NBS

PUBLICATIONS

A11104 DE30aM

NBSIR 79-1721

Report to AID on an NBS/AID

Course on Weights and

Measures Services

Edited by: H. Steffen Peiser

Charles C. Raley

Albert D. Tholen

Office of International Relations

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

Held June 24 - July 14, 1978

Issued April 1 979

The Course was conducted as a part of the program under the

US/NBS Agency for International Development

Prepared for Agency for International Development

department of State

-Ul— “Washington, D.C. 20523

100

.U56

79-1721

C.2

NatlojiaLBureas ®* Standards JWr 6 TO

NBSIR 79-1721

REPORT TO AID ON AN NBS/AID

COURSE ON WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES SERVICES

Edited by: H. Steffen Peiser

Charles C. Raley

Albert D. Tholen

Office of International Relations

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D C. 20234

Held June 24 - July 14, 1978

Issued April 1 979

The Course was conducted as a part of the program under the

US/NBS Agency for International Development

Prepared for Agency for International Development

Department of State

Washington, D.C. 20523

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary

Jordan J. Baruch, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pape

PHOTOGRAPH AND IDENTIFICATION v

INTRODUCTION, Hr. K. Steffen Peiser, Chief, Office of

International Relations, and Mr. Albert D. Tholen, Chief,

Office of Weights and Measures, National Bureau of

Standards, Washington, D.C., United States 1

COURSE PARTICIPANTS (List) 3

AGENDA OF "COURSE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SERVICES" 5

THE NATIONAL LABORATORY OF METROLOGY IN ECUADOR,

Mr. Rafael Aguirre, Chief, National Laboratory of Metrology,

Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalizacion, Quito, Ecuador 11

DELIVERY OF COOKING GAS TO JAMAICAN HOUSEHOLDERS,

Mr. Tweedsmuir Mitchell, Acting Head, Weights and Measures

Unit, Jamaican Bureau of Standards, Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. 17

WEIGHTS AMD MEASURES IN JORDAN, Mr. A. Kilani, Head, Weights

and Measures Section, Directorate of Standards, Ministry of

Industry and Trade, Amman, Jordan 21

’IETRICATION IN KENYA, Mr. Patroba A. Ayata, Superintendent,

Weights and Measures Department, Ministry of Commerce and

Industry, Nairobi, Kenya 25

PROBLEMS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN KOREA, Mr. Seok Mu Choi,

Director, Weights and Measures Department, National

Industrial Advancement Administration, Seoul, Korea 31

THE NEED FOR TRAINING OF PERSONNEL, Mr. Mohamed Benkirane,

Chief, Division of Metrology, Ministry of Commerce and

Industry, Rabat, Morocco 35

THE PROBLEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN PANAMA,

Ms. Ivonne Ruiz de Suarez, Chief, Metrology Laboratory,

COPANIT, Panama City, Panama 39

iii
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN THE PHILIPPINES

,

Ms. Corazon D. Herrera, Metrology Section, Philippines

Bureau of Standards, Manila, Philippines 45

DIFFICULTIES OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY TO ESTABLISH A WEIGHTS

AND MEASURES SERVICE, Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Babiher, Director,

Weights and Measures Administration, Ministry of Commerce

and Supply, Khartoum, Sudan . . . . 49

REPORT ON SUMMARY AND EVALUATION SESSION,

Mr. H. Steffen Peiser 53

EVALUATION OF COURSE BY PARTICIPANTS 57

CONCLUSION, The Editors

IV
mmmk 3 w

Left to right:

First row: Mr

Second row: Mr

Mr

Third row: Mr

Fourth row: Ms

Dr

Santosa, Ms. Corazon D. Herrera, Mr. Rafael Aguirre

Abderrahman Kilani, Ms. Ivonne Ruiz de Suarez,

Mohamed Benlcirane, Mr. Patroba A. Ayata

Tweedsmuir Mitchell, Mr. Seok Mu Choi

Penelope M. Odar, Mr. Albert D. Tholen,

Edward L. Brady, Mr. Richard N. Smith

v

INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and the Agency for

International Development (AID), we present this report on the conduct

of a "Course on Weights and Measures Services." This course was new

and experimental in nature. Participants were intended to be, and

were for the most part, heads of weights and measures laboratories in

their own countries or senior technical specialists having major roles

in metrology.

This training course on weights and measures services was held at NBS

in Gaithersburg, JIaryland. The emphasis was on practices in the

States of the Union, which in the United States have regulatory

control with technical advice from NBS through the National Conference

on Weights and Measures (NCWM) . The training program was designed for

participants from less industrialized countries with technical and

management responsibilities in this field.

The course, scheduled for the three-week period June 24-July 14,

1978, consisted of the following elements:

1) Overview of weights and measures activities at NBS,

June 24-27, 1978.

2) In-depth visit to two State Weights and Measures Offices

in nearby states, June 28-July 7, 1978.

3) Participation in the 63rd U.S. National Conference on Weights

and Measures, Washington, D.C., July 10-13, 1978. The theme

of this annual event was "Changing Dimensions and Directions

in Measurement Assurance." Approximately 500 persons comprising state and local weights and measures regulatory offices,

officials of Federal, State, and local governments, and

representatives of manufacturers, industry, business, and

consumer organizations were present, and numerous major topics

were covered.

4) Summary and Evaluation Session on July 14, 1978.

Eleven persons attended this course.

Most participants prepared a brief paper on the approach to some weights and measures related system or problem in their home

countries.

We appreciate the time and effort by the many NBS organizations which

assisted us in this undertaking. Special thanks are in order for Mr.

Wayne Junkins (Director of Bureau of Standard Weights and Measures in

Pennsylvania) and Mr. James Lyles (Supervisor of Weights and Measures

in Virginia), who hosted the course for three days in each state. The

1
idea for such a course had its genesis several years ago but was brought into sharp focus during the "NBS/AID/ASMO Survey of Standardization and Measurement Services in Sudan" in February and March 1978.

We shared a strong belief that such a program followed up by tailored

support to individual countries could be a logical way toward growth

of measurement programs in developing nations.

The results of this course, considering the formal comments of the

participants, as well as exchange of ideas in informal conversations,

are being analyzed to:

1) Improve the content of the course for future sessions,

2) Develop relevant support programs for individual nations

for consideration by MBS/AID and specific nations.

This report identifies the participants, their home countries, and,

through a collection of short papers, their thoughts concerning their

weights and measures programs at home. Additionally, the itinerary

for the three-week period is presented to identify the nature of the

sessions and demonstrations held. The program and substantive

description of activities of the National Conference on Weights and

Measures is available from the Office of Weights and Measures,

National Bureau of Standards.

The Summary and Evaluation Section offers specific conclusions

regarding the Course and suggested improvements. A summary of

individual responses to a questionnaire is contained to reinforce

these conclusions.

H. Steffen reiser

Chief, Office of International Relations

Albert D. Tholen

Chief, Office of Weights and Measures

2
PARTICIPANTS

1978 MBS /AID COURSE ON

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SERVICES

(by country)

Dr. Alberto Braun Bidau

Director, Supplies and Prices

Office of the Secretary of Commerce

Government of Argentina

Diagonal Julio A. Roca 651

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Mr. Rafael Aguirre

Chief, National Laboratory of Metrology

Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalizacion

Ave. Colon 1699

Quito, Ecuador

Mr. Santosa

Head, Sub-Directorate of Supervision

and Information

Directorate of Metrology

Djalan Pasteur No. 27

Bandung, Indonesia

Mr. Tweedsmuir Mitchell

Acting Head

Weights and Measures Unit

Jamaica Bureau of Standards

6 Winchester Road

Kingston 10, Jamaica

Mr. Abderrahman Kilani

Head, Weights and Measures Section

Directorate of Standards

Ministry of Industry and Trade

Amman, Jordan

Mr. Patroba A. Ayata

Superintendent, Weights and

Measures Department

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

P.0. Box 41071

Nairobi, Kenya

3
Mr. Seok Mu Choi

Director, Weights and

Measures Department

National Industrial Research Institute

Industrial Advancement Administration

219 Garibongdong Yeongdungpoku

Seoul, Korea

Mr. Mohamed Benkirane

Chief, Division du Metrologie Legale

Direction du Commerce Interieur

Ministere du Commerce et de 1' Industrie

5, Rue Errich, Quartier Tour Hassan

Rabat, Morocco

Ms. Ivonne Ruiz de Suarez

Chief, Metrology Laboratory

Comision Panamena de Normas

Industriales y Tecnicas

Apartado Postal 9658 - Zona 4

Panama City, Panama

Ms. Corazon D. Herrera

Products Standards Technologist

Metrology Section

Philippines Bureau of Standards

P.0. Box 3719

Manila, Philippines

Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Babiker

Director, Weights and Measures

Administration

Ministry of Commerce and Supply

P.0. Box 194

Kliartoum, Sudan

4
National Bureau of Standards

Agency for International Development

COURSE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SERVICES

June 24 - July 14, 1978

June 24, Saturday

All - I'li Arrive Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.A.

June 25, Sunday

AM - PM Free

June 26, Monday

AM

PH

June 27, Tuesday

AM

rn

Office of Weights and Measures

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, DC 20234

(301) 921-3677

Mr. A. D. Tholen, Chief

"Weights and Measures in the U.S.A."

Mr. R. N. Smith, Technical Coordinator, OWN

"U.S.A. Participation in OIML"

Mr. D. L. Fdgerly, Chief, Office of Domestic

and International Measurement Standards

"National Conference on Weights and Measures"

Mr. Ii. F. Wollin, Assistant Chief, OWM

"()WM Prototype Program"

Mr. H. V. Oppermann, Physical Scientist, OWM

Tour of NBS Campus

"OWM Standards and Laboratory Program and Tour"

Mr. B. Keysar, Engineering Technician, OWM

"Interesting Engineering Projects"

Mr. S. Hasko, Engineer, OWM

"Metric Conversion in the U.S.A."

