On 1/01/07 1:00 AM, "Remek Kocz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Pat, > > A quick comment on your Kodak example. When it comes to the Kodak's film > cassettes used in radiology, their sizes are labeled in centimeters only, and > x-ray technicians refer to them as such. At some fairly recent point in the > past, the cassettes were actually made in inch sizes, but that has changed, > and rational metric sizes were introduced in dimensions as close as possible > to USC predecessors (backwards compatibility). I don't know who is > responsible for this, whether the film division or the health division at > Kodak. > > All software used in radiology uses centimeters as well. > > Remek >> Consider the cost of the confusion at Kodak where the film division used >> Approach 4 to complete metrication in the 1910s while the photographic paper >> division is still puddling along with a sort of combined Approach 1 and >> Approach 3 in 2007 97 years later and they've still got a long way to go. >> >> Dear Remek, This is a classic example of a piecemeal approach to metrication without setting any goals and by letting individuals decide (often by whimsy) the current measurement policy of the company that will last many years into the future. You should expect this sort of muddled response when two separate policies clash in any company that decides to 'Go metric' and chooses not to consider the question of their overall measurement policy. Measurement policies don't have to be complicated but they do have to exist. Here is an example of an effective measurement policy from the Australian building construction industry: The Australian Building and Construction Advisory Committee policy is: > The metric units for linear measurement in building and construction will be > the metre (m) and the millimetre (mm), with the kilometre (km) being used > where required. This will apply to all sectors of the industry, and the > centimetre (cm) shall not be used. * With these words the Australian Building and Construction Advisory Committee effectively banished centimetres from the building trades in Australia, with the result that metric conversion in these trades was smooth, rapid, and complete. They made it clear that the centimetre should generally not be used, and in particular: > the centimetre should not be used in any calculation and it should never be > written down. * *Standards Association of Australia 'Metric Handbook, Metric Conversion in Building and Construction 1972 Among other advantages, this policy had the immediate effect of removing all references to fractions from building sites, and most other trades in Australia followed the example of the building industry, and subsequently followed their successful metrication program. About 84 % of trades and crafts and professions now routinely use millimetres. Metres, and kilometres. I¹ve made an analysis of the various occupations in Australia, and the length units they prefer to use. From the 117 occupations listed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the results are as follows: millimetre users 96 occupations (83.5 %) Aircraft maintenance engineer (avionics), aircraft maintenance engineer (mechanical), aircraft maintenance engineer (structures), automotive electrician, binder and finisher, blacksmith, boat builder and repairer, bricklayer, broadcast transmitter operator, business machine mechanic, cabinetmaker, cable jointer, carpenter, carpenter and joiner, communications linesperson, computing support technician, dental technician, draftsperson, drainer, electrical engineering technician, electrical power line tradesperson, electrician (special class), electronic engineering technician, electronic equipment tradesperson, electronic instrument tradesperson (special class), electroplater, engraver, farrier, fibrous plasterer, fitter, flat glass tradesperson, floor finisher, furniture finisher, furniture upholsterer, gasfitter, gem cuter and polisher, general communications tradesperson, general electrician, general electronic instrument tradesperson, general fabrication engineering tradesperson, general gardener, general mechanical engineering tradesperson, general plumber, glass blower, graphic pre-press tradesperson, greenkeeper, gunsmith, jeweller, joiner, landscape gardener, leather goods maker, lift mechanic, locksmith, mechanical engineering technician, mechanical services and air conditioning plumber, medical grade shoemaker, metal casting tradesperson, metal fabricator (boilermaker), metal machinist (first class), metal polisher, motor mechanic, optical mechanic, painter and decorator, panel beater, patternmaker-grader (clothing), piano maker, piano tuner, precision instrument maker and repairer, pressure welder, printing machinist, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, roof plumber, roof slater and tiler, saw maker and repairer, screen printer, sheet metal worker (first class), shipwright, shoemaker, sign writer, small offset printer, solid plasterer, stonemason, surveyor, textile, clothing or footwear mechanic, toolmaker, upholsterers and bedding tradespersons, tree surgeon, vehicle body maker, vehicle painter, vehicle trimmer, wall and floor tiler, watch and clock maker and repairer, welder (first class), wood tradesperson, and wood turner. centimetre and inch users 12 occupations (10.4 %) Apparel cutter, baker, canvas goods maker, chef, cook, dressmaker, general clothing tradesperson, nurseryperson, pastry cook, picture framer, sail maker, and tailor. 7 occupations where length measures are relatively unimportant (6.1 %) Butcher, buttermaker or cheesemaker, confectioner, hairdresser, smallgoods maker, hairdressers, and meat tradespersons. You might notice that nobody in Australia uses decimetres, decametres or hectometres at all. It seems to me that there is a very high probability that most people in the USA who are now students will use millimetres predominantly during their future working lives. Remember that Kodak began their 'Go metric' campaign in 1910. Without a measurement policy, they still have a long way to go. Cheers, Pat Naughtin PO Box 305, Belmont, 3216 Geelong, Australia Phone 61 3 5241 2008 Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online monthly newsletter, 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe at http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter Pat is also recognised as a Lifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist (LCAMS) with the United States Metric Association. He is also editor of the 'Numbers and measurement' section of the Australian Government Publishing Service 'Style manual for writers, editors and printers'. 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