ENGINEERS FORUM
Standardization Hindered (By Multiple Measurement Systems)
From John P. Schweisthal, Electrical Engineer
In a previous issue of the Journal, David Kerzel, Chief Engineer, said:
"I have problems with the bias towards metric only...".
Well, I have a problem with the US not being a team player and insisting that the world accept US measurement units. The whole concept of globalisation and standardisation is to reduce costs and errors. How can this be accomplished if there are two competing measurement systems?
Everybody wants standards, as long as everybody else "standardises" to my/our way, not me/us to others. The US is angered because the whole world chose a different path to measurement systems than the US and the choice of the US to go it alone is proving costly and error prone. But, rather than the US bite the bullet and adopt the same measurement system everyone has, the US would rather whine and make threats. Where is compromise? Isn't it enough that the world uses English so that Americans don't have to waste time and money to learn a second language? Yes, the world should demand metric only.
This problem of metric vs. English will never go away until the US fully converts. As long as English/imperial units are allowed to exist, there can never be true standardisation and the US will always be the one struggling to communicate.
Go to US Metric System Debated (Engineers Exchange Blows)
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Jaren Green, Editor
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