Mr. J. V. Odom, Metric Coordinator, OWM

"Commercial Measurement Challenges"

Dr. C. E. Brickencamp, Program Manager,

Research and Development , OWM

5
June 28, Wednesday

Bureau of Standard Weights and Measures

Department of Agriculture

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

2301 N. Cameron Street

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 787-90S9

Host: Mr. W. F. Junkins, Director

AM Introduction to the Department of Agriculture

Honorable K. D. Shelhamer, Secretary of Agriculture

Mr. W. F. Junkins, Director of Bureau of Standard

Weights and Measures

Slide Presentation on Weights and Measures

Activities in Pennsylvania, Mr. R. R. Roof,

Metro logist

Explanation of Weights and Measures Laws and

Regulations Enforced in Pennsylvania

1. National Bureau of Standards Handbook 44,

Specifications, Tolerances, and other Technical Requests for Commercial Weighing and

Measuring Devices, Mr. R. R. Roof

2. National Bureau of Standards Handbook 67,

Checking Prepackaged Commodities,

Mr. G. E. Carpenter, Metrologist

3. Weights and Measures Act of 1965,

Mr. D. F. Ely, District Supervisor

4. Packaging and Labeling Regulations,

Mr . D . F . Ely

PM Tour of the State Capitol Building and the

William Penn Museum

Briefing and Explanation of Activities in the

Weights and Measures Laboratory, Messrs. Roof

and Carpenter

6
June 29, Thursday

AM - PM Dairy in-plant inspection and tour of

packaging facilities

Retail inspections consisting of testing various

lots of commodities such as random meat, dairy

and produce, dry standards such as breakfast

cereals, and a liquid such as milk. The labeling

of these commodities is explained and a selection

of scales examined while at the store. The last

stop is a retail gas station to conduct a routine

pump examination. Messrs. Dellegrotto, Ely,

Goodhart

Visit Regional Office

June 30, Friday

Picnic Supper, Liddick Residence

AM Review of Activities

Demonstration of the Testing of a Motor Truck

Scale, Mr. T. Serovich, Inspector

PM Remarks, Honorable K. D. Shelhamer

Administration of a Weights and Measures Program,

Mrs. D. Liddick

Review and Discussion, Mr. W. F. Junkins

July 1, Saturday

Visit Weights and Measures Laboratory

AM - PM

July 2, Sunday

Free

AM - PM

July 3, Monday

Free

All Free

PM Picnic Supper, Tholen Residence

7
July 4, Tuesday (Independence Day )

AM - PM Free

July 5, Wednesday

Weights and Measures Section

Division of Product and Industry Regulation

Department of Agriculture and Commerce

Commonwealth of Virginia

1 North 14th Street

Richmond, VA 23219

(804) 786-2476

Host: Mr. J. F. Lyles, Supervisor

AM Welcome and Remarks, Mr. S. M. Carbaugh,

Commissioner, Virginia Department of Agriculture

and Consumer Services

Welcome from the Governor, Commonwealth of

Virginia, Mr. M. B. Rove, Secretary, Commerce and

Resources

Tour of Capitol Building

PM Discussion, Mr. J. F. Lyles, Supervisor, Weights

and Measures Section

July 6, Thursday

Group A

AM Petroleum Terminal, Mr. 0. T. Alnarode,

Field Supervisor

Witness Inspection of:

Vehicle Tank Meter, Mr. J. G. Sanders, Inspector

Bulk Plant Meter, Mr. T. H. Wood, Inspector

LPC Meter, Mr. G. E. Ferrell, Inspector

PM Iron and Metal Yard, Mr. 0. T. Almarode

Witness Inspection of:

Railroad Track Scale, Vehicle Scale, Warehouse

Scale, Mr. R. A. Reese, Inspector

8
Group B

AM

PM

July 7, Friday

AN - PK

6:00 PN

July 6, Saturday

AM - PM

July 9, Sunday

AH

Food Store Ho. 1

Witness Inspection and Operation of:

UPC Weigher and Labeler

Digital Deli Scale

Electronic Cash Register/Scale at Check-Out

Random Weight Package Checkweighing

Food Store No. 2

Observe Operation of:

Mechanical Hanging Scales

Mechanical Cash Registers/Scales at Check-Out

Service Station No. 1

Witness the Inspection and Operation of:

Gas pump with digital indicating elements equipped

with remote readout

Service Station No. 2

Witness the Inspection of

:

Retail motor fuel dispenser - single product

Retail motor fuel dispenser - blended product

Mr. R. L. Shelton, Field Supervisor, and

Mr. R. W. McDougle, Inspector

Groups A and B Switch Itineraries of July 6

Farewell Reception, Stewart Residence

Visit Williamsburg, Virginia

Free

PM 63rd National Conference on Weights and Measures

"Changing Dimensions and Directions in Measurement

Assurance"

9
July 10, Monday

AH - TM

July 11, Tuesday

AH - PH

July 12 , Wednesday

AM - PH

July 13, Thursday

AH - PH

July 14, Friday

NCWM Conference program available from:

National Bureau of Standards

Office of Weights and Measures

Washington, D.C. 20234

AM - PH Evaluation and Concluding Session at NBS
THE NATIONAL LABORATORY OF METROLOCY

IN ECUADOR

by

Mr. Rafael Aguirre

Chief, National Laboratory of Metrology

Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalizacion

Quito, Ecuador

A. INTRODUCTION

The Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalizacion (INEN) was established by

Decree 357 on August 28, 1970, having as its principal responsibility

the preparation and implementation of technical standards for national

and international trade.

The Quality Control Program was implemented within a few years with the

objective of certification of the quality of products or services,

according to national or international standards.

The creation of the National Laboratory of Metrology, recognized by

Official Act on March 22, 1973, marked the first step in our metrological activities, which have been conducted through the National

Directorate of Weights and Measures, established at INEN by the Weights

and Measures Law issued on January 9, 1974. This law established this

Directorate as the national authority for metrology in Ecuador.

At present with its three technical Directorates—Standardization,

Quality Control, and Metrology—INEN constitutes the main agencv

supporting technical development of industry and commerce in Ecuador by

providing information, technical assistance, and specialized services.

B . FRAMEWORK.

Following a conscientious study on the national metrological needs, the

National Laboratory of Metrology started its activities within three

main fields: mass, length, and volume.

This laboratory was designed and planned jointly by a group of experts

from NBS together with Ecuadorian engineers. The procurement, calibration, and certification of the reference standards was conducted at

NBS-Gaithersburg; they became the National Standards for Ecuador, this

being the first step in the development of scientific metrology in our

country. In the last two years, electrical standards have been established and have been used to support the continued and increased demand

due to the important development experienced by the electronic industry

in Ecuador.

11
Some activities in industrial metrology were initiated three years ago

to satisfy the need for testing materials according to national or international standards, in order to certify the quality of products.

This field is being reinforced with basic equipment purchased for

dimensional measurements.

Legal metrology has been developed faster than the before mentioned

metrological activities. This division with its own equipment and

specialized personnel has been working since 1974 with two main objectives: to establish equity in the marketplace and to implement the

SI Units in Ecuador. Both are very difficult to achieve due to: the

inadequate and inaccurate measuring procedures; obsolete equipment which

has been used by personnel belonging to the municipalities and government;

and the various systems of units used in education, industry, and commerce

for many years.

Figure 1 shows the present organization of the National Laboratory of

Metrology, in which eight metrologists are working. The increasing

demand of our services has not resulted in additional staffing.

C. SERVICES

The services are orientated towards the whole measurement activities

carried out in educational centers, industry, commerce, and governmental

agencies. A brief scope of these services in the different fields is as follows

:

1. Scientific Metrology.

1.1 Calibration and Certification of Standards or equipment:

a) Mass: Secondary and tertiary standards of mass which

may be individual weights or sets of weights in the

range of 1 mg to 1,000 kg.

b) Length: Measuring tapes or rulers considered as tertiary

standards and used as working standards in industry.

c) Volume: Field standards including measuring flasks and

provers in the range of 10 mL to 5,000 L.

d) Electricity: Instruments for measuring AC, DC, and RF

Voltage, AC and DC current and resistance.

Electrical equipment such as resistance decade boxes,

capacitors, inductances, voltage dividers, and voltage

sources of DC and AC.

12
FIGURE 1. Structure of the National Laboratory of Metrology

13
1.2

Training courses in mass, length, and volume calibration techniques.

2. Industrial Metrology:

2.1 Measurement of physical properties of materials (mass, length,

volume, density, surface finish).

2.2 Measurement of mechanical properties of materials (tension,

compression, flexure, fatigue, hardness).

2.3 Calibration and certification of measurement equipment (gage

blocks, calipers, micrometers) used in industry.

3. Legal Metrology:

3.1 Inspection, test and certification of weights, measures, elements,

or equipment.

3.2 Type approval of weights, scales, measuring instruments, or equipment produced in Ecuador.

3.3 Technical assistance on packaging and labeling of products or commodities

.

3.4 A general service constituted to act as technical consultant and

supplier of specialized information within the weights and measures

field. This service is supplied free to any person applying.

D. five YEARS SERVICE EVALUATION

During the first two years, personnel of the National Laboratory of

Metrology faced many difficulties caused by the lack of knowledge and

training of personnel in the use of high precision equipment and, also,

due to the use of different systems of units. The first goal was to

write technical documents or national standards, establishing procedures

on guidelines for calibration techniques and requirements, testing

scales and packages, tolerances and specifications for weights and

scales, etc.

14
During the early period (identified as a time for establishing credibility) , it was necessary to develop a national plan of technical

assistance to industry and commerce, in order to prove our capabilities

and help them in solving their weights and measures problems. Additionally, this activity served to promote our services and to develop a close relationship with the main enterprises and government agencies.

This experience served to detect different problems, one of which (and

surely the main problem demanding prompt action) was the shortage of

trained personnel in the use, maintenance, and calibration of weights and measures equipment, especially laboratory scales, commercial and industrial scales, weights, volumetric provers, and length measures.

It was necessary to solve this problem by establishing training courses

for the weights and measures authorities, laboratory staffs, and personnel devoted to the use or maintenance of measuring equipment.

In a short period, the following aspects were covered by the training

courses

:

Ecuadorian Weights and Measures Law.

Implementation of SI Units.

- Inspection and test of laboratory scales.

Inspection and test of commercial and industrial scales.

Inspection and test of gas pumps and flow meters.

Following this period, there was a notable increase in demand from commerce and industry for use of our services. Initially, the services

of the National Laboratory of Metrology were free; now, due to INEN's

limited budget, we are charging reasonable rates for the services.

Many industries have signed contracts for periodical certification of

their equipment by INEN.

These contracts are specially related to

:

Periodical certification of weights, laboratory scales, commercial

and industrial scales, volumetric and length measuring equipment.

Participation in the National Laboratory Auditing Program.

Technical assistance in weights and measures.

