Beginner’s Guide to Measurement in Mechanical Engineering

Sport, health, cooking, space, clothes and transportation. This may seem a disparate list of activities or items, but they all have one common theme: measurement. Yet, for most of us, measurement is something we probably seldom think about. Often we are unaware of the constant measuring that we do in our daily lives, and how it is the fundamental basis that enables us to make choices and decisions.-Do we need ever more accurate measurements? Surely there’s no need as we have all the units of measurement necessary? Time, distance, temperature and mass have all been set and agreed. What possible benefits do we gain from ever more research and understanding about measurement?-In the engineering and science professions, measurement, accuracy and precision are of paramount importance, as they are the basis of what we do and how we do it. Recognition of the need for accurate and appropriate information through measurement goes right back to 1847 at the time of the founding of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Then, Sir Joseph Whitworth recognised the need to create and apply measurement standards across complex engineering assemblies. Without these he was acutely aware of the detriment to machine performance and making items fit together better.