This article has some context errors like calling SI as metrics instead of metric or the metric system; calling non-metric as standard, and a useless text that proves no real knowledge of metric. But the bottom line is metric is actually creeping into American industry and may actually be gaining steam. Good to hear that Japan, Australia and South Korea already ban nonmetric measurements on trade goods.

The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

August 29, 2005 Monday FINAL Edition
Correction Appended

SECTION: LOCAL/ STATE; Pg. 1B

LENGTH: 715 words

HEADLINE: The pound takes a pounding AH: Is metric really the future for U.S.? Some predict so

BYLINE: BO PETERSEN Of The Post and Courier Staff

BODY:
The jigger is up.

In fact, so is the teaspoon, the pint, the foot, the yard and likely the mile. It's metricate or stay home. That's what Jim Frysinger thinks, and he's not alone.

Metrics, the decimal system of weights and measures used by most of the world, was gingerly set on the scales of popular opinion in the United States in the 1970s and brushed off dismissively by a populace used to the 90-foot baseline and the 100-yard field.

Well, wipe off that 3/16ths-inch snicker. The hectare didn't disappear, and times have changed. Time, in fact, is a metric measure.

People who turned up their noses in the 70s now unblinkingly buy medicines, light bulbs, computers, CD disks, wine, film, soft drinks, dog food, cars and tools, fuses, appliances, gourmet foods, pans and casserole dishes measured in metrics.

Kids who used to be handed rulers have been taught metrics for two decades; it's second nature to them. Frysinger, who teaches physics at the College of Charleston, used to give his introductory class students a choice: Measure in standard and metrics or just metrics. He quit asking.

Standard measurement "is like saying, 'Anybody want me to use cubits?' The nice thing about the metric system is, if you can count to 10, you've got it licked," he said.

Standard measure, on the other hand, is a grab bag of some 2,000 not-always-in-sync measurement units such as cups and pecks that Frysinger, who also runs a metrics tutoring business, dismisses as a hodgepodge. Terms such as bushel are inexact enough that in metric countries they're used to cheat.

These days, the pound doesn't hold up to the weight of the world.

"The United States has lost one-third of its hold on the global economy somewhat because of not using metrics. That's the guesstimate, and I've read it more than once," said Bruce Schooler, human resources director for Hadady Corp., a Midwest diesel manufacturing company.

Japan, Australia and South Korea already ban nonmetric measurements on trade goods. The European Union has wanted to for five years but has been delayed until 2009 by lobbying.

Hadady has been making engine manifolds and other parts since the 1970s, largely for American-based companies such as Caterpillar. It did its business in standard measurements until two years ago when the "gold standard" accreditation for contract bidding began demanding metrics.

Without metrics, Hadady couldn't even bid on jobs. The company hired Frysinger to teach its people how to adapt.

"Metrics faded out in the 1970s because it wasn't mandated by the marketplace. Now it's mandated by the marketplace," Schooler said.

Companies who deal with offshore customers need metrics, said Heyward Horton, Charleston Regional Development Alliance senior project manager. The alliance's Web site includes a metric option for reviewing sites.

"We recruit with a forethought in metrics; and the companies who locate here, their employees adapt to metrics," Horton said. The state's Center for Accelerated Technical Training teaches metric conversion.

"Metrics" has even become business-speak, as in "doing the metrics," to describe statistics or another measurement.

No, metrics isn't as poetic as the old English folk-based slurry of measurements based on human limbs and the like, Frysinger agrees. But it's worth pointing out that poetry is a system of meters.

The kid who stunned classmates in his 1959 eighth grade by knowing how many grams were in a pound, Frysinger finds himself on the millimeter grains of the cutting edge. He hands out metric rulers as calling cards.

For a few years now he has responded to tourists on King Street by giving them directions in metrics. Nobody has blinked.

"The United States had been one of the biggest players in the world in developing the metric system (in the 1800s). People think we're dumb -- 'You built this thing, now you don't use it?' " he said.

TEST YOUR METRIC KNOWLEDGE

1. How many meters are in a mile?

2. How many kilograms are in a pound?

3. How many liters are in a pint?

4. At what degree Celsius does water freeze?

5. How many pounds are in a metric ton?

1. 0.91

2. 0.45

3. 0.47

4. zero

5. 2,204.62

Bo Petersen can be reached at (843)745-5852 or bopete@ postandcourier.com.

CORRECTION-DATE: August 30, 2005

CORRECTION:
Local/State

Because of an editor's error, the first answer in "Test Your Metric Knowledge" in The Post and Courier's Monday story about metrics on the Local/State page was incorrect. There are 1,609.344 meters in a mile.

While I certainly wish him success, the article is basically sound bites from a consultant who makes his living teaching metric. One might expect it to be a little optimistic, and biased.

I do agree with his point that there is a lot of "hidden metric" and opponents may not understand how metric America really is. If we could just metric to "come out of the closet" we might actually beat the UK in going metric.

Metric-only FPLA is the key step in getting it out of the closet. I don't know the best way to effect that, but all US pro-metrics should be scratching their heads and putting together their best arguments for that, both to convince Congressman and to refute FMI. (Also to get those corporations who would benefit from metric FPLA to recognize it, and stand up and be counted.) It is the most important next step actually on the table, in addition to supporting those companies that want to go metric internally, which is what Jim does.

Another factual error. S. Korea does ban non-metric measurement, period, even dual labelled. Japan requires the metric, but "reluctantly accepts" US dual labelling (you can search on Google, there are a number of documents relating to this.) They have been threatening to ban dual labelling, and the planned amendment to FPLA was a line we were feeding them. Once they realize that isn't happening, they may move ahead. On Australia, I don't know whether they ban dual labelled.