15
One of the objectives is to achieve a satisfactory development of

Ecuadorian industry, with equity in the marketplace and unrestricted

and increasing technological development based on international

standardization of our equipment resulting in confidence in measurements

performed by the National Laboratory of Metrology. This will be accom- plished by the participation of INEN through the National Laboratory

of Metrology in the Inter-American Service of Metrology, which has the

following main objectives:

To establish the uniformity of our National Standards of Reference.

To obtain uniformity in calibration techniques and procedures in

order to assure the traceability and transference of measurements.

16
DELIVERY OF COOKING CAS TO JAMAICAN HOUSEHOLDERS

by

Mr. Tweedsmuir Mitchell

Acting; Head, Weights and Measures Ur.it

Jamaican Bureau of Standards

Kingston, Jamaica, VI. I. BACKGROUND

:

The Jamaican Bureau of Standards, which is the most advanced standards

institution in the English-speaking Caribbean, was established under

the Standards Act, 1968, to promote standardization in relation to comlities, processes, and practices. This organization is located in the

densely populated capital, Kingston, which has just over a quarter of

the island's two million inhabitants.

The Jamaican Bureau of Standards consists of six technical departments,

one of which is the Regulations and Compliance Department under which

falls the Weights and Measures Unit. The Bureau of Standards, through

the Weights and Measures Unit, has the responsibility to administer the

Weights and Measures Act, 1976, and the accompanying regulations. This

responsibility formerly rested with the police under the Weights and

Measures Law of 1890.

The Weights and Measures Unit was established and equipped for the purpose of ensuring that equity prevails in all commercial transactions involving quantity. The laboratory is equipped with, and maintains,

a

complete set of standards in both metric and imperial denominations.

These are precision balances and working standards of mass, length, and

volume, certified for accuracy by the National Physical Laboratory and

the Department of Trade and Industry in Britain.

Among the activities being undertaken by the Unit is the in-plant checkweighing of filled L.P.G. cylinders to ensure that the consumer receives

the correct quantity of gas. This program was undertaken as a consequence of numerous complaints by consumers about weight deficiencies.

INTRODUCTION:

In Jamaica at present. Liquified Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) is sold to

householders mainly in 100-lb and 30-lb capacity steel cylinders as well

as 25 -lb capacity aluminum cylinders. Filling is done by five companies,

which receive their product from the local oil refinery. The price of

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (L.P.G.) is controlled by Government.

At a typical filling plant, cylinders which are marked with tare weight

(either at the factory or on entering the filling plant) are placed on scales which are an integral part of the filling system. Subsequent to

a cylinder being placed on the scale, an allowance is made for the tare

17
weight, and the scale mechanism is set to trip whenever the required net

weight of product has been added. For example, in the case of a 100-lb

capacity cylinder with a tare weight of 70 lb, the scale is set to

(70 + 100) lb;i.e., 170 lb. The tripping of the filling mechanism indicates to the operator that filling is complete. The operator then

sends it on to the check scales or to dispatch, depending on the system

in operation at the plant.

Some plants affix to each 100-lb cylinder a wire seal as a measure of

protection to the consumer. This seal is designed to break when the

valve is opened.

SITUATION PRIOR TO INVOLVEMENT OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES UNIT:

The situation prior to the involvement of the Weights and Measures Unit

is outlined below. Weight control at filling plants was done by the

operators of the filling machines who check-weighed filled cylinders at

random. However, their primary concern was to safeguard against over- filling in order that the companies did not lose product and hence

revenue. Little attention was paid to cylinders which had weights well

under the declared weight unless such deficiencies were very obvious.

Scant regard was given to the servicing and accuracy of the scales.

The presence of a scale serviceman at some filling plants was a rarity,

and the presence of debris on the platforms of scales and in the immediate environment was commonplace. Most of the attention given to

scales was a result of breakdown.

In most cases, no rigid tolerances were being observed. If such tolerances existed, it was very likely that these were on the positive side.

Meanwhile, the Unit received several complaints concerning short weight

in filled cylinders, most of which were found to be valid after investigations were done.

INVOLVEMENT OF THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES UNIT:

Given the situation just outlined, a decision was taken to implement

a program of general appraisal. This included visits to the filling

plants, observing delivery of filled cylinders, and the collection and

documentation of consumer complaints. The Unit then began a monitoring system which involved:

(a) Weighing of filled cylinders in trucks after they had

been stopped.

(b) Weighing of cylinders at the point of delivery to the consumer.

It was found that when weighing of cylinders was done on board any

truck, only a small sample was obtained and so could not be said to

18
be truly representative of the batch. Another disadvantage was the

time-consuming and tedious nature of the examination. These disadvantages outweighed any benefits derived from such an undertaking^

and as a consequence, the exercise was discontinued.

The weighing of cylinders at the consumer's residence and in the

presence of the consumer turned out to be another abortive attempt

to protect the consumer. Ironically, it was found that very often

the consumers were not interested , , or were not at home when deliveries

were made.

\fter encountering these multiple problems, this approach was discarded

in favor of in-plant check weighing. In this program, a sampling plan

was first circulated to operators of all filling plants. Inspectors,

after being familiarized with the plan, paid frequent and unannounced

visits to these plants.

During the visit to a particular plant, the platform scales (both

filling scales and check scales) used for weighing cylinders were tested

for accuracy by using certified test weights. These were either the

property of the Unit or were weights belonging to the plant and which

were certified by the Unit. These scales were usually tested at least

to that point corresponding to the greatest gross weight of a cylinder.

The performance of these scales was recorded. Whenever large errors

were discovered on a particular device, the supervisor was requested

to cease using such and to deploy a substitute until the fault was

rectified. Accurate devices were given verification stickers.

The scales having been tested, a random sample of filled cylinders was

taken (in accordance with the sampling plan) , and the net contents of

each cylinder computed from the gross weight determined on the scale

and the tare weight marked on the cylinder. Batches were then rejected

or accepted as the sampling plan prescribes.

Later, the data recorded was statistically analyzed. On the basis of

these observations and computations, recommendations were made to the

companies concerned to maintain or to upgrade their weight control

system if too large a percentage of net weight readings was outside the

control limits. Some of the statistical data mentioned above were used

in the derivation of these control limits.

The test procedure outlined above was carried out very frequently during

the initial stages of this ongoing program, but as it became evident

that the plant personnel were adhering to the sampling plan and were

implementing it, the frequency of visits declined. At present each

plant in Kingston is visited once monthly, and usually the batches

from which the samples are drawn are accepted.

19
CONCLUSION:

Since the involvement of the Weights and Measures Unit, there has been

a marked decrease in consumer complaints on the matter of short weight

in filled cylinders.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas is currently being sold for just over $27 per

100 lb, about 27q per lb. This cost is more than sufficient reason

for weights and measures control.

Finall}^, it should be recognized that Jamaica was not the only developing country which encountered the problem of short-filled cylinders

being sold to consumers. A few months ago, the Unit received a letter

from a developing Central American country in which the identical

problem was explained and advice sought from this organization. Information concerning the corrective measures to be taken was forwarded

to the country involved. Later a response was received, stating that

the information was of great help in their consumer protection drive.

The Jamaican Bureau of Standards has been quite successful in its attempts to ensure that the consumer receives the correct quantity of

L.P.G. In addition, the knowledge that a responsible organization is

working to ensure consumer protection has served to minimize the

number of complaints which are received.

20
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN JORDAN

by

Mr. A. Kilani

Head, Weights and Measures Section

Directorate of Standards

Amman, Jordan

The Directorate of Standards consists of five divisions. Weights and measures is one of these divisions.

The Directorate activities in this field are aimed at establishing and

operating a central standards laboratory and district weights and

measures office to implement national metrological services and to

effect the smooth transfer to the metric system. Studies revealed the

following commendable achievements:

(a) The smooth, almost completed changeover to the metric system

in commerce, industry, and agriculture (except in minor,

relatively unimportant areas of commerce, the metric system

is used )

.

(b) The successful scheme whereby the Ministry of Industry and

Trade imported sets of metric weights in bulk for sale

through the trade.

On the other hand, there were the following deficiencies:

(a) Proper premises to maintain standards and to carry out

metrological activities,

(b) Any internationally authenticated physical standards for

Jordan.

(c) Adequate legal machinery to correct the above-mentioned

defect.

(d) Adequate facilities for maintaining physical standards as well as for carrying out metrological services,

(e) The lack of formal training in metrology of the legal

metrology staff, consisting of a university graduate chief

and four inspectors only,

(f) Essential transport for the inspectorate,

(g) A proper recording and registration system for inspection

and standards validation work.

Solutions to the above problems were sought during the U.N. project.

21
Equipment

The equipment consisted of:

(a) A first-class invar meter bar of "H" section.

(b) Several first-class sets (20 kg to 1 mg) of stainless steel

standard weights of German origin.

(c) A 200 g precision balance.

(d) An excellent standard for capacity measures of tinned-iron.

Legislation

A thorough study of metrological legislation in Jordan revealed the

necessity of effecting certain amendments.

The outstanding defect in the metrology provisions of Lav; No. 24/1972

is that no physical representations of the approved metric units are legalized. For a country's metrology administration to be

internationally approved, it must possess physical standards which are given legal status in the metrology law. No such physical standards

or legal provisions exist in Jordan, so the country is in an extremely

weak position should the matter be raised in any international

dealings. Internationally authenticated standards have been ordered

by the Directorate and these should be legalized by appropriate

provisions in the law.

Metrological Activities

A continuous program of inspection of weights was instigated; ring

weights, non-metric weights, and other objectionable weights were

seized.

All measures of length in use in cloth shops were tested and stamped;

non-metric measures were seized. Stocks of new measures held by

dealers were called into the office for testing and stamping, if

correct.

A program of calibration and sealing of gasoline pumps was carried out

in cooperation with Jordanian Petroleum Refinery Company (JPRC)

.

Surprise inspections were carried out from time to time on heating oil

vendors, gasoline pumps, etc. The measures used by kerosene sellers

were checked on a random basis, and stocks of new kerosene measures,

submitted by sellers, were tested and stamped.

Draft outline specifications were made for weights, counter machines,

platform machines, weighbridge, length measures, gas pumps, and bulk

liquid fuel meters.

22
In addition to the duties set out in the work plan, division personnel

were requested to assist in the preparations being made for the

enforcement of the Precious Metals Act as well as with a new activity,

namely, the calibration, testing, and sealing of taximeters.

Concerning the hallmarking of precious metals, a comprehensive study

of the trade in such metals was carried out in Amman, Zarqa, Irbid,

and Aqaba, and the findings transmitted to the Government. Also,

stamps for gold, silver, and platinum marking have been designed and

potential suppliers contacted.

