The engineer in the middle ground of manufacture

The Finniston Committee, in reviewing manufacturing industry, highlighted the need to achieve an engineering dimension in the UK through improved industrial technical management. Engineers contribute to manufacturing industry by bringing about new developments such as improved materials and processes and by exploiting innovations such as optical fibres and automation. In the UK less significance is attached than in Germany or Japan to the middle ground of manufacture, i.e. the processing of feedstocks into components and subassemblies. Yet this area has the greatest impact on the cost and quality of end products, and the contribution of the engineer is critical to production efficiency. UK industries must learn to sustain manufacturing businesses by raising engineering standards on the shop floor. Management plans, which are mainly financial, need to be supplemented by action plans for renewal of the busines dealing with vital long term issues. Engineers should make an increased contribution to management of British business and many engineers are able to meet this challenge.