Weights and measurements permeate every aspect of human life. Yet we tend to take the tools for granted.
Weights and measurements is a huge industry that drives the global economy.
Time, size, distance, speed, direction, weight, volume, temperature, pressure, force, sound, light and energy are among the physical properties for which humans have developed accurate measures.
According to Nicholus Kithinji, the managing director of Avery East African Ltd, a company that builds weighing machines, most people have not understood the importance of weights and measurements.
In logistics, weights and measurements are usually relied upon to determine freight rates; either in metric tonnes or cubic metres. In trade, they are the biggest determinants of profits and losses.
“There are many challenges that we face when faced with the credibility of weights and measure systems,” noted Mr Kithinji.
“Most times the challenges outweigh the cost in terms of losses that occur. However, Kenya is pretty well developed in that sector. We are slowly moving from mechanical weights to digital weights and software.”
Generally, weights and measures ensure fair international trade of products and services, fair evaluation of the value of products that are subject to taxes as well as consumer protection.
There is an international law that governs weights and measures. It is called the law of metrology.
In ordinary trade transactions, the law ensures that during the sale of a commodity, the quantity delivered to the purchaser is not less than the quantity contracted for and paid for.
This does not only save the trader from losses, but by protecting the consumer from cheating, it also enhances the consumers’ purchasing power.
According to Kithinji, unscrupulous traders and transporters have always tried to circumnavigate the parameters of the law, therefore bringing confusion in global trade and logistics.
“You will find people importing cheap, inefficient scales and getting them stamped. This is affecting the market and hurting consumers,” he said.
“The policies protecting the consumer are still not strong. The government should intervene.”
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
He further noted that without confidence in how goods are weighed and measured, trade would be subject to multiple measurements, creating disputes.
The additional cost of such multiple measurements and of solving these disputes would considerably affect the efficiency of trade and jeopardize the economy.
Legal control on measurements is also important in ensuring a society stays healthy; a component of consumer protection.
According to Kithinji, a clinical thermometer or a blood pressure instrument that is not properly tested may lead to wrong diagnosis and incorrect medication leading to death.
Measurement of axle load on trucks to control overloaded vehicles minimises damage to roads with the consequent reduction of road fatalities and expenditure on development and maintenance of public roads.
In ancient times, measurements were largely manually operated. The mechanical systems were very easy to manipulate. But as technological advancements continue to shape modern trade and logistics, measurement machines are getting automated.
Experts in the industry say the sector is still developing and has much distance to cover to fully achieve its potential.
Kithinji stressed that automation of systems is essential in order to limit human interface and also get real-time checks.
“For example, we have the weighbridges that can measure speed as well as expose driving habits. They can take pictures, do weights of the axial regardless of where the truck is in the country,” he said.
“Vehicles, just like the transport infrastructure, have been engineered to carry a certain weight which when exceeded, there is a ripple effect in tear and wear. If you carry excess weight, it affects tires which have been made to carry a certain weight. Breaks will also be affected which can put the driver at risk.”
He says an overloaded truck affects directly the taxpayer, who is also a consumer, in terms of taxation.