As regards taximeters, a system for verification was established and

the inspectorate thoroughly trained for this job so that they were

capable of calibrating, testing, and sealing the meters to be

installed in taxis in the Amman District.

23

METRICATION IN KENYA

by

Mr. P. A. Ayata

Superintendent of Weights and Measures

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Nairobi, Kenya

In 1963 the three Governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania decided

that the tine was ripe for the introduction of the metric system of

weights and measures in East Africa. A Special Commission, the East

African Metric Commission, was therefore set up to advise on whether

the change should be made and to make recommendations on how it should

be done.

Following the recommendations of the Metric Commission, the three

Governments of the former East African Community made simultaneous

announcements of their intention to adopt the metric system since the

system was internationally accepted and most countries of the world

who were not already using the system were preparing to change over. A phased program for the change, based on a five-year period, was worked out; and a Standing Committee on the Metric System and Bureau

of Standards composed of officials from the three countries was set up

to supervise the changeover throughout East Africa.

PUBLICITY:

To prepare the public for the change, a rigorous publicity campaign

was mounted. The aims of the campaign were:

(a) To familiarize the public with the new units of measurement -

(b) To facilitate an early grasp of the physical values of

the commonly used units, i.e., the kilogram, meter, liter,

kilometer, etc.

(c) To promote understanding of the multiples and sub-multiples

of the new system.

(d) To familiarize the public with the sizes and mass of everyday

things in various activities in the new units of measurements .

(e) To promote the acceptance of the new system.

During a publicity campaign, sustained efforts were made to utilize

various communication media to the maximum extent possible. Press

notes were released to newspapers, magazines, journals, etc.,

25
explaining various aspects of metrication with the intention of

generating metric consciousness. Documentary films explaining the

advantages of the metric system were also prepared and exhibited to

the public; metric literature such as pamphlets, brochures, and

handbooks were published and distributed freely; conversion tables and

price charts were also prepared and widely circulated; outdoor and

indoor publicity was carried out in such places as shopping, and social

centers where posters were displayed; specimen metric weighing

instruments were taken around in mobile vans by Inspectors of Weights

and Measures who conducted demonstrations on the use of such

equipment.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Metrication in Kenya, as in the other East African countries, was mandatory, not voluntary, since resistance by the public at large to

change is too strong for a voluntary change. An Act of Parliament,

the Metric System Act, was passed in Kenya in 1968, and the program

commenced at the beginning of the following year.

Section 2 of this Act reads as follows:

"2 (1) The Minister may, by order, specify any area, industry,

trade or transaction in which all weighing and measuring

instruments possessed or used by way of trade indicating

in units other than metric units shall be converted to

indicate in metric units within such period and in such

circumstances as he may think fit.

"2 (2) When an order is made under subsection (1) of this section,

the Minister may, by the same or a subsequent order, prescribe a date after which the possession or use by way of

trade in the area, industry, trade or transaction concerned

of any weighing or measuring instrument which indicates in

units other than metric units shall be prohibited."

COMMERCIAL SECTOR:

The first sector to metricate was the commercial sector which was given priority on the grounds that it was this sector where the entire

population was involved in commercial activity of some sort, either as buyers or sellers or both at the same time. In this sector, a beginning was made in such areas of the country where commercial

activity was concentrated. The conversion was undertaken on trade-bytrade basis to avoid unfair competition between retailers who had

metricated and those who were still using the imperial units. In

rural areas where small trading centers could be covered within a short period, it was considered convenient to declare a given

geographical area "metric" as the question of unfair competition did

not arise. During the change, the use of old beam scales or counter

machines was permitted after their capacity was physicallv converted

26
to the corresponding rational metric capacity. In such cases, all

that a trader needed was a new set of metric weights while the old

imperial weights were surrendered to the Inspector of Weights and

Measures who was going around with licensed weighing machine

repairers on publicized metrication trips throughout the country. In

the case of platform machines and other weighing instruments, steps were taken to ensure that steelyards, counterpoise weights

(proportional weights), or dials were replaced while the capacity was physically converted to metric units. New weighing instruments were

required to indicate in metric units although those indicating in both

metric and imperial units were allowed during the transitional period.

PREPACKED GOODS

As the general public was immediately made aware of the metric change

through the purchase of metric goods in retail shops, action was taken

to insure that consumers did not suffer through fraudulent

transactions as a result of the change. Thus, apart from replacing

imperial weights and measures, the principle of rationalization was applied to certain prepacked goods intended for sale in order to make

it possible for prospective purchasers to make a ready assessment of

the quantities and relative values of similar goods in different

packages. New rules intended to control the packing and sale of prepacked goods were therefore made. The Weights and Measures (Sale and

Labeling of Goods) Rules were gazetted in 1971 after extensive

discussions which the Standing Committee on metrication held with the

packaging industry and manufacturers of the various goods. On-thespot studies of the machinery used for packaging and a scientific

assessment of the behavior of commodities under varying conditions of

temperature, pressure, and relative humidity were also undertaken by

the Committee when the Rules were being drafted.

The Rules specified goods to be sold by weight, weight or number,

measure of capacity, weight or measure of capacity, and those to be

sold by weight or linear measure. Some 55 items which had to be

packed in standard specified quantities were also listed in a Schedule

to these Rules. The Rules also made provisions for prepacked goods

to be marked with a statement of quantities of the goods contained

therein.

THE OIL INDUSTRY:

A four-year program (1969-72) was planned for the changeover in the

oil industry. Here the program involved the conversion of all

dispensing pumps at retail and consumer outlets using conversion kits

received from overseas manufacturers. Although pumps installed at

customers' premises such as factories and farms were not subject to

mandatory change since they were not in use for trade, the oil

companies voluntarily converted the pumps in the interest of the

customers. Apart from service stations, there were bulk distribution

lorries and flowmeters at airfields and depots which were all

27
converted to indicate in metric units within the period set for the

industry.

PHARMACY AND MEDICINE:

Prior to metrication it was common for prescriptions to be written in a mixture of apothecaries and avoirdupois units or metric and

avoirdupois units. During the changeover, it was decided to

rationalize doses, and prescriptions were to be written in metric

units only. Subsidiary legislation requiring all dealings in drugs to

be conducted in the metric system was brought into operation. A

series of tables incorporated in the legislation showed the

equivalents of metric weights and volumes. Standard doses of 5 mL were

introduced for most prescriptions. Special 5 mL spoons or multiples

thereof for measuring doses of medicine were issued to patients.

OTHER SECTORS:

Metrication in other sectors such as transport and communications,

customs tariff and trade statistics, agriculture, survey and maps, and

forestry and timber was also tackled at the same time that the

commercial sector was being metricated. In education it was imperative that the education service in the country assume the

responsiblity for the changeover in schools and colleges mainly

because it was recognized that through indirect contacts with parents,

pupils would play a vital part in helping adults to become more conversant with the new system.

For the purpose of coordination, the overall responsibility for the

changeover in education was left with the East African Examinations

Council. The Council's concern was to ensure a coordinated approach

towards the conversion of the examinations into metric terms and to

provide guidance to teachers, students, and examiners.

CONCLUSION:

It cannot be claimed that the metrication program in Kenya has been

completed. Although the commercial sector was the first to change,

there are still some problems in connection with the verification of

weighing and measuring equipment. While metrication in this sector is

complete, the rules governing the verification and stamping of trade

equipment have not been revised to reflect the changeover. Errors

applicable to weighing equipment are still indicated in the imperial

units. The revision of the rules has taken some time since there is a need to coordinate such legislation with international practices, in

particular the recommendations of the International Organization of

Legal Metrology.

Furthermore, despite the fact that legislation was enacted from the

beginning for the purpose of the changeover, imperial units are still

legally recognized until such time that the Weights and Measures Act

28
is amended to abolish them. This Act still requires that verification

of the Kenya Primary Reference Standards be carried out in the U.K. by

reference to the United Kingdom Standards. Metrication in other

fields such as the engineering and building industries has been much

slower and will take many years to complete. The effective

metrication in these fields needs two basic elements—provision of

metric standards and the introduction of the concept of dimensional

coordination. Nov; that a Kenya Bureau of Standards has been set up

and is now operational, it is hoped that the metrication in the

engineering and construction industries will be speeded up.

29

PROBLEMS OF WEIGHTS AND

MEASURES IN KOREA

by

Mr. Seok Mu Choi

Director, Weights and Measures Department

National Industrial Research Institute

Industrial Advancement Administration

Seoul, Korea

The metrology system of weights and measures is most basic in our daily

lives. It is essential for establishing economic order in the fair

purchase of goods all over the world. This requires worldwide study and

coordination of unified, ethical laws and regulations.

In Korea, we are dedicated to making such standards of weights and

measures generally used and to make them the instruments for promotion

of our economic development and cultural advancement. The National

Weights and Measures Law has been established and is contributing to

the scientific, technical, and economic benefit of our country.

Standard weights and measures practices are being applied not only to

attainment of assured measurement in the marketplace, but they are also

becoming the standard practice for general calculation, such as is

encountered daily in education, science, engineering, industry, and the

economy in general.

Such practices must be standard not only in our individual countries but

in the worldwide trade activities, in exchange of technical information,

and in promoting the integrity of all such interactions.

International metrology cooperation brought about the Treaty of the

Meter which has led subsequently to accepted international standards

based on the metric system of units. Success of this effort encourages

acceptance by most countries.

Korea joined the group of nations which were signatories to the Treaty

of the Meter 18 years ago in July 1959. Following announcement of our new weights and measures law in 1961, we prohibited the using of the

yard and pound units subsequent to 1964. Unfortunately, prohibited

units are still being used. For example, "sukk" is used as a measure

of rice; inch is used to designate shirt dimensions. At the same time,

sugar is measured in kilograms and wine in liters.

31
We are far from full acceptance of metric units only.

A program must be instituted nationwide to bring the message to everyone

about the importance of accepting the metric system of measurement.

This program must be through the mass media, pamphlets, and educational

promotion. Our people must become familiar with the international

trends and the negative impact of those trends on our export-import

activities if we, in fact, do not convert.

Whereas standard weights and measures were necessary for our commercial

trade internally, our economy has now grown internationally. Therefore,

our weights and measures laws and regulations must be changed to serve international trade requirements in addition to the internal marketplace

requirements

.

A new weights and measures law is needed in Korea for enforcement

officials to protect consumers, promote ethical trade, and prevent

fraud through inaccurate or improperly used measuring devices.

