessment of the test measure or prover and compliance statements for Handbook 

105-3 are needed for legal metrology as well

(very few if any labs perform calibrations of these volume standards that are NOT used 

in legal metrology applications). Placing tolerances on the certificate is a conformity 

assessment (part of it) and will require full assessment using the checklist provided in 

Handbook 105-3 or statement that the specifications were not evaluated (e.g., only 

tolerances were evaluated).

The metrologist can:

DESCRIBE the laboratory practices related to conformity assessment; and 

ASSESS the calibration certificate for compliance.

Appendix A, the metrologist can:

ASSESS the data sheet compared to the laboratory methods for recording data to ensure 

that all data that needs to be recorded is documented and maintained for calculations and 

creation of the calibration certificate.
SOP 19 OWM OJT and Mentoring Worksheet (Rev 20200714) Page 5 of 5

Trainee Final Observations/Assessments Summary:

Describe how confident you are with finding all the files and resources in your laboratory that are needed to perform this 

calibration, prepare a certificate, and return items to customers? What additional training do you think you need to improve?

How much additional time performing this calibration do you think you need to feel confident? What additional questions do 

you have or follow up would you like to see?

Trainer Observations/Assessments Summary:

Describe in your own words: How closely did the trainee follow the SOP? How many times and what nominal 

values/standards/equipment were used when you demonstrated the procedure AND when you observed the trainee performing 

the procedure? How did your measurement results agree? How did their values look on the laboratory control chart(s)? Were 

they able to describe the procedure to your satisfaction? Were gaps observed? Is additional follow up needed? What additional

assessments did you observe that help to ensure that learning objectives were met?

Objective Evidence Assessed by Trainer/Mentor (maintenance of electronic records is encouraged):

• Reading Outline (completed by trainee, reviewed by trainer/mentor, discussed)

• Video of Demonstration/Performance (optional, recommended)

• Data Sheet(s) of completed measurements

• Traceability Assessment of Laboratory Standards Used completed by trainee (Using GMP 13 forms, with list of 

laboratory files/locations)

• Calculations for the SOP with work shown by hand or in Excel with Validation Notes

• Spreadsheet File(s) PDF print-out of data entry of completed measurements

• Control Chart record showing trainer/mentor data and trainee data and evaluation of control charts with SOP 9 

checklist evaluation 

• Independent Uncertainty analysis following applicable SOP and SOP 29, comparison with official laboratory 

uncertainties

• Calibration Certificate for calibrations performed by trainee

• Calibration Certificate marked up as reviewed for compliance with SOP 1 and applicable SOP

• List of laboratory files reviewed by trainee:

o Template Spreadsheet File:

o Completed Spreadsheet File(s):

Applicable Proficiency Test(s): Date of Calibration: PT Evaluation Report

(Name, Date)

Employee/Trainee Signature: Trainer/Mentor Signature:

Recommended for Approved Signatory Status (Name, Title, Signature):

Approved for signatory status by NIST Office of Weights and Measures (name & date);