9. Additional warehouse space will be required for storage and issue of metric supplies during the conversion period. To meet this requirement, temporary warehouse space will have to be provided. This can be accomplished through minor modifications and alterations of other buildings at each field activity to provide a segregated storage location for the metric-sized parts and tools.

10. It is expected that some difficulty will be encountered in obtaining equipment to convert lathes, gear shapers and cutting machinery to the metric standard of pitches and leads. Measuring tools, gauges, taps, drills, reamers, etc., will need to be converted or replaced. This equipment is not currently available in the United States in sufficient quantities. It therefore will be necessary to stimulate interest in United States industry to develop such equipment. However, even then the government agencies will without doubt have to compete with industry for it. This situation will necessitate careful planning and early procurement in order to overcome these difficulties. The practical approach of a gradual changeover to metric tooling introduces its own problem of maintaining both inchpound and metric items during the interval when there is a choice in design and machinery requirements. Many of the existing inch-pound tools and measuring devices will remain in the inventory until the inch-pound systems being supported are phased out of the active inventory.

11. Initially, there will be a large potential for error in converting data. Basic data conversion can be accomplished in several ways. Automatic data processing data can be converted by a computer program developed especially for the purpose of converting inchpound units to metric units. Other basic data will necessitate manual conversion and will require additional personnel who must be closely supervised and their work adequately checked.

12. The longest life expectancies of existing nonmetric resources are probably represented by real property facilities. The entire physical plant of buildings, pavements, and similar structures was constructed from English systems components and is frequently expected to provide useful service for 50 or more years. Contained equipment (boilers, power plants, etc.) are a similar (but shorter duration) consideration. The ability to repair rather than completely replace is an economic necessity. However, the existing investments by manufacturers and property owners probably will be acknowledged by industry. Building material continuity will likely be provided initially by redesignation to metric sizes (lumber, pipe, blocks, bricks, steel, etc.) with an actual change to metric standards guided by the economic parameters of the industry.

13. Until personnel become sufficiently familiar with the metric equipment, mistakes in identification of tools and piece parts will be made. There will also be errors in equipment selection and adjustments. This problem will greatly affect the overall conversion process and must be endured as a natural consequence of conversion. Special markings on metric tools, bolts, nuts, screws, fasteners, etc., is one example of a way to minimize identification mistakes. Probably, it will be best to keep equipment originally made to the inch-pound measurement system unaltered during its useful life and not permit partial conversion to metric standards. This means that with the exception of attachments for portable equipment, all fixed machinery and fixed equipment in major systems built to inch-pound measurement should remain unmodified during the life of the system. To prevent confusion, and in the case of safety equipment, avert disaster, all fittings for attaching portable equipment on any one system should be changed simultaneously and mixtures of standards, such as two types of fire hose threads on one ship, must not be permitted. Each organizational unit should be instructed to review both its working procedures and its physical equipment and submit plans for altering or replacing equipment, instruments and tools. Each organizational unit should be required to state its plans for

additional checks and inspections for the detection and correction of errors generated in the changeover process. A high degree of alertness by supervisors and workers will be needed to minimize this problem.

14. A major difficulty during the transition will be overcoming the inertia in thinking and performance of the work force without benefit of prior formal training in metric studies or familiarity in use of metric standards. Another serious practical problem is the psychological difficulty of educating the trained individuals to think and operate in terms of metric units and yet retain their intuitive judgment which now enables them to mentally choose the correct wrench size, estimate lengths reasonably well, and to mentally visualize blueprint dimensions and stock sizes in an expeditious and efficient manner. Therefore, a formal training program, early in the conversion period, will be required to overcome psychological adjustments caused by "resistance to change" from the familiar inch-pound measurement system to the SI measurement system. There will be an effective reduction of manning within DOD agencies due to time required for training in the metric system. This reduction in effective manning because of the time required for training might be overcome by on-the-job training, and by adding training in the metric system to the other training programs. Increased surveillance and tighter management controls at all levels will be necessary to maintain training standards commensurate with metrication development. Course length and course content must be regulated as appropriate, and budgets and manpower authorizations must be adjusted to accommodate these changes. The immediate teaching of the metric system at all levels of public school beginning with the metrication cycle will ease the basic problem for the younger generation which will be entering the work force during and after metric conversion.

15. There is a general category of nuisance difficulties related to the inconveniences which will be experienced by personnel in the metric system conversion process. Elements of this category are:

a. Education necessary to become familiar with the SI system.

b. Adjustment to new scales, gauges, measuring terminology, etc., associated with on-the-job and off-the-job experiences.

c. Adjustment to different size descriptions for consumer products such as clothing, food packaging, containers, fasteners, etc.

d. Familiarization with standard metric sizes, specifications, and related descriptions for those who work as machinists, carpenters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, etc.

time.

e.

Confusion of having two separate measuring systems existing at the same

During the transition period, personnel will not be able to instinctively think in terms of the SI system of measurement. This ability to think in the metric system will have to be developed from the start of the program. Converting personnel to thinking and visualizing in terms of metric units will result in a temporary loss of efficiency. An adequate training program will have to be established to minimize this loss of efficiency, and supervisory personnel will have to be encouraged to promote an understanding of the metric system. Every effort will have to be made to minimize these inconveniences, but no means exist for completely eliminating them. Stated simply, personnel will have to adjust to the metric system, putting aside personal opinions or resistance and living with the inconvenience, frustration, and difficulty of implementing the metric system.

