Metrication Impact in the Fluid Power Industry 730040

This three-part paper describes the experience of one industry-the fluid power-in the making of international standards through the International Standards Organization. The first section outlines the National Fluid Power Association's approach to the problem, and the necessity for the industry to adopt the international standard of metric units, SI, as the language of measurement in the United States. With ISO/TC 131, Fluid Power Systems and Components, as an example, the second part describes the day-to-day workings of an ISO committee. Comments are made regarding the types of people who should make up the delegations to ISO meetings, and some of the problems they will encounter. The last section is written from an industrial supplier's viewpoint, and supplies several examples of how United States standards (specifically SAE's) are viewed by other delegations to ISO committees.

The consensus is that international standardization is essential to all countries economic interests, and that the United States must participate strongly in the work of ISO if her industry is to remain competitive for the indefinite future. It is hoped that this description of the fluid power industry's experience in ISO will be helpful to other industries.