A first need among the governmental activities is the inspection and

certification of measurement devices to insure technical perf ormability

of such devices. Additionally, subsequent inspection extends that

protection into everyday trade activities.

Newly manufactured scales are thoroughly calibrated. The Government

checks many of them and rejects those not meeting certain standards.

Rejections average 6 to 7 per cent.

Second, scales in commercial use must be inspected at least yearly, and

those suspected of being out of calibration or being used fraudulently

are inspected more often. Defective scales are found in about 15 percent of those inspected.

Higher rates of defects than found in more advanced countries are due to

the lack of adequate quality control and related guarantees by domestic

device manufacturers. Our industry is still small and tends to be

employing less modern manufacturing methods than other countries. It is

necessary to modernize and extend modern services and technical

guidance for quality control. We need to work closer with foreign

countries to work toward similar quality standards.

A systematic development program must be established with the goal of

advancing our capabilities in weights and measures technology to bring

us in equality with sophistication of advanced nations. Efforts invested

in inspection of devices must be reduced to a minimum by making it

possible for the manufacturer to produce and guarantee a better product.

The Government would only need to conduct random inspections thereafter,

concentrating on illegal activities or advancement of technology itself.

32
Third, we must examine our inspection activities to determine if we are checking the correct items at the correct places in order to insure

equity and fairness to the consumer.

Fourth, proper, logically written laws must be written to punish those

responsible for such things as misrepresentation of products and illegal

or fraudulent labeling, whether we are talking about groceries, building materials, petroleum products,' or any commodity in commercial trade.

One big problem making any inspection program difficult is our lack of

adequate staff to inspect and follow through on punishment in such a way as to alert those who cheat. Much of the job depends on self-help

and involvement of the consumer himself. The consumer must, therefore,

be educated and encouraged to make better buying decisions.

In the future, we will be going to controlled packaging practices

utilizing automatic digital scales producing labels displaying accurate

weight and prices which are visible and simple—therefore, easy to

understand.

This new practice is only one of the steps being taken in our country.

We plan similar approaches in dealing with precision machining, automatic control systems, and precision finishing in industry and defense.

We must increasingly develop precision control in our heavy industry

and chemical processes. This will be necessary to support national

goals toward industrialization and international trade.

Development of modern weights and measures technology and management of

that capability is the foundation of our product quality and key to our moving ahead in national technical development.

33

THE HEED FOR TRAINING OF PERSONNEL

by

Mr. Mohamed Benkirane

Chief, Division of Metrology

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Rabat, Morocco

One of the most acute problems which offices of legal metrology in

developing countries now face is the lack of technical staff of high

and middle level. The economic development in these countries

involves a need for an increasing number of such staff. So there is severe competition between different sectors of the economy for the

recruitment of such personnel because of very significant differences

in the salaries offered. The competition increases with the level of

the training.

Staff members trained in offices of legal metrology leave it for other

sectors. Movement of personnel in the opposite direction is

negligible; so there is a continuing need of training of new personnel

for replacement of staff that has left.

The complexity of the different types of instruments which have to be

checked by this staff makes a continual updating of knowledge

necessary. Shortage of staff makes it necessary for each member to be

able to check a significant number of types of instruments. Thus, the

need of training is increasing more and more.

Thus, the problems we have to solve in this field are:

1) Shortage of technical personnel.

2) Competition for trained staff with the other

sectors of the national economy.

3) Staff training.

4) Updating of knowledge.

The training courses have to be frequent and must accommodate a great

number of personnel.

To solve partly the first problem, the recruitment is directed to

candidates with scientific and technical training but without

specialization because such candidates are more numerous than others

and because it is possible to stabilize them with an appropriate

policy of training and promotion.

From Morocco, this training is now being provided by some specialized

foreign schools for medium- and high-level technicians. However, the

number of trainees who can be accepted is still limited in comparison

with the potential needs. Thus, the programs of training have somehow

35
to be adapted. Training of lower level technicians is being provided

inside the country; it aims to improve their theoretical and technical

knowledge to enable them to be promoted to upper grades. By these

means, this kind of staff also can be stabilized. Another method is

to permit participation of personnel in a part of the fees collected

for some types of checks.

These means are considered effective but inadequate for the importance

of the problem in developing countries. A wide-ranging international

cooperation is apparently needed.

So the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) is

interested in this subject as one of importance. An international

reporting secretariat now exists inside its Pilot Secretariat 25 which

is responsible for the problems of developing countries in the field

of training, regulations, and equipment.

The tasks of the reporting secretariat on training of which Morocco is

responsible are:

1) Defining of the requirements for basic training and

refresher courses at various levels.

2) Specifying the content of the training courses.

3) Defining the methods and means for the above.

4) Surveying the possibilities for cooperation in developing

texts, courses, and audio-visual materials.

5) Assuring that courses and seminars take place within

reasonable periods of time.

In close cooperation with the Bureau of OIML, a survey has been made

to ascertain how many OIML member-countries are ready to take part in

the work of this Secretariat and how they can contribute to its

functions. The main points of the questionnaire circulated were:

1) What are the needs of developing countries in the field of

training?

2) What are the details of the programs of basic training and

refresher courses required, and what are the methods and means of training?

3) Which countries are capable of supplying assistance?

4) llow can an international training center be set up?

5) Which countries can assume the responsibility for organizing

basic training courses or refresher courses?

36
6) Which countries can supply or participate in developing

educational materials, courses or books, audio-visual

materials, and so on?

The results of this survey are very encouraging. At this time, two

documents on training programs are being circulated, and two seminars

are now being prepared with the assistance of UNESCO.

However, we can say for certain that these actions may not have a fully satisfying effect for some years. The private sector appeal for

technicians will continue to increase. Therefore, it is urgent to

give training increasing importance, because we feel we had better

satisfy the needs of all sectors of the economy and try to serve wider

national metrological systems.

From this point of view, the evolution in developed countries toward

decentralization of regulatory control from national offices of

metrology to semi-public or private laboratories under the control of

the state is now observed from our countries with great interest.

This development, after an appropriate study, could be helpful to

resolve partly the problem of staff in some limited fields of applied

metrology.

We feel that the development of training in metrology in as numerous

fields as possible with the important assistance of developed

countries inside the OIML and other international organizations would

be a fruitful means to develop metrological services in our countries.

In the long run, evolution toward modified ways of obtaining assurance

of legal metrological checks and adoption of the different measures

mentioned in this paper would be extremely useful for the solution of

the problems which now confront the offices of developing countries.

37
'

"Vfl.. .-I
THE PROBLEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

IN PANAMA

by

Ms. Ivonne Ruiz de Suarez

Chief, Metrology Laboratory

Comision Tanamena de Normas Industriales y Tecnicas

Panama City, Panama

Panama is a small country with an area of 77,000 km and a population

of approximately 17,000,000 people this year. It is situated in the

Central-American Isthmus, contiguous at the east with Costa Rica and

at the west with Colombia.

The Panamanian is a mixture of races composed of Indians, native

inhabitants of this American region; Spaniards who came to these lands

adventuring and conquering; Chinese brought here by the French when

the construction of the French Channel started so that they would work

in the building of the transisthmian railroad; black Africans brought

later on by the Panama Canal Company when the construction on the

canal was handed to the United States of America for its continuation;

and a series of other minor ethnical groups like the Hindus, Greeks,

Italians, Jews, and other Europeans.

So the Panamanian is a very singular man that has adapted himself to

the circumstances of the environment, assimilating much of the. customs

of each of the races, which little by little also integrated to the

mixture that is the Panamanian.

It is probably because of this situation that our people have been

very receptive and flexible and have learned how to adjust themselves

to the circumstances in every moment.

In 1853 when we were still part of Colombia, there are references to

the use of the metric system in the Isthmus because mostly all our relations as part of Colombia came from the Old Continent. When we obtained our independence in 1903, we broke many of our old bonds and

started to develop the new republic keeping close relations with new

countries, especially the United States of America, who was then

building the Panama Canal.

In some of the codes of laws of Panama's Legislation, dated from 1917,

like the civil code, fiscal, labor, commercial, administrative, and

rural, there are mentions of metric units of mass and volume but they

are very scattered. There is not one unique body of laws which refers

to weights and measures. These few items cannot be considered in any

way as metrological legislation.

39
The only exceptions appear in the administrative code where authority

is conferred on the municipalities to seal the weights, which is a typical disposition of legal metrology, and a law through which the

Office of Price Regulation was created in 1969 where it established

that this department will have the authority to "verify the

accurateness of weights and measures and sanction those I'/ho alter

them" confirming also that "the alteration of weights and measures

shall be considered as an alteration of prices and the violator shall

be worthy of the sanctions imposed."

This department, the Office of Price Regulation, which is responsible

for the custody and use of the instruments of weighing and measuring

and also occupies itself with verifying the net content of prepacked

commodities which are sold by retail stores, does not really have in use official regulations with which to execute these tasks.

The work it does is limited to verifying some types of scales of

commercial use, checking gasoline pumps, and controlling those

prepacked commodities that present problems and which are reported

by the consumer. All these controls are done in units of the English

system.

This limited range of work that this office does results from the lack

of adequate personnel for the job, lack of equipment, and mostly from

the little importance that up to now had been given to the

metrological needs in our country. On the other hand, the use of the

metric system in the everyday activities of commerce is seldom used,

only in cases like certain equivalents stamped on the container of

food products. All the products that are sold without prepacking are weighed in pounds or its volume is determined in fluid ounces, and in

the case of units of length, the yard is used. The use of the English

system is general.

After 1970, the industry sector started to develop rapidly when a construction boom occurred due to a favorable economical situation

which a few years later decreased. Industry in Panama is composed

mostly of small companies dedicated to the manufacturing activity,

principally the processing of food products, alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages, dressmaking, footwear, sawmills, and workshops

for woodworking. For the most part, the raw materials utilized in

these industries are imported, a high percentage of them from the

United States of America, including the equipment for industrial

processes. The rest comes from Japan, Germany, Italy, or Spain.

Due to this situation, in some industries both systems of units are being used in one production process. In the educational area, the

English and metric systems have always been taught. In practice, the

English system has been mostly used.

In synthesis, the general view is of a country where because of

historical reasons, fundamentally derived from the commercial

40
interchange with the United States of America, and because of the very

particular geographical conditions that make of Panama a point of

obliged transit for commercial currents from all the world, weak

legislation on metrological affairs like the one ve have is generally

ignored

.

