The Search for Small Businesses with Investments in Metric Production.
Abstract
A purposive sample of 1161 manufacturing firms were contacted. The purpose was to locate a few small businesses for in-depth analysis of the costs, benefits, problems, and opportunities posed by metrication. The search process itself was worthy of exposition; this report details that search. Some general findings are: there is a widespread capability among small business to produce metric products but the capability is shallow; unusual or big demands for metric products may be difficult to meet; the investment and extent of conversion for most small businesses is very small and unimportant; developing a metric capability is seen as a routine, unexceptional, necessary cost of doing business; conversion by small businesses is usually the result of demands from existing customers--especially large firms; few small businesses have converted to increase foreign sales. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 02, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA107860
Entities
People
- Henry H. Hitchcock
- Joseph F. Coates