Trip Report - 2nd Symposium on Test Instrumentation

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-02820A001200050017-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2000
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: September 29, 1966
• Content Type: TRIP

Approved For Release X0/08/16: RDP78-02820AG 200050017-5
29 September 1966
.009 TU, 10 11DUPd FOR '111E RECORD
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SUBJECT: Trip Report .. 2nd Symposium on Test Instrwnentation
1. T attended the 2nd Symposium on Test Instrumentation and
"related problem areas" hosted by Hewlett Packard on the 19th
through 22nd Sept. 1966 at Palo Alto. There were approximately
190 participants and 75 companies? colleges, and government groups
at the symposium.
2. The first three days were devoted to semi-formal panel-
lecture and discussion periods. The fourth day we toured the H.P.
facilities and visited Stanford Universitie's 20 Billion Electron
Volt Linear Accelerator. All tours were very interesting.
3. The following topics were of particular interest to not
a. Calibration. Accuracy of. calibration, pt~eciaio ,
certification,_.trraceability of calibration and equipment
recall time were discussed. Nothing really new except
the trend to adopt "dynamic" recall time for equipment
calibration, This scheme uses a variable recall cycle
based upon various factors affecting the particular
instrument.
b. Centralization of Test E u nt. Central instru-
ment pools appear to be the trend in industry today. The
primary advantages are better control and significant re-
duction of costs. Many different methods of'instrument TQ~
control were covered including internal renting (green
?stmaps) with computer assistance, I believes central instru-
ment repair and calibration is an area that should be pursued
within CIA.
a. Service Contracts. The uNe of service contracts for
instrument repair is popular within industry and goverxmient,
but has many limitations. The cost generally-averages from
1 to 2`, monthly of instrument acquisition cost. In-house
capability is generally much cheaper, however service
contracts have proven very helpful on special instruments.
As we have learned, a strong note of caution was directed
to the selection of the service company.
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d. Qw l,ity Control. A definite increased trend of poor
quality equipment being manufactured noted. Statements
of rejects ranging from 15 to +O vere heard. We aren't
alone with this problem. Llmmphasia was put on trying to
adopt DOD's Zero ,Defects program.
o. ,ualifi?d Technicians. A good deal of discussion
was devoted to the may related problems, specifically:
(1) Sources of Techs. Two year tech schools
were considered the best with the military next in
line.
(2) Hu~ rlg. The primary point was directed to
the necessity of a very good screening process before
hiring. This should include several hours of multiple
interviews, a preliminary quiz, and a tour through the
plant. Industry is hurting badly for qualified techs
and the draft is becoming a significant problem for
marg.
(3) Training. In-house training was considered
a must coupled with a good development program directed
at pro motion from tmithin. Recognition, appropriate
title (Lab Sulaervisor, Field Engineer vice technician)
and attention to motivation factors were weighed very
hoav3.l;I.
techs) was approximately 42.-500 Which is a little
less than a GS-13. It was of particular interest to
me that the majority of the companies strongly favor
senior technicians to supervise the Labs. vice
graduate engineers. Again this points out the need
for GS-12 supervisors..
(5) 2etjn . Testing programs are wed widely
throughout industry as a tool to assist in evaluating
technical proficiency. However caution was urged on
it's weighing. Many companies indicated a desire to
have a testing, program but the unions would not allow
it,
(a.) We: ,es. By a show of hands the highest paid
technician working on the bench) was about $800.00
par month which is a little better than the OS-11.
The top salary for shop supervisors (non-bench working
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f. Lo-~*icai Trouble-Shootin1j. A scheme of troubl.e-
shootin? tiitled gica1 Electronic Trouble-Shooting is
w a3 explained and strongly reconmended as a eo ploment
to any training prograra. I plan to investigate this
area further.
h, in sum iary the Symposium, was very interesting. It provided
some new thoughts, methods and schemes that may prove beneficial if
adapted. Further it zraa gratifying to see that industry has the same
problems as we do and that most of their reec mended solutions are
very similar to policies prosently used within the Agency,
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