PLANNED METRICATION PROGRAM (1) Under a planned metrication program for commercial weights and measures, it would be necessary to establish a date(s) for the required use of the metric system in the buying and selling of commodities (i.e., quantity descriptions only). In the case of package labels, a period of dual labeling would be allowed (customary and metric). Such a date(s) should be established far enough in advance, e.g., 10 years, so that the industries concerned with bringing about the necessary changes would have an appropriate period of time to accomplish them, and the public would have a chance to adjust to the new measurement system. (Note: The various segments (e.g., package labeling, metering and weighing) of commercial weights and measures may have different dates for completing metrication.) However, it is felt that industry and weights and measures jurisdictions should be free to develop the best method(s) for bringing about metrication in a voluntary cooperative way (within the time period prescribed). It is suggested that the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), sponsored by the National Bureau of Standards, be used as the main coordinating body for such a metrication effort, as the NCWM has representatives from every segment of the weights and measures establishment. (2) The primary elements of a metrication program in this area would be as follows (not in any order of importance): a. Replacing or adapting weighing and measuring devices and inspection equipment via a timetable. b. Changing label quantity-of-contents statements first to dual measurement notation for a period of time and then to only metric units. c. Revising laws, regulations, and technical specifications and tolerances in the weights and measures area where necessary at both the Federal and state levels. d. Establishing training programs for persons engaged directly in commercial weighing and measuring activities (e.g., scale and meter service personnel, weights and measures officials, etc.). e. Assisting the national effort to educate the public to be able to understand the metric system. I. ADAPTATION OF WEIGHING AND I-1. INTRODUCTION There are two distinguishable levels where problems occur in the adaptation of weighing and measuring devices from one system to another; (1) the manufacturing or plant level, and (2) the field or user level. As a rule, the problems arising from metric adaptation at the plant level are not as great as at the user level. Many companies have had some experience in producing metric recording or indicating devices either in their domestic or foreign plants, but they have had little or no experience in adapting devices in the field.1 The problems arising out of field adaptation include the following: 1. The large variety and number of devices in use. 2. The limited number of qualified service personnel. 3. The large inventory of parts both for repair and adaptation purposes that service agencies would have to maintain. In order to avoid undue complexity, the narrative discussions below on device adaptation have been limited to essential facts. An exception to this general rule is a subsidiary of one U.S. meter manufacturer in South Africa. They have developed a procedure for adapting gasoline dispensers in the field as a result of the metrication program in that country. 1-2. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: QUALIFICATIONS Statistics for this chapter were gathered from questionnaires, interviews, and information request letters. The companies to be surveyed were arrived at by taking judgment samples of weighing and measuring device manufacturers as suggested by the Scale Manufacturer's Association, and the Office of Weights and Measures, National Bureau of Standards.2 The data presented should be considered as only approximate since (1) it is based upon respondent companies best estimates, and (2) in some cases, especially the cost data, figures have been rounded to convenient numbers. As a result of the uncertainties in the data (best estimates, rounding, etc.) it is suggested that the figures in the statistical summary table be viewed as representing the general magnitude of the actual universe figures. In determining the costs and time required to adapt weighing and measuring devices to record or indicate in metric units at the manufacturing and user levels, the following conditions or assumptions were made: 3 1. This survey is only interested in the impacts of adapting devices now being produced and/or in use. These devices will undergo changes and/or adjustments only so far as it is necessary to adapt them so that they will record or indicate in metric units. No other type of metrication will be considered.* That is, costs and time needed for metric adaptation will be based on these changes and/or adjustments plus related problems. 2. The design or engineering departments of a firm will not change their measurement usage. Any new parts required for adaptation will be designed using the present measurement system with associated engineering standards and "off the shelf" parts. 3. Production departments and service agencies will use the present measurement system except that there will be an increase in the use of metric mass and/or volume standards. It must be clearly understood that the costs and time reported for the adaptation of devices is based on a very narrow form of metrication. Consequently, the initial plant costs, cost per device, and increase price per device could all increase substantially if other types of metrication are taking place at the same time. In closing, the costs of field adaptation have to be viewed in a cautious manner. Companies have never undergone such a change as this, and therefore their costs are based on best estimates of what they think will be required. It is quite possible that costs due to unforeseen problems might arise which could alter the cost figures upward; or, in the alternative, the problems encountered may be less than anticipated and costs may be far less than expected. In any case, such unknown factors could alter costs signifi 2 See app. I-1 for more information on the statistical base. 3 These conditions or assumptions were made so that this survey would conform with the present practices of the scale and meter industries, as many of these companies already produce metric recording or indicating devices by adapting U.S. customary ones. The manufacturing survey is considering other aspects of metrication in the mechanical products industries. cantly. As a result, to avoid giving a false impression of future costs, no attempt has been made to project present figures. 1-3. ADAPTATION OF WEIGHING DEVICES DRUM AND FAN TYPE (MECHANICAL) Drum and fan type computing scales (figs. 1-3) are generally used in grocery and candy stores to sell bulk items based on unit prices (cents/lb). These devices allow the user to determine, for a selected price per unit, the total price a customer must pay for any given weighed amount. For example, assume that potatoes are being sold at 39 cents/lb, and a customer has bagged potatoes weighing 2 lb 12 oz. The store clerk will weigh the bag, and the computing scale will enable him to quickly determine the total price to be paid. In this example that would be $1.07. In order to adapt these scales, the price computation and weight indicator charts, if separate, would have to be replaced.5 Present computation charts give total prices based on pounds and ounce fractions thereof for a range of selected prices per pound. Metric computation charts would compute total prices based on the kilogram and decimal fractions thereof for selected prices per kilogram. It now appears that if the new metric charts can be used within the present capacity of the devices leaving adequate adjustment capability, no other parts would have to be replaced. However, if new charts do not have their metric indications aligned exactly with ones now using customary units, recalibration would be necessary. That is, the linear distance on the customary and metric charts between any two equivalent points, measured either by linear or angular methods, (i.e., the linear distance from 0-10 oz on the U.S. customary chart and its equivalent 0-283.5 g on the metric chart) would not be the same. Also, in the case of drum computing scales, it will no doubt be necessary to replace the face plates just above and below the window openings. These plates contain the selected unit prices which refer to the total computed prices in the chart. If, in order to adapt these devices, it is necessary to exceed their present capacity, new springs or pendulum weights would also be required for drum and fan scales, respectively. The additional parts would increase the cost as well as the service time needed to complete metric adaptation. It should be quite clear that recalibration would be necessary under these circumstances. Before proceeding further, it should be noted that device users will have to inform scale manufacturers of the price ranges they desire on new metric computing charts. Scale manufacturers do produce several charts for these devices so that retail stores will have flexibility in choosing prices and it is to 5 Some manufacturers produce fan type scales which have weighbeams and poises. The weighbeam and possibly the poises would have to be replaced on these devices. On fan type scales the indicator arm usually contains the various per unit weight prices. However, since metric weighing would result in a new price structure (e.g., .39 cents/lb = .86 cents/kg) new indicator arms would probably be needed. |