Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Management Development

Abstract

The introduction of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the long‐term development of Computer Integrated Manufacture (CIM) present challenges to those engineers and managers who must implement them and those who must manage the total manufacturing system. Basic ideas in management development are reviewed. A systems model is contrasted with one based on the central idea of a “champion of change”. The former addresses the complex inter‐relationships that exist between teams involved in a number of concurrent development projects and the necessary diffusion of learning throughout the organisation, but ignores power relationships and individual attributes of company staff. The latter has considerable strengths as a model for producing action but may present problems in the context of traditional UK companies. The management education of engineers is commented on, emphasising the distinction between the basic skills needed to operate as an engineer in a company and the long‐term development necessary to create the “technological champion”.