Metrotechnics Laboratory

Laboratory Objectives – Historical Review

The Metrotechnics Laboratory (MetrotechnicsLab) has functioned as an organizational unit within the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) since its inception in 1962. Its establishment is duly recorded in the Official Government Gazette No 32, Issue 1, 22/02/1962, Decree 132. MetrotechnicsLab is among the pioneering laboratories to have been institutionalized in the annals of NTUA’s history. Initially located at the Buildings in Patision, the laboratory was subsequently shifted to Zografou NTUA campus in 1997. Since its establishment, the MetrotechnicsLab has served as a crucial link between academic community and the practical application of concepts taught in the Production Engineering Courses of the School of Mechanical Engineering of NTUA. Furthermore, it has also been actively involved in rendering high-quality services to industrial end-users.

Upon its inception, the laboratory was established with a primary focus on quality control and, more specifically, on the scientific methodology of high-precision measurements, utilizing advanced and sophisticated equipment to ensure accuracy and precision. Over the course of its 50-year operation, the laboratory has evolved in conjunction with the advancements in the field of industrial management. Initially, it expanded its focus to include quality management, and subsequently broadened its scope to encompass management systems in general. Over the last two decades, the laboratory has further expanded its area of expertise to include project management, project controls, risk management, and business continuity management.

The laboratory’s personnel actively engage in numerous teaching activities, research projects, and consulting services related to the aforementioned areas. The laboratory has collaborated with public organizations, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and Large Industrial Organizations. At the academic level, the staff of the laboratory has been extremely proactive in publishing their research findings in leading international journals, and they maintain strong links with foreign research groups, mostly in Europe and Australia.

Beyond standard computer and software equipment, the laboratory boasts a state-of-the-art space equipped with cutting-edge measurement facilities, primarily used for teaching and research. In 2009, the laboratory received accreditation in accordance with the ELOT EN ISO / IEC 17025: 2005 standard, authorizing it to provide testing services to the industry. Presently, laboratory capabilities extend to high-precision measurements of product characteristics and non-destructive testing.

Services

The laboratory is mainly active in:

• Design, development and maintenance of Quality Management Systems and ISO Management Systems
• Support of industrial units in Quality Control
• Perform high precision measurements
• Development and implementation of Project Management and Project Controls methods and systems
• Development and implementation of Risk Management methods and systems.
• Decision Support Systems
• Road Safety
• Educational activities in all areas of laboratory activity
• Research in all areas of laboratory activity

Equipment (indicative)

Quality Control and Measurements

The laboratory is equipped with precision instruments and machines that are utilized for measuring lengths, angles, checking the flatness and parallelism of surfaces, measuring surface roughness, checking studs, gear wheels, and threads. Additionally, the laboratory houses a series of testers and counter-testers, an ultrasound-based device for verifying the continuity of materials, and a device that produces a length standard with the aid of monochromatic light. To elaborate further:

• Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM): Measuring objects in three dimensions (in space)
• Universal Length Measuring Machine: (i) measurement of cylinder diameter up to 500 mm, (ii) hole measurement 15-150 mm, (iii) measuring the average diameter of external threads 8-100 mm, (iv) internal thread average diameter measurement 13.3-100 mm, and (v) measurement of axis length / center length of tiles up to 500 mm.
• Comparator TESA UPC: Calibration of tile standards up to 100 mm long
• Calibrating Machine for Measuring Clocks and Mechanical Comparators
• Ultrasound machine
• Eddy Current Machine
• Environmental Conditions Recording Equipment: (i) temperature, (ii) humidity, (iii) pressure, (iv) wind speed and (v) acceleration in tri-rectangular system.
• Other Measuring Instruments – calipers, micrometers, testers (of shafts, holes, threads): Length and angle measurements in various dimensions

The laboratory maintains software programs for (indicatively):                                                          

• Assisting the development of management systems
• Quantitative analysis in project management and risk management
• Quantitative risk analysis of road tunnels
• Multi-criteria decisions