In view of the situation here described, the Panamanian Commission for

Technical and Industrial Standards, a department which belongs to the

Ministry of Trade and Industries, started to develop a Metrology

Program for Panama in 1974 through joint projects with the

Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations

Development Program (UNDP)

.

With the financial support of these two organizations , it has been

possible to obtain international technical assistance, training of

personnel in recognized metrological institutions of Latin America,

adequate equipment, contracting of personnel, and books. On

the other hand, the national government has assigned a special fund of

the Annual Budget for Investments with the purpose of giving the

Program a greater impulse and has stated its unconditional support for

its better execution in all the country. The Metrology Program for

Panama, which was developed jointly by COPANIT and international

experts who have assisted it, covers the following objectives:

1) To establish a base of measurements for the country that

will function as a Laboratory of Metrology.

2) To develop a law draft and its respective regulations that

will establish the legal standards and give administrative

faculties to impose them.

3) To obtain from the public powers the promulgation of the law

and to apply it with energy.

In 1974 COPANIT started, together with the help of OAS and UNDP, the

creation of the Official Laboratory of Metrology whose functions are

those of being the national basis of measurement besides assisting the

standardization and quality control activities that are also part of

COPANIT' s task, through the fulfillment of metrological services.

The actual situation in Panama with respect to instruments and

techniques of measuring is very poor basically because our manufacturing industry is not a producer of equipment. On the

contrary, we import all equipment for industrial, commercial, and

domestic use.

For this reason, metrological control can best be assured by checking

the quality of the imported instruments, be it so, through the

tradesmen, producers, importers, merchants, sellers, etc.

41
Industrial metrology which is dedicated to the calibration,

certification, and technical measurement of industrial types of

equipment assures through its control that the final product conforms

to the quality specifications established in the standards, but does

not directly protect the citizens from harm due to inexact or false

measurement which could happen in the field. For this reason, the

metrological controls executed by the State should apply to the

measuring instruments used in areas like public health, commercial

transactions, postal and attorney affairs, and judicial appraisals,

and to any other instrument that the State designates that because of

its function should be regulated.

Thus, we see the urgent need to develop together, but at a faster

speed, legal metrology under the structure of our Metrology Program,

which was not contemplated initially.

In this Program, scientific metrology has also been contemplated but

only in what concerns the conservation and custody of the standards

and probably some investigations. Standardization has also been taken

into account. The personnel of the laboratory will be in charge of

the elaboration of the specifications for measuring instruments.

The Metrology Law draft is now in its stage of discussion with the

private and public sectors, to be later proposed to the Legislative

Branches respectively. The Lav; includes a series of regulations which

include the establishment of final dates in each sector for the

definite change to the International System of Units (SI) . The general

outlines of this law refer to the application of the SI Units, the

national standards, measuring instruments, ways of application,

prohibitions and sanctions, and the regulations of all those

particular aspects which require more explanation.

Together with law, a Program for the change to SI Units has been

developed in which there are three major areas to coordinate the

adoption. These are the industrial, commercial, and the public areas

that are different with respect to the way they are organized to

orientate their work, the people that execute it, and the goals.

The Metrology Law is not compulsory nor prohibitive; it regulates and

makes uniform in the country measurements which had not before been

subject to national regulation. It also helps to obtain the

objectives fixed in the National Plan of Development for Panama in

matters of substitution of importations, increasing of exportations,

and to better the national product.

In order to be able to obtain an effective increase in the exported

goods, it is necessary to have a national product of better quality

which we will only be able to get through more precise and exact

measurements.

42
With the world's inclination to unite the measurement systems and to

adopt universally the International System of Units, it is necessary

that our country join this world current, even more if we consider

that we are a young and small country that is still in process of

development.

43

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN THE PHILIPPINES

by

Ms. Corazon D. Herrera

Metrology Sectior

Philippir.es Bureau of Standards

Manila, Philippines

The Philippines is now in the fifth year of metrication. Metrication,

which is one of tne most significant innovations in our new society,

involves changes which greatly affect the life of every Filipino.

Historically, the Filipinos started out with native units of

measurement like the varra, picul, dipa, and cavan. The English

system was introduced during the Spanish regime, and it became

dominant in the country. However, during this period, some metric

units started to be used. The metric system was officially adopted in

the Philippines in 1906 by the Second Philippine Commission. The then

Bureau of Science (now National Institute of Science and Technology)

was authorized to maintain the "meter" and the "gram" as the standards

of units of measurement. A meter bar certified by the International

Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) with Serial No. 71 and

calibrated at 999.9862 mm had been procured. This "meter" has not

been calibrated since then.

Although the metric system wras the official standard of weights and

measures in the Philippines, the concurrent use of English and

indigenous units of measurement was also allowed by the lav.

This admixture of several legal measurement systems resulted in a complicated situation in the economy, especially in the agricultural,

manufacturing services, and trade sectors. The Filininos, especially

the consumers, find it confusing and difficult to determine which

products are cheaper to buy.

Presidential Decree No. 187

To eliminate confusion and to promote domestic and foreign trade.

President Marcos issued on May 10, 1973, Presidential Decree No. 1S7

(F.D. 187) prescribing that the metric system is the sole standard of

weights and measures for all products, commodities, materials,

utilities, services, and in all business and legal transactions in the

Philippines effective January 1, 1973. P.D. 187 was amended by P.D.

748 extending, the metrication period to January 1, 1977 .

Metric Svstem Board

In order to effect the orderly change to the metric system, the Metric

System Board was created with the Secretary of Trade as Chairman, the

45
different department secretaries as members and the Director of the

Philippines Bureau of Standards as the Executive Secretary. The

functions of the Metric Svstem Board are as follows:

a) Cause the conversion of existing measures to their equivalent in the metric system.

b) Draw up a program for the nationwide use of the metric system

c) Promulgate rules and regulations.

d) Disseminate information on the metric system.

A major accomplishment of the Metric System Board and the Philippines

Bureau of Standards is the preparation of various information

materials such as the Definition of the SI Units, Conversion Factors

and Tables, Rules for Style and Usage of SI and Related Units, Common

Uses of the SI Units, and others.

Philippines Bureau of Standards

Standard specifications have also been prescribed for the local

manufacture of commercial metric weights and measures like weighing

scales, steel scales for engineers, tape measures, etc. The

Philippines Bureau of Standards, being, the national standardizing

body, undertakes the standardization of different products including

measuring instruments, measuring methods, and also the inspection of

the instruments. To date, the Philippines Bureau of Standards has

formulated a total of 21 documentary standards for various measuring

instruments and practices.

The Philippines Bureau of Standards in enforcing the standards on different measuring instruments avails itself of the testing

facilities of the National Institute of Science and Technology and

other government agencies including private institutions. Its present

laboratory undertakes only quality evaluation of various products,

mostly consumer items.

National Institute of Science and Technology

A Presidential Decree on Legal and Scientific Metrology lias also been

drafted. In this decree, the National Institute of Science and

Technology (NIST) will be the official custodian of the national

standards or prototypes except National Time which will be maintained

by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services

Administration (^ACASA)

.

At present, NIST maintains the national standards for mass, length,

temperature, volume electricity, and light intensity. With these

national standards, NIST conducts calibration services for both

private and government sectors.

46
The following tabulation will show the accomplishment of WIST along

this category of services in 1977:

Weights and Measures

Vehicle tanks 529

Seraphin measures 277

Test weights 1,294

Weighing scales 130

Tape measures 8

Proving tanks 16

Trailer tanks 24

Bullet tank 1 Bulktainer tanks 290

TOTAL 2,569

Moisture Meter Unit

This unit calibrated moisture meter units for various purposes

and derived an income of £21,821.15.

Government and Private Agencies with Metrological Laboratories

The Bureau of Internal Revenue is presently charged with the

responsibility of inspecting, sealing, and licensing of weights and

measures used in trade and commerce. The Internal Revenue agents, in

coordination with the city or provincial treasurers, are responsible

for the inspection and proper testing of all commercial weights and

measures in the city and provinces. The receint for the fee charged

for the sealing of weights and measures serves as the license to use

such instrument from the date of sealing. The inspectors or sealers

may destroy any defective instrument of weights and measures if its

defect is such that it affects its serviceability.

The Philippine Air Force maintains a Precision Measurement Iquinment

Laboratory (PMEL) which performs calibration and repair services of

aeronautical instruments and equipment. This laboratory maintains

close liaison with Clark Air Force Base (U.S.A.), the latter providing

backup service and standards traceable to the United States of

America.

The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) maintains a well-equipped

laboratory for testing and calibration of aircraft instruments ana equipment. CAA works in close collaboration with the Philippine

Airlines which maintains a similar laboratory.

The Metals Industry research and Development Center has inspection and

dimensional laboratories as well as an instrumentation shop for the

47
repair and calibration of instruments such as optical pyrometers,

termperature indicators, and recorders.

Within the private sector, testing facilities generally are found in

such large industrial and commercial companies as automobile assembly

plants, steel mills, textile mills, electric power plants, and

telephone and radio communications systems. Often these companies are affiliated with parent organizations in highly developed countries. A

common pattern appears to be one in which the parent organization has

transferred its technology to the affiliate in the Philippines,

including the establishment of quality control and testing

laboratories

.

The facilities of the above-mentioned agencies are still inadequate to

afford proper supervision over the different measuring instruments

used in the Philippines.

Conclusion

With the advancement of the science of measurement, we feel it

extremely important in the Philippines to undertake studies in such

highly developed countries like the United States of America,

Switzerland, Japan, etc. These studies, plus all the cooperation we hope to have from international organizations and friendly nations,

would help us greatly in reaching our goals in time.

48
DIFFICULTIES OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

TO ESTABLISH A WEIGHTS AND MEASURES SERVICE

by

Mr. Aloned Mohamed Babikcr

Director, Weights and Measures Administration

Ministry of Commerce and Supply

Khartoum, Sudan

Here I shall try to speak about difficulties generally faced by most

of the developing countries. I shall not confine ny paper to the

particular obstacles we have faced in our country.

Our first problem was to obtain the know-how, the knowledge of how to

establish and how to run a weights and measures service. Most of the

developing countries had previously been colonies of some European

country. They, therefore, solved the problem of getting the necessary

information in the same way—from the colonizing countries. Our

country, being a previous British colony, had asked the British to

help in the field of establishing a weights and measures service.

Britain sent two of their experts to train the Sudanese and to start

the work. Their job was as follows:

a) Technical training of the staff.

b) Drafting the law and regulations.

c) Formulating the administrative side of the work.

