US Metric Study Report

to National Bureau of Standards Reference bock not bi Admin. Bidg. Ref Library, E-01 taken from the library. MAT x4 1971 COMMERCE PUBLICATION U.S. METRIC STUDY REPORT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS U.S. METRIC STUDY U.S. IC— TMENT )0 OF Si MERGE 3«^S.)lational Bureau of nJ:jndards BS SP 345-1 METRIC STUDY REPORT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS First of a series of reports prepared for the Congress U.S. METRIC STUDY Daniel V. De Simone, Director National Bureau of Standards -^.Special Publication 345-1 . UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Maurice H. Stans, Secretary U. S. NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, • » * Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ. 345-1, 157 pages (December 1970) CODEN: XNBSA Issued December 1970 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 (Order by SD Catalog No. C 13.10:345-1), Price $1.25 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Honorable Maurice H. Stans Secretary of Commerce Dear Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to transmit to you an interim report of the U.S. Metric Study, which is being conducted at the National Bureau of Standards at your request and in accordance with the Metric Study Act of 1968. The Study is exploring the subjects assigned to it with great care. Nu- merous surveys and investigations have been launched to obtain primary data with respect to the issues of metrication. In addition, we are holding a series of National Metric Study Conferences that will provide an opportuni- ty for major groups and organizations representing the various sectors of our society to express their views with respect to these issues. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report reflect a substantial concern about the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the United States in international standards negotiations. Because this report has been prepared as an offshoot of our inquiry into the issues of metrication, it does not consider specific means to achieve such increased effectiveness. Rather, it calls attention to significant events and trends that have come to light in our Metric Study and have led us to certain basic conclusions. If you concur with these conclusions and our recommendations, you may wish to give further attention to the possibility of Federal leadership in encouraging greater support by U.S. industry for international standardization, the desirability of substantial Federal assistance to our private sector standardizing institutions, and other alternatives that might emerge from a thorough review of this question with such institutions and other interested parties. Sincerely, Lewis M. Branscomb, Director National Bureau of Standards Enclosure . FOREWORD This is an interim report in the U.S. Metric Study. It concerns developments in the field of international standards; a subject that is little known and even less appreciated in terms of its importance to the international transfer of goods and technology. Its purpose is to call attention to some preliminary findings and to recom- mend that certain actions be taken, quite apart from the ultimate issue of what the United States should do with respect to metrication. This issue will be embraced in the final report of this Study to the Congress, which will be made by the Secretary of Commerce in August of 1 97 1 This report was prepared by a Metric Study task force, headed by Dr. Robert D. Huntoon and including Dr. Robert D. Stiehler, Dr. A. Allan Bates, and Mr. Myron G. Domsitz. Important contributions were made by Mr. Richard O. Simpson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Product Standards, Dr. Allen V. Astin, Director Emeritus of the National Bureau of Standards, and Mr. Donald L. Peyton, Managing Director of the American National Standards Institute. As in all aspects of the U.S. Metric Study, thoughtful assistance and coun- sel were given by members of the Metric Study Advisory Panel in the preparation of this interim report. In particular, we are grateful for the contributions made by Mr. Louis F. Polk, chairman of the panel, Mr. Francis L. LaQue, the vice chairman, and the panel's executive committee: Mr. John Clark, Dr. Doris Hanson, Mr. Vernon Jirikowic, Mr. Richard Kropf, Mr. Roy P. Trowbridge, and Dr. William E. Zeiter. Daniel V. De Simone, Director U.S. Metric Study VII 11 CONTENTS Page Letters of Transmittal III, V Foreword V 1 I. Introduction and Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations 1 II. Nature of the U.S. Metric Study 5 III. The Dynamic Environment 11 IV. Evaluation and Conclusions 21 V. Recommendations 31 Appendix 1 — U.S. Metric Study Group and the Metric Study Act 33 Appendix 2 — Charter and Membership of Advisory Panel 35 Appendix 3 -The U.S. Metric Study Plan 39 Appendix 4 — Engineering Standards 5 Appendix 5 — Selected Questionnaires Being Employed in the U.S. Metric Study 65 VIII I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS In the two years following the enactment of the Metric Study Act,' the "increasing worldwide use of the metric system," which was the primary concern leading to its passage, has expanded to encompass virtually the en- tire world. The one notable exception to this worldwide trend is the United States. These years have also seen an acceleration in the internationalization of engineering standards, which use a nation's measurement language as a basis for product quality, uniformity and compatibility. Engineering standards have served as a keystone in our domestic industrial development, as they have in other industrialized nations. In Europe it is now being proposed that such standards be coupled with product certification procedures. Products not certified as satisfying the applicable standards may effectively be barred from the markets in question until proper certification is secured. This proposal, if put into effect, will signal substantial influences upon "international trade, commerce and other areas of international relations," an area of concern expressly highlighted in the Metric Study Act. Accordingly, since these developments with respect to international standards are believed important, the purpose of this interim report is to call attention to them. The United States may or may not emerge as a fully ac- cepted participant in this new arrangement of the world market, depending ' Public Law 90-472, which established the U.S. Metric Study in August 1968, is commonly referred to as the "Metric Study Act." See appendix 1 for the full text of this Act. 1 2 U.S. METRIC STUDY REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS Upon the policies established and actions taken in response to these developments within the next two to three years. If in keeping with our general pol- icy to work toward greater openness and harmony in world affairs, the U.S. goal is full participation, certain actions must be taken soon in order to achieve this end. On the other hand, if we do not seek such participation, what the U.S. may gain or lose as a consequence should be clearly understood so that a rational choice can be made. It is the purpose of this interim report to bring these issues up for full consideration, provide a basis for their evaluation, and indicate some courses of action. In the chapters that follow, attention is first focused upon the U.S. Metric Study itself in order to explain how it comes to pass that an international standards problem emerges from it and to put this problem in proper per- spective with the rest of the Study. Proper interpretation requires an un- derstanding, not commonly found, of engineering standards — their nature, genesis, and relation to measurement usage. In addition, the vital role they play in the development of an industrial economy needs to be understood, as does their international role, where they may defend and propagate our technology and engineering practices. Such an explanation is provided in appendix 4 for the reader who is not already familiar with the subject of engineering standards. Rapidly developing events and trends that have come to light in the course of the Metric Study are portrayed in the chapter entitled "Dynamic Environ- ment," to show how these events have moved into the present stage calling for action. An analysis of their impact and the conclusions to be drawn therefrom appear under the heading of "Evaluation and Conclusions." Finally, the general nature of the action required, depending upon our national goal, is explained in the "Recommendations." Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report reflect a substantial concern about the need to strengthen the effectiveness of the United States in international standards activities. In brief, these conclusions and recommendations are as follows.- CONCLUSIONS p^g. Conclusion 1: The international standards issue lends some support to a metric conversion in the United States, but other important issues must also be considered and weighed before an overall judgment can be made. 25 Conclusion 2: The Metric Study cannot and should not be ex- pected to provide answers for the nonmetric issues raised by the events and trends described in this report. 25 Conclusion 3: If the U.S. wishes to see the maximum amount of its engineering practices and standards included in the coming international standards, it must, without delay, take steps for adequate and effective participation in international standards negotiations. 25 - The number in the margin refers to the page in the text where the conclusion or recommen- dation appears. 11 INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Two points about this third conclusion require emphasis: P^s^ a. The question of the extent to which participation in international standardization is in the best interest of the United States must be decided on the basis of considerations that are beyond the scope of the U.S.

Load more