Research and Service Projects

Project	Project Partners	Duration
Research Project “ΟΔΟΣ (HMRT)”: Holistic Management of resources and emergencies in highways and Road Tunnels through an integrated intelligent technology system Website: http://odos.simor.mech.ntua.gr/	National Technical University of Athens, EGNATIA Motorway SA, TEKMON P.C., Department of Mathematics of the University of Ioannina, National Center of Scientific Research “DEMOKRITOS”. Call: RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code: T1EDK-02374)	2018-2021
Research Project “TRiTON”: Risk Management System for LNG Bunkering Facilities Website: http://triton.simor.ntua.gr/	National Technical University of Athens, Ocean Finance Ltd, Hellenic Organization for Standardization, National Center of Scientific Research “DEMOKRITOS”, Port of Volos Call: RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE (project code: T1EDK-01727)	2018-2021
Preparation of the documentation of the Energy Management System of TERNA S.A. for certification against the ISO 50001:2018 standard	TERNA SA, Kalogeropoulos & Associates	2020
Support services for searching and analyzing research outcomes associated to risk management of road projects and related educational software.	SIEBEN LTD
Development of a Business Continuity Management System for the group of Hellenic Cables SA	Grant Thornton, Hellenic Cables SA	2016
Research Project “ΣΗΡΑΓΓΕΣ.edu”: Upgrading road transport safety by improving tunnel user behavior with new training technologies Website: http://www.safetunnels4u.gr/	National Technical University of Athens, SIEBEN Ltd., Mediascape Ltd. Ocean Finance Ltd, Synergia S.A. Call: Program of General Secretary for Research and Innovation	2012-2016
Organisation and support of the General Secretariat of Research & Development for the confirmation of its administrative capability as a beneficiary of co-funded projects of  NSRF (ΕΣΠΑ) 2007 – 13	Ministry of Development – General Secretariat for Research & Technology	2009
Support services to the company TRAM SA to confirm its managerial competence.	TRAM SA	2009
Establishment of a Management Maturity System in the Municipality of Ilio for the Co-financed Programs and Projects	Municipality of Ilion	2009
Establishment of a quality management system according to ISO 9001:2000 in the Municipality of Kamatero for the management of programs and projects	Municipality of Kamateron	2008
GREEN ENTERPRISE: A Framework for Planning and Implementing Local Level Strategies Serving Sustainable Socio-Economic Development	Grevenon Chamber, Piraeus University, EC Business Innovation Centre of Attika, Sviluppo Italia Basilicata Spa, Chamber of Commerce of Potenza, EU Turkey Business Centers-Gaziantep	2007
Training for the application of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for the self-assessment of local authorities	Voula Municipal Development Company	2007
Business knowledge and cognitive markets to support risk-based decision system.	“ESTIA” Bookstore Call: PAVET 2005 ΒΙΒΛΙΟΠΩΛΕΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ “ΕΣΤΙΑΣ”	2005
Research Project “SYNARMA”: Development of an Information System for Natural Risk Management in the Mediterranean	Aristotelio University of Thessaloniki, Technological Educational Institute of Larisa, Institute of Technical Seismology and Earthquake Structures, Prefecture of Thessaloniki, Municipality of Greven, Department of Earth Sciences, Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Prevenzione e la Protezione dai Rischi, University of Calabria, Al-Jamaya Al-Elmia	2006
Advanced Total Productive Maintenance System based on risk management (risk based maintenance)	Alouman	2006
Development of collaborative tools based on web processes for complex industrial applications.	Hellenic Aviation Industry (HAI), GNOMON, ZINON, TEMMA, NAX, University of Thessaly, Polytechnic of Crete Call: Electronic Business, Information Society	2005-2006
Upgrade of the OASA passenger service call center	OASA	2005
Management of extended supply chain of (para)pharmaceutical products based on Risks (management by risk) with support of e-business tools.	APIVITA AEBE, FAEMAXION, SYFA, N.K ALOUMAN PHARMACY Call: Electronic Business, Information Society	2005
Development of a bid support system based on risk management.	University Toulouse 1 (FR) Call:  Greek-French Cooperation	2003-2004
Risk analysis during the cost estimation process of the AIRBUS company.	AIRBUS, EADS – CCR (FR), University Toulouse 1 (FR)	2002
PRIMA – «Project Risk Management».	Alcatel Space Industries (FR), University Toulouse 1 (FR), CR2A-DI (FR), Asociación para la Investigación y Cooperación Industrial de Andalucía (SP), Sociedad Anónima de Instalaciones de Control (SP), Hellenic Corporate of Space (GR), Applications Politecnico di Milanο (IT), Snamprogetti (IT)	2002

Video

Contact the Laboratory

NAME *

EMAIL *

PHONE

MESSAGE

SEND