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Jim Destefani
Jim Destefani
Senior Editor
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Metrication in the U.S.: the Debate Continues

English or metric? The argument has ebbed and flowed in the United States for decades, as various federal agencies make an occasional push for metrication and many U.S. manufacturers cling to the inch/pound (English) system of measurement.

A PF reader--the president of a company that manufactures precision measuring machines, no less--recently fired a salvo in favor of metric measurement. His basic argument: that continued use of the English system of measurement is hindering the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers in a global marketplace.

The correspondent says his company began moving to the metric system back in the late 1990s, and now stocks fewer sizes of just about every component needed to build his products. “As a result, we are manufacturing at a higher quality with lower cost,” he says. He believes if his company had stuck with the English system of measurement, it would be fighting for a piece of an ever-shrinking market.

     ALSO In this issue..

  • The Finisher's Perspective
  • Plating
  • Painting
  • Cleaning
  • New Products

Finishers Perspective

Question

Share your views, win an Amazon gift certificate.

What do you think? Does your company use English or metric measurements for its products? Do you think your measurement system of choice impacts the competitiveness of your company? Please share your thoughts on this topic. click here to respond.

Respondents will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Amazon.com and will be published in the next issue of the Digital Dispatch.

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Jim Destefani jdestefani@pfonline.com

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