16. Should an emergency arise during the transition period, any metrication plan may have to be modified or reevaluated. If the emergency occurred in the early stages of conversion, a temporary suspension of conversion probably would be necessary. However, if hostilities should occur after the conversion is well advanced, it probably would be more efficient to accelerate the conversion process.

17. A most serious problem will be the development of an effective decision-making system. Decisions on when and how to change over from the inch-pound to the SI system of measurement can greatly affect the accomplishment and cost of each project. Therefore, a metrication coordinating office to advise or decide when and how to convert will have to be established.

D. Current Usage of Metric System in the DOD. The metric system currently is used to some extent within the DOD to perform specific functions. However, in terms of the total DOD mission, it is not used extensively. See Appendix G for areas of current usage. E. Ability to Transit to the Use of the Metric System.

1. The study indicates that the DOD could transit to the use of the metric system without a major decrease in mission capability provided sufficient additional resources are available for the task. However, metrication would be costly and would allow limited military advantages while imposing numerous disadvantages during the transition period. Following transition, the military advantages expected are the day-to-day use of an inherently simpler system and the commitment of the Services to a single system of weights and measures. Further, should the adoption in the U. S. of the SI system lead to a world-wide standard for weights and measures, the result would be greater compatibility between U.S. and foreign operations and equipments. The completion of metrication will leave few long-term disadvantages. These will occur in the maintenance and support of long-life items which remain in the inventory well after the programmed metrication cycle. (For a detailed list of advantages and disadvantages, see Appendix D.)

2. The DOD is dependent upon the National Industrial Base and the rate of conversion within the DOD will be dependent on how well conversion is carried out by industry. The interfacing of equipments/components designed in the inch-pound and metric systems will present a formidable task. The availability of metric components will have to be known during the design process. Trade-off studies will have to be required to determine the degree of mix which could be tolerated in the engineering, support, and operational areas. DOD agencies must not be placed in the position of forcing the country to convert to metric units by requiring Government contracts to be written with metric requirements before industry has sufficiently converted. If DOD is placed in the position of forcing conversion, the cost to DOD and/or the decrease in Defense capability would greatly exceed the estimates made within this report. However, with proper planning, adequate funding and special attention to critical areas, it is envisioned that a successful conversion could be achieved.

V. CONCLUSIONS

A. Metrication within the DOD appears feasible provided sufficient and timely resources are made available and a national conversion schedule is adhered to by industry and DOD. It is imperative that close coordination be maintained between DOD and industry. Lack of such coordination will extend the conversion process and greatly increase the costs of conversion.

B. The total DOD cost for converting to the metric system while maintaining a constant mission capability is estimated to be approximately $18 billion with the rate of expenditure dependent upon the National Metrication Program. These costs are such that in the current environment, they cannot be absorbed without deterioration of the defense posture.

C. There are no major short-term advantages to the DOD in converting to the metric system.

D. The major problems in converting to the metric system will occur during the period of transition. These include psychological resistance to change, extensive training and retraining of personnel, operational and tactical conversion, logistics, equipment and system acquisition and conversion, and the development of metric standards.

E. The conversion of the country to the metric system could adversely impact on the ability of the United States to support its military forces during the proposed transition period. Without proper planning and adequate funding, the reduced flexibility and capacity of the support available would impact upon the capability of the Armed Forces to perform their mission, especially if an international crisis should develop at critical times during this period requiring the employment of major forces in a combat role.

F. The major advantages expected are the day-to-day use of an inherently simpler system and the compatibility of U. S. and foreign equipment. Although the use of a simpler system would have no outstanding advantage, the slight advantage expected would be significant because of its widespread nature. The compatibility of U. S. and foreign equipment will enhance combined operations and simplify the logistics support requirements.

G. The completion of metrication will leave few long-term disadvantages. Those that will occur deal with long-life items which will remain in inventory well after the programmed metrication cycle.

H. Inch-pound standards that have wide international acceptance should be retained until suitable metric standards are developed and accepted. In addition, the U. S. Government must actively participate with international organizations in the development of metric standards.

I. The interfacing of equipments/components designed in the inch-pound and metric systems will be a major task. The availability of metric components will have to be known during the design process. Trade-off studies will be required to determine the degree of mix which can be tolerated in the engineering, support, and operational areas. Metrication of new equipment designs can proceed on an orderly basis only if a phased national schedule for the conversion of major segments of U. S. industry is adopted.

J. A full-time and continuing staff within DOD will be required to prepare a detailed implementation plan for metrication. This same organization could administer and implement the metric system plan where appropriate.

If a national decision is made to adopt the SI system, it is recommended that:

A. Aggressive action be taken to obtain in a timely manner those additional resources,

in dollars and manpower, as are identified by affected DOD agencies.

B. A national schedule for metrication be developed before the requirement for metrication is placed on the U. S. Department of Defense.

C. A concerted effort be made by the Federal Government to foster and preserve the international use of U. S. customary standards that have wide international acceptance.

D. A staff be established within DOD to monitor and coordinate implementation of the metric system plan.