Uzito na vipimo huenea katika kila sehemu ya maisha ya kibinadamu. Hata hivyo, sisi huona vifaa hivyo kuwa vya kawaida. Uzito na vipimo ni sekta kubwa ambayo inaendesha uchumi wa dunia. Wakati, ukubwa, umbali, mwendo, mwelekeo, uzito, kiasi, joto, shinikizo, nguvu, sauti, mwanga na nishati ni miongoni mwa mali za kimwili ambazo wanadamu wamebuni vipimo sahihi. "Nicholas Kithingi, mkurugenzi mtendaji wa kampuni ya Avery East African Ltd, ambaye hutengeneza mashine za kupima uzito, anasema: ""Watu wengi hawajaelewa umuhimu wa vipimo na mizani." Katika usafirishaji, uzito na vipimo kwa kawaida hutegemea kuamua viwango vya usafirishaji; ama katika tani za metrik au mita za mraba. Katika biashara, wao ni waamuzi wakubwa wa faida na hasara. "Kuna changamoto nyingi ambazo tunakabiliwa nazo tunapokabiliwa na uaminifu wa mifumo ya uzito na kipimo", alisema Bwana Kithinji. <unk> Mara nyingi magumu huzidi gharama kwa sababu ya hasara zinazotokea. Hata hivyo, Kenya imeendelea vizuri katika sekta hiyo. """Tunaendelea polepole kutoka kwa uzito wa mitambo hadi uzito wa dijiti na programu, kwa ujumla, uzito na vipimo hutegemeza biashara ya kimataifa ya haki ya bidhaa na huduma, tathmini ya haki ya thamani ya bidhaa ambazo zinapaswa kulipa kodi na ulinzi wa watumiaji." Kuna sheria ya kimataifa inayosimamia uzito na kipimo. Inaitwa sheria ya metrolojia. Katika shughuli za kawaida za kibiashara, sheria inahakikisha kwamba wakati wa kuuza bidhaa, kiasi kilichotolewa kwa mnunuzi si chini ya kiasi kilichopendekezwa na kulipwa. Hii si tu kuokoa mfanyabiashara kutoka hasara, lakini kwa kulinda watumiaji kutoka udanganyifu, pia huongeza nguvu ya ununuzi wa watumiaji. "Kithinji alisema, ""Wauzaji na waendeshaji wasio na dhamiri daima wamejaribu kuzunguka vigezo vya sheria, na hivyo kuleta mvurugo katika biashara ya kimataifa na usafirishaji.""" <unk>Utapata watu wakivua mizani ya bei nafuu, isiyo na ufanisi na kuifanya ionyeshwe. Hii inaathiri soko na kuumiza watumiaji, "alisema. <unk>Sera za kulinda watumiaji bado hazina nguvu. Serikali inapaswa kuingilia kati. <unk> Endelea kuarifiwa. "Mwandishi wa habari huyo alisema: ""Bado hakuna uhakika juu ya jinsi bidhaa zinavyopimwa na kupimwa, biashara itakuwa chini ya vipimo vingi, na kuunda mabishano.""" Gharama ya ziada ya vipimo hivyo vingi na ya kutatua mabishano haya ingeathiri sana ufanisi wa biashara na kuhatarisha uchumi. Udhibiti wa kisheria juu ya vipimo pia ni muhimu katika kuhakikisha jamii inabaki afya; sehemu ya ulinzi wa watumiaji. Kulingana na Kithinji, kipima joto cha kliniki au kifaa cha shinikizo la damu ambacho hakijapimwa vizuri kinaweza kusababisha utambuzi usiofaa na dawa isiyo sahihi inayoongoza kwenye kifo. Kupima mzigo wa mhimili kwenye malori ili kudhibiti magari yaliyojaa zaidi hupunguza uharibifu wa barabara na matokeo ya kupunguza vifo vya barabarani na gharama za maendeleo na matengenezo ya barabara za umma. Katika nyakati za kale, vipimo vilitumiwa kwa mkono. Mifumo ya mitambo ilikuwa rahisi sana kudhibitiwa. Lakini kadiri maendeleo ya kiteknolojia yanavyoendelea kuunda biashara na usafirishaji wa kisasa, mashine za kupima zinakuwa za kiotomatiki. Wataalamu katika sekta hiyo wanasema sekta hiyo bado inaendelea na ina umbali mrefu wa kufunika ili kufikia uwezo wake kikamilifu. Kithinji alisisitiza kwamba automatisering ya mifumo ni muhimu ili kupunguza interface ya binadamu na pia kupata ukaguzi wa wakati halisi. <unk>Kwa mfano, tuna mizani inayoweza kupima mwendo na pia kufunua tabia za kuendesha gari. Wanaweza kuchukua picha, kufanya uzito wa axial bila kujali ambapo lori ni katika nchi, "alisema. <unk>Gari, kama vile miundombinu ya usafiri, zimebuniwa kubeba uzito fulani ambao unapozidiwa, kuna athari ya kupasuka na kuvaa. Ikiwa unabeba uzito wa ziada, inathiri tairi ambazo zimetengenezwa kubeba uzito fulani. Vipindi vya kuvunja pia vinaweza kuathiri ambayo inaweza kuweka dereva katika hatari. <unk> Anasema lori lililojaa kupita kiasi linaathiri moja kwa moja mlipa kodi, ambaye pia ni mtumiaji, kwa suala la ushuru.