They started about 26 years ago and finished their job in 1955. While

they were on that job, they sent two graduates of mathematics and

physics to be trained practically and theoretically in Britain. One

of them succeeded in obtaining the Board of Trade certificates for

appointment as a weights and measures inspector.

Thanks to the British, we did obtain our first necessary information

from them. But the amount of knowledge we now need is much more than we have been given. We now know how to test conventional weighing and

measuring instruments, how to adjust them, how to compare and adjust

standard weights on sensitive balances, etc., but the weighing and

measuring technologies have developed much faster than the development

of our knowledge about them. We read about the development of weights

and measures, but it is not enough to read literature in order to be

able to test and adjust any machine. Practical and theoretical

training must go side by side. It would be very embarrassing to us if

a trader in the Sudan introduced an electronic machine and submitted

it to our administration for verification and stamping. Even the

Director of Weights and Measures does not know much about many

advanced instruments.

49
A man brought up in a developed country like yours may think that lack

of knowledge is our only problem. In fact, that is not true. Lack of

knowledge is our simplest problem. Knowledge can be obtained after

full training in a developed country for a few years. That problem is

thus solved for some time to come. Those of you who have traveled to our countries have recognized our main difficulties which are caused

by two factors: (a) social and (b) financial.

Even in the United States or Britain the social factors stand as obstacles to metrication, for example, but they are conquerable

obstacles. It is not difficult to convince your citizens that

metrication is an international trend which you cannot resist. In a developing country where illiteracy is predominant, it is not easy to

do that. You cannot talk to the man in the street about keeping pace

with an international trend. Even the presence of the weights and measures service, in principle, was questioned. In the fifties when

our service was established, people used to look at it as a plot of

the imperialists who want to waste our money on unnecessary services.

These days we are preparing ourselves for a new fight with our own public opinion when we announce our plans for metrication.

In spite of what I have been saying above, I think that the social

resistance to change can be overcome either by convincing or compelling the people. But who can convince our pockets to overcome

the financial difficulties? Mr. Peiser's mission to survey the

standardization and measurement services in our country, thanks to Mr.

Tholen, resulted in a recommendation for some equipment which they

think of the utmost importance to our weights and measures laboratory.

This may cost a few hundred thousand Sudanese pounds. In your

country all you may need is to put the cost in your proposals for the

coming budget, and within one year you can acquire what you have been

lacking. To our limited resources, a sum of a few thousand may mean

a lot. Because of the limited resources, a complicated system of

application for financial approvals has to be followed for any

government expenditure, and my delay in coming to this conference is a real-life example.

Unfortunately, we have a minor problem originating from the more

developed countries. You know that only about 10 percent of our need

for trade appliances of weights and measures are manufactured locally,

and we have to import the remaining 90 percent. It is in this field

that we have discovered some attempts by foreign producers to deceive

our local importers. Usually when a manufacturer thinks of exporting

his machines to the United States, to Germany, to France, or to

Britain, he has to obtain a copy of the regulations of that country

and try to make his products conform to those regulations. But, to

my surprise, I encountered in my country some imported weighing

machines which would not pass even preliminary tests, and I had to

order them to be reexported. To safeguard against such cases, we had

to change our system of pattern approval. Usually, in most countries

when a new type of weighing or measuring instrument is to be

50
introduced for use in trade, one example of that type of instrument is

submitted for examination and approval. According to our practice, we test even the conventional and well-known types when they are to be

introduced by a new importer or producer. In one case, I had to

reject a platform machine with a steelyard, and I stopped the import

of that type of machine from the country concerned.

The main aim of a weights and measures service is the protection of

both buyer and seller, but the buyer is in most cases more vulnerable

to fraud. No doubt, therefore, our protection must be directed to the

weaker side. Again, in developed countries the consumer especially is

more aware that he is sometimes defrauded than is the public in the

less developed regions of the world. In the developing countries,

control on legal metrology has to be intensified so as to protect the

illiterate consumer who is in most cases defrauded.

Although we are convinced that our public stands in greater need of

protection, it is the social, financial, and other factors already

mentioned, which at the same time are more severe obstacles to our giving that important and necessary protection.

51

REPORT ON SUMMARY AND EVALUATION SESSION

by Mr. H. S. Peiser

The session was attended by:

Participants — Mr. R. Aguirre

Mr. P. A. Ayata

Dr. A. Braun Bidau

Mr. S. M. Choi

Miss C. D. Herrera

Mr. A. Kilani

Mr. T. Mitchell

Mrs. I. Ruiz de Suarez

Mr. Santosa

MBS Staff Dr. E. L. Brady

Mrs . P . M. Odar

Mr. H. s. Peiser

Mr. C. c. Raley

Dr. R. c. San gs ter

Mr. A. M. Babiker and Mr. M. Benkirane unfortunately had to leave

prior to this session. After a brief introduction by nyself on the

purpose and extent of NBS projects in support of less industrialized

regions, all present took part in a very lively debate on the outcome

of this training course. Everyone agreed the course filled a need and

should be repeated. In fact, I had some difficulty in emphasizing

that the course was an experimental one and similar courses were not

at present planned. A decision to repeat such a course depended to a large extent on the views and experiences of the participants. The

more they saw a benefit, the more we at NBS wanted to hear their

constructive criticism on how we could make a good course better if

repeated. In this way, we did hear some such suggestions, but I was

told on more than one occasion that if I recorded these remarks I should emphasize the overwhelming positive reactions—everyone

appreciated the course—the presentations had been well made—everyone

learned—everyone imparted experience to the hosts and other

participants to the direct benefit of the counterpart programs in all

countries—everyone felt warmly towards the hosts and other

participants—and everyone thought it was a unique opportunity of

mixing with others from places geographically removed from their own countries, yet with similar responsibilities and opportunities.

The following suggestions were made to help in the organization of a possible future training course on weights and measures:

53
1 . Plan the program In more detail to prevent overlap, for example,

and repetitious presentations. In addition, pre-circulate an explanation of how an individual chooses the sessions of

greatest interest to himself in a big U.S. -style national

conference. After a while, the voting sessions became tedious

to our visitors.

2. Announce these plans to the participants well In advance so that

they can be better prepared and can indicate areas of special

interest.

3. Site visits to one or two instrument manufacturers should have

been included, but if so, I wondered why then was the conference

exhibit not well attended by the participants of the course?

4. Some time should have been devoted to participants presenting

their own views to colleagues. In this connection, I indicated

our appreciation for the participants' reports which I had

read with great interest and which, subject to the individual

copyright releases, will form a major part of the report of

the course.

5. Type approvals should have been discussed.

6. More NBS laboratories should have been visited and higher level

calibrations explained.

7. The hardships of living under U.S. Travel Regulations for

strangers in a luxury hotel should not be underestimated.

Advance indication of the problem would, in some instances,

make it possible for their own institutes or governments to

subsidize their stay by some additional allowance.

8. More comfortable transportation arrangements in one or two

places would have been appreciated.

We will arrange for the Conference Proceedings to be sent to all

participants. Dr. Brady discussed the possible relevance of this type

of training to initiatives to be advanced to the U.N. Conference of

Science and Development and was assured of considerable interest

by participating countries.

When Dr. T. A. Dillon, Deputy Director, joined the group, he presented

the plaques commemorating individual memberships in the National

Conference on Weights and Measures. Mr. R. S. Walleigh, former NBS

Deputy Director, also joined the closing party.

I feel fully authorized on behalf of all participants to express to

Mr. A. D. Tholen, Chief of the NBS Office of Weights and Measures, and

to Mr. H. F. Wollin, Secretary of the National Conference on Weights

54
and Measures, profound and lasting gratitude to themselves and their

colleagues who made this course possible. I was further requested to

express to the Agency for International Development the participants'

appreciation and to Mr. Tholen the hope that he will pass on this warm appreciation to Mr. U

T . F. Junkins and Mr. J. F. Lyles and their

colleagues

.

55

LYALUATIUN OF THE NLSS/AID COURSE

OH WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, 1978

RELEVANCE TO YOUR PROGRAMS IN YOUR COUNTRY

(Question

1 . What portion of the presentations had any relevance to your

a . present needs ?

Among the items listed as relevant to present needs were:

relation of HBS to State weights and measures offices

- KBS Handbooks 44 and 67

metrication

checkweighing prepackaged commodities

testing gas pumps

checking truck scales

new types of weighing and measuring machines

b . future needs ?

Among the items listed as relevant to future needs were:

- innovative equipment used in weights and measures

- training for weights and measures personnel

inspection of electronic digital scales and meters

testing of LPC meters and vehicle tank meters

- inspection of distance measuring, devices

Ouestion

2. Which presentations could have been omitted

a . in Gaithersburg ?

It was unanimously stated that nothing could have been

omitted

.

b . and c . in Harrisburg and Richmond ?

It was generally believed that nothing should have been

omitted although some duplication could have been avoided.

d . at the National Conference on Weights and Measures ?

Several of the participants thought the voting sessions

could have been missed. Une participant would like to have

had guidance in choosing the most valuable of the many

presentations.

57
Question

3. Which presentations could have been expanded

a. in Gaithersburg ?

Items mentioned included high precision instrumentation,

observing the seven base unit standards, the OWM Prototype

Program, observation of test procedures, and visits to more

NBS laboratories.

b. in Harrisburg ?

Three items were mentioned, namely: visiting a scale

manufacturer, testing, of prepackaged commodities requiring

drainage, and routine gas pump examination.

c . in Pvichmond ?

Four items were noted: more field inspections in packaging

factories, determination of aerosol net weight, testing of

LPG meter and a bulk plant meter, and laboratory work.

d . at the hational Conference on Weights and Measures ?

One participant felt there should have been a paper on the

problems of metrication.

Question

4 . Which presentation was most valuable for you

a . in Gaithersburg ?

Listed were: the metrology laboratory building, the large

capacity precision balance, and the talks on "'Weights and

Measures in the U.S.A.," "Interesting Engineering Projects,"

"OWM Standards and Laboratory Program," and "CWM Prototvpe

Program.

b. in Iiarrisburg ?

Listed were: testing of motor truck scales, the retail

market inspection tour, and the dairy inspection.

c . in Richmond ?

Listed were: testing of an LrG meter, vehicle tank meter,

bulk plant meter, electronic weighing and labeling, random

weight package checking, testing of train and truck scales,

and metrology laboratory presentation.

58
d. at the National Conference on Weights and Measures?

Listed were: committee reports, final reports, voting,

program evaluation and cost-benefit performance auditing,

measurement assurance, and the effect of electromagnetic

interference on measuring instruments.

