So how did you get your nickname used here?

[Moneo]

The big issue is CHANGE. You say that changing isn't much of hassle, and that it's not so difficult to change. You're right regarding change on an individual basis. But what about on an industry-wide basis? The automotive industry in the USA is undergoing some bad times. What would happen to this industry if you now burdened it with a conversion to metric? And what about all the other major industries?

Well, we changed our money. What can be more difficult than changing your mind about how many stuff costs? That's why I say that it's easy, 'cause I know what's changing your mind radically......

I'll admit that changing the currency is a major issue, involving the government, the banking industry, and many facets of business systems, as well as having an impact on every individual.

However, changing the currency does not compare in magnitud to a change to the metric system for every manufacturing industry. Can you imagine, just the planning of such a transition for an industry like the automotive industry, gives me a headache.

Such a change involves redesigning and reengineering the entire automobile. All the vendors that used to supply the industry with parts may not be able to now provide similar metric parts. Do we wait for the vendors to tool-up, or do we open additional factories to make the metric parts needed? And what about the tools and robots used in the manufacture? Where do I obtain the alternate metric tools and robots? What about the service departments of the dealerships for these automobiles? They'll need new tools also.
Personnel that work on the shopfloor of the manufacturing sites, will need new training.

I could go on and on. I thing you can appreciate all that is involved.

Change is good when you're selling it, but it's a real bear when you have to buy it.
*****

[NecrosIhsan]

Moneo is very correct...and that's just one industry, there are hundreds upon hundreds of industries that would have to make such a huge shift.

Nice way to steer this thread off-topic though, guys...

[anarky]

So how did you get your name?

>anarky -

[na_th_an]

Well, the metric system didn't just grow up in our countries. We had our own system to measure stuff, as every country/region had. We just shifted. Most of the developed countries shifted, and I don't remember any huge troubles or falling economies for that matter.

Metric system makes your life easier, allows for more accurate results, minimizes the relative and accumulated errors, makes calculations easier (care to tell me, from the top of your head, how many inches are in 2.76 miles? )...

I don't think that change has to be all at once. You don't need to say "hey, we are metric now, throw all those machinery to the dustbin and buy metric one". First step is using it. Use it. If you know that an inch is 2.54 centimeters you have a start. You don't need to change your soldering machine works in steps of two inches. You just have to know that "now", that machine just works in steps of 5.08 centimeters. When the factory has to change the machinery, the new ones come measured in centimeters. Changing takes time, but it's feasible.

Now, with two major measurement systems out there (imperial and metric), things are somewhat more expensive for the only reason of having to build, for example, cars which measure speed in two different systems. Imagine any American car brand name - they have to build cars which measure in mph and then cars which measure in kph for export. The amount of money they would save building just one kind of cars would be huge.

I consider a waste of time and money all those conversions needed by your country when dealing with others.

[Moneo]

......

Nice way to steer this thread off-topic though, guys...

You're right Nec, and I apologize to Anarky for taking part in the off-topic discussion about metric conversions.

Nathan, I yield to your superior knowledge on the subject.
*****

[anarky]

Now, with two major measurement systems out there (imperial and metric), things are somewhat more expensive for the only reason of having to build, for example, cars which measure speed in two different systems. Imagine any American car brand name - they have to build cars which measure in mph and then cars which measure in kph for export. The amount of money they would save building just one kind of cars would be huge.

How? It's a peice of plastic with different stamps on it...

>anarky

[na_th_an]

It was an example, kiddo.

[axipher]

My name is a product or a random string generator made from letters. I made it as a screensaver and axipher came up so I used it.


::EDIT::

Changed sued to used as it should be

[seph]

My name is a product or a random string generator made from letters. I made it as a screensaver and axipher came up so I sued it.

Didja get a good settlement?

Btw cool name. I likey.

[NovaProgramming]

Ax'i'pher-- Latin for "Digger of Old Posts"