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.
I've 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'. He is
a Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia and the
International Federation for Professional Speakers. See: *
http://www.metricationmatters.com*
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