Ouestion

5 . What presentations could have been added ?

Mentioned were type approval programs, advanced methods for

calibration of standards, tutorials and laboratory sessions,

visits to other L'iiC laboratories, and visits to manufacturers

of weighing and measuring equipment.

Question

6. General comments on the overall benefits of this Course to

you and your country . (Responses in alphabetic order by

country .

)

iilDAU : lay country is trying to get even with the new procedures in weights and measures, and mainly with testing

scales. This is, I believe, the biggest benefit for my

country.

AGblkKE: From a professional point of view, I have increased

my knowledge and it will serve to improve the weights and

measures program in my country.

SANTOSA: We have seen many things related to weights and measures but, also, to know- the way of life of American

people and their democratic thinking.

MITCHELL: This course was beneficial to me as it has exposed me to more sophisticated and advanced technioues in the

field of weights and measures, and I see Jamaica bene.fi ting

if some of these techniques are used there.

AYATA: I found the course to be useful, and I am confident that

I have benefited immensely from it. When I get back home,

it is my intention to put into practice some of the techniques I have been able to acquire while here, and I am sure

that my country will benefit from my having attended this course

.

CHOI: I think this course was well prepared and organized. I would say this course was a good experience and I enjoved

it very much. I will practice this course program when I return to my country.

59
RUIZ DE SUAREZ: This course has given me a broader view of the

way legal metrology can be applied and executed according

to the needs of my country and what other countries are doing

and how this can in turn affect my country, especially in

relation to international trade. It has also given me the

opportunity to see the latest in techniques and equipment

used in this field. I have also made good relations with

U.S. people and international people in this field, thereby

permitting me to make further contacts for any type of problem that may arise in my country.

HERRERA: This course gave us good ideas which could be applied

in the Philippines.

BABIKER: (1) To know about the administrative side of the U.S.

(2) I could see new inventions in the field of weights

and measures. I had heard about them before but

not enough.

(3) The contents and procedures of weights and measures laboratories.

Finally, I could see the Space Museum and could see a lot of

U.S. history.

B. PERSOHAE QUESTIONS

Question

1. bid you

a. enjoy the Course ?

All participants responded "Yes."

b. regret attending the Course ?

All participants responded "Ho."

Question

2. Did you profit professionally and technically ?

All responded "Yes."

Question

3. Do you feel you have established personal and useful contacts

with the

a. NBS staff?

60
All responses were "Yes."

b . other U.S. colleagues from the States ?

All said "Yes" except one who felt the time was too short

to do so.

c. other U.S. colleagues from the instrument industry ?

All answered "Yes" except one who felt his contacts were not

very useful.

d . other Course participants ?

All replied "Yes."

Question

4 . Do you feel your country should have sent someone else of

a . greater position seniority ?

All answered "Wo."

b. lesser position seniority ?

liixed responses; some said "Yes," others "Ho."

c . greater technical experience ?

All but one replied "Ho."

d. lesser technical experience ?

All but one replied "Ho."

Hues tion

5. Uhat suggestions would you make for the possible organizational

arrangements of future .ICS /AID Programs ?

BIDAU : (1) That the exact program reach the hands of the person

who is coming weeks before the beginning, not when

it has already begun.

(2) Try to make larger groups from more countries and

be sure that they are of the same level in every

sense.

AGUIRRL: (1) To have or to send in advance the entire program

to the participants.

(2) A copy of all the speeches should be given to

the participants.

61
(3) To include visits to industries not only related

with weights and measures field.

SANTOSA: This training is all right, but we need also training

with more highly technical know-how. Uhat I mean is a longer

time course on special matters, e.g., training on cryogenic

liquid, deadweight tester, electronic digital display, etc.

AYATA: (1) Future programs should be prepared in such a way

that subjects of more interest to participants

should be covered in more detail.

(2) Participants should also take part in the actual

testing of devices, packares, etc.

RUIZ RE SUAREZ: (1) Advise in advance to AIR/NBS candidates

what their precise expense funds are going

to be so that they can make any arrangements for extra money if considered by

them to be needed.

(2) Schedule the practical visits in the State

Offices of Weights and Measures in such a manner that they will not be repeated for

the same type of test.

HERRERA: For me, everything seemed to be all right. The only

thing to comment on is the repetition of the activities in

Richmond

.

BABIKER: More technical information and practical work.

C. OTHER COMMENTS

MITCHELL: I would suggest that future participants be given more

subsistence than that received by the participants on this

first course. I have been prompted to say this from personal

experience and having conversed with the other course participants. In my case, the funds given me were found to be

insufficient to cover hotel accommodations, food, laundry, and

incidental expenses. I had to resort to a "belt-tightening

process" as far as expenditures were concerned in order that

my funds were not completely exhausted prematurely.

AYATA: Attendance at the Rational Conference on Weights and Measures was very valuable and a lot was learned during the

proceedings of the Conference. It is, therefore, my view

that any future courses of this nature should be arranged to

coincide with the Rational Conference particularly when the

Conference is being held in Washington, O.C.

CHOI: My thanks to all the staff members who were concerned with

the program, which was well organized and prepared.

62
RUIZ ME SUAREZ: My sincere congratulations to Mr . S. Reiser and to

r. C. Raley for the good planning and scheduling of this very

interesting course.

EABIKER: The Americans, as I know from this short visit, are very

pleasant, humorous, and helpful people. I am extremely impressed

by that fact. I offer my thanks to the MBS and the State staff

whom I happened to know within these few days.

63

CONCLUSION

The participants from less industrialized countries reached the

following consensus on this experimental weights and measures training

course: It is accepted that it is a function of government to assure

equity in the marketplace by honest quantity measurements of

appropriate accuracy. Representatives of countries that judge their

systems of weights and measures surveillance to be in need of

improvement find it helpful to observe the ways states of the United

States of America fulfill that function. They also learn by

observation of the mutual consultation between representatives of the

states at the annual meeting of the National Conference on Weights and

Measures. (The National Bureau of Standards acts as sponsor and

adviser at this annual conference attended by weights and measures

officials of every state plus many manufacturers of instruments and

other equipment.)

In the weights and measures field, the participants recognize a trend

of common problems and opportunities, manv of them concerned with

prepacking or electronic instrumentation. It is entirely appropriate

and beneficial for consultation to take place between countries. The

United States should provide a forum for discussion in this field and an opportunity for specialists from other countries to learn from

developments in the innovative American retail markets. Such effort

by the U.S.A. should in no way interfere with desirable regional

cooperation and self-reliant evaluation in each nation of the economic

and social benefits of effective and technically sound weights and

measures programs.

The participants therefore urge the U.S. Government to repeat such a program for less developed countries on an annual basis.

The Lditors

NBS-U4A iREv. 9- 76 ;

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO. NBSIR 79-17212.Gov*t Accession No. i. Recipient's Accession No.

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

REPORT TO AID ON AN NBS/AID COURSE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

5. Publication Date April 1979

5. Performing Organization Code

.

H. Steffen Peiser, Charles C. Raley,

Editors: Albert D. Tholen

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, DC 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.

11. Contract/Grant No. PASA TA (CE) 6-71

12. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS (Street, City, State, ZIP) Agency for International Development

Department of State

Washington, D.C. 20523

13. Type of Report & Period Covered Final

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Document describes a computer program; SF-185, FIPS Software Summary, is attached.

16. ABSTRACT <a 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant bibliography or

literature survey, mention it here.)

During the period June 25 to July 14, 1978, a course on weights and measures

was held at the National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, in Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia, under the sponsorship of AID. The object

of the course was to give weights and measures officials of industrializing

nations insight into the weights and measures systems of the United States and

the role of the National Bureau of Standards, so that these officials might

consider what parts of the U.S. system might usefully be adapted to conditions

in their home countries. An exchange of experience in each of the participant's

countries was presented by delivered papers which are reproduced here. Countries

represented included Argentina, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Korea,

Morocco, Panama, Philippines, and Sudan.

U, KEY WORDS f six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the lirst letter of the first key word unless a proper name;

separated by semi colons) AID; assistance; developing economies ; foreign relations ; industrializing nations;

international relations ;measures ;weights jweights and measures.

18. AVAILABILITY fXl Unlimited

I I For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

I I Order From Sup. of Doc., U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC

20402, SD Stock No. SN003-003- fX Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Springfield, VA. 22161

19. SECURITY CLASS 21. NO. OF

(THIS REPORT) PRINTED PAGES

UNCLASSIFIED 62

20. SECURITY CLASS 22. Price (THIS PAGE)

$5.25

UNCLASSIFIED

U S COMM- D

C
INSTRUCTIONS

FORM NBS-114A: BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA SHEET. This Bibliographic Data Sheet is an NBS adaptation of the form prescribed by COSATI guidelines (Appendix F, NBS Manual for Scientific and Technical Communications).

Item 1 - Complete if information is available; otherwise Publication Office will complete later. If non-NBS

publication, state “see item 15". (Enter other agency sponsor's report number if requested to do so, and enter NBSIR number under item 8).

Items 2, 3, 6, 10, 14 - Ignore, these are reserved for possible future use.

Items 4, 7 - Complete as shown on manuscript. When NBS-114A is resubmitted along with NBS-266, following

publication of non-NBS media papers, these items must agree with published paper.

Items 5, 21, 22 - Leave blank, Publication Office will complete.

Item 8 - Leave blank unless other agency sponsor’s number appears as Item 1; then enter NBSIR number here.

Item 9 - If not NBS, blank out and enter Grantee/Contractor name and address, or both if performed jointly.

Item 11 - Complete when applicable.

Item 12 - Enter NBS name and address, other agency sponsor’s name and address, or both if joint sponsorship.

State “same as item 9" when appropriate.

Item 13 - Enter “Interim”, “Final”, or period covered.

Item 15 - Enter other relevant information, i.e., related or superseded documents. Also used by Publication

Office for Library of Congress catalog number, and entry of non-NBS media citation upon receipt of Form NBS-266 from author.

Item 16, 17 - Complete with special care. Guidance given in NBS Manual. Abstract must agree with the one in the published paper.

Item 18 - Indicate “Unlimited” - for open-literature documents cleared under NBS editorial procedures, or “For official distribution. Do not release to NTIS” - for limited, restricted, or need-to-know material. (See 5. 1.4. 2.1 of Brady memo dated January 16, 1973 “Reports to Sponsors.”) Publication Office will mark appropriate “order” box and complete Stock No. when known.

FORM NBS- | 1 4 A (REV. 9-78)