How To Use This Report

This report (NIST Special Publication 1048) presents results of the NIST-led assessment of the USMS in several levels of detail and from several different perspectives.  The seven-chapter report is intended to provide an wide-ranging view of the USMS and to advise on how well the system is constituted and configured to support the national need to accelerate technological innovation.

The first five chapters present an overview of the USMS, the rationale, and the procedures used for the assessment. Chapter V summarizes results and distills high-level findings specific to the sample of 11 industry sectors and technology areas examined.  Chapter VI presents high-level findings that pertain to the system as a whole.  Chapter VII presents next steps needed to accelerate measurement capabilities to support technological innovation.

The report's nine appendices include several detailed distillations of measurement needs specific to industries or technology areas.  These compilations can be used by stakeholders in individual areas as the initial basis for establishing priorities, determining gaps, and recommending follow-up actions. In particular:

• Appendix B contains detailed profiles of 337 measurement-related barriers to innovation, as identified through workshops, synthesized from interviews or publicly available reports, or submitted by businesses or other organizations with major technology interests.

• Appendix C reports on the 386 less-detailed measurement needs extracted from 135 publicly available industry technology roadmaps that specifically identified such needs. 

• Appendix H is the USMS Measurement Needs Data Book, which presents correlation tables and distribution charts based on the 337 measurement needs summarized in Appendix B.  These, coupled with the measurement needs derived from industry roadmaps, were the basis for this analysis of USMS focused on system-level perspectives that address a range of issues including measurement technology providers and solutions, and measurement barriers to technological innovation.

The report does not contain prescriptive findings nor endorse specific remedies for identified needs.  This first-time assessment is designed to serve as a vehicle for fostering and furthering follow-up discussions and actions to ensure that the nation has the advanced measurement infrastructure required to accelerate innovation by U.S. industry and to remain a world leader in technological innovation.