Standardization Hindered By Multiple Measurement Systems

In Issue 3 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?

SI STANDARDS ASTM SI 10 API MPMS C15 IEEE SI 10 NIST SP 330

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.

John P. Schweisthal
Electrical Engineer

JOIN IN! We'd like to know how you feel about standards. Please e-mail me at the address below. Tell us who and where you are, and what position you hold. Then, kindly answer the following questions:

1. What kinds of standards are most important to you in your work?
2. How do you use them?
3. Are they updated on a timely basis?
4. What is YOUR definition of a "good" standard?

We will print a representative sampling of the answers we receive, and, unless notified otherwise, we will provide attribution. Please let us know if you do not wish to be identified and/or to have your employer's name listed if you're among the people whom we quote.

Thanks,
Jaren Green, Editor
jaren.green@ihs.com
Global Engineering Documents, A Division of IHS Engineering

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