mechanics, engineers, and others.

The chance for error in computations will be greatly reduced when the metric system is fully implemented. Compatibility will be achieved among range instrumentation, scientific measuring devices, and engineering units.

A general modernization and updating of individual plant equipment, ground equipment, and shop hand tools can be expected upon converting to the metric system.

Savings will be realized in automatic data processing time as a result of fewer conversions and simpler programming.

Long-term Disadvantages.

The completion of metrication will leave some long-term disadvantages. Those that will occur deal with long life items which will remain in inventory well after the programmed transition. These include:

There will be difficulty experienced in retaining material and manpower for the maintenance, modification or activation of existing long-life systems, equipments and facilities.

Dual (inch-pound and metric) ranges of material and support equipment will have to be maintained in inventory in varying quantities for a period approaching thirty years.

Due to smaller production runs, there will be an increasingly greater cost of material produced under the inch-pound system for the maintenance, modification or activation of systems, equipments and facilities.

There will be a continuing need for the training of personnel in the use of inch-pound

systems.

There could be a forced obsolescence of productive, useful and otherwise satisfactory

material.

There could be a loss of skilled manpower due to the inability to train existing skilled technicians to an equal degree of proficiency in the use of the metric system. Prepositioned equipment may need conversion before being activated.

APPENDIX

E

International Standards

and Piece Parts

105

One of the most important consequences of a change to the metric system by the United States would be the effect of the change on international standards. International standards are now becoming one of the most potent factors in international trade. The highly industrialized nations of the world are modifying their national standards to be compatible with those developed by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. The developing countries are accepting many of these international standards, often without change, as their national standards and as the basis for purchasing goods from abroad.

Practically all standards involve measurements of one kind or another, so any major change in the system of measurements used in the standards is bound to have a major effect on the standards themselves. The introduction of SI units into engineering standards is only one facet of metrication. It is a step now being taken by national standardizing organizations and is not dependent on the entire country changing its measurement units. It is a necessary step in fostering the use of United States standards internationally. It is clear that the critical period is upon us and that international standards are and will move rapidly forward in this decade towards completion of the bulk of the work with or without us. Our choice is to withdraw and try to adjust later or participate now and influence things more toward our own desires.

PIECE PARTS

One of the greatest areas of impact would be conversion from the United States standard off-the-shelf bits and pieces to those of the metric system. If the U.S. decides to convert, the plan must establish exactly where we are going in this area. We must establish those DOD standard and industry standard bits and pieces we are going to redimension in the metric system and keep, and those which do not conveniently redimension in the metric system or would be an awkward size or shape in the metric assortment and hence must be abandoned. The problem closely related to any measuring system is industrial standardization within the system and the full benefit of a universal measuring system would not occur unless the industrial countries accept a set of universal standards such as those of an international standards organization.

The two systems of off-the-shelf items (e.g., screws, nuts, bolts) should not be mixed on any one weapon system component since it would greatly complicate logistics support and maintenance. Perhaps, a clean break should be made on those weapon system components which utilize metric off-the-shelf hardware. In converting the J-79 engine, the German engineers stuck strictly with the U. S. standard bit and piece hardware items.

As a result of current investigations, it is now believed that the metric standard off-the-shelf bit and piece hardware that would be used in a weapon system, is not superior in any way to that available under the U.S. system. For instance, it is not believed that metric bits and pieces would improve performance or increase reliability. Therefore, the only advantage to transitioning to some metric standard system of hardware would be to standardize to bit and piece hardware used by several countries. This, of course, would be of tremendous advantage within an organization such as NATO.