Unfortunately, there is yet another area where the U.S. has failed in its manufacturing development and our economy suffers greatly [Manufacturing's ongoing challenges, May 2005].

Back about three decades ago, our Congress passed legislation that declared the U.S. to be switching to the metric system. While the law is there, almost no funding was put forth for the conversion, and we remain an "Imperial" measurement country.

The other two counties with whom we share the Imperial measurement system are Liberia and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Thousands of manufacturers focus only on inch products and the opportunity for them to sell overseas is either greatly reduced or nil.

Until we join the rest of the world by switching to metric norms, our exports of most manufactured goods will never amount to much beyond the relatively meaningless markets of Liberia and Myanmar.

Larry Garbarek, Kellogg International, Inc., Des Plaines, III.