Industrial Technology
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Structural factors
Organisation and management of industry- Suggested answers
Activity 1
Complete the following flow chart to show the typical structure of an engineering firm. Use the headings and add the employees from the list to the correct departments.
Employees:
Engineers, draughtsperson, team leader,
packers, accountant, carrier, economist, metallurgist, scientist, bookkeepers,
retailer, storeperson, auditor, apprentices, works engineer, warehouse manager,
clerical assistants, advertising manager, tradesman, labours, semi-skilled
workers, sales manager, sales representative.
Activity 2
Briefly describe the role of each person from the following list within an engineering firm.
Engineer, draughtsperson, team leader, packer, accountant, carrier, economist, metallurgist, scientist, bookkeeper, retailer, storeperson, tracer, auditor, apprentice, works engineer, warehouse manager, clerical assistant, advertising manager, tradesman, labour, semi-skilled worker, sales manager, sales representative.
Organisational roles
The roles of people working at different levels within an organisational structure are described below.
Management
Management may be defined as the individual or group responsible for decision making in a firm. It is the task of management to organise and coordinate the process of manufacture from the raw material stage to the sale of the finished product.
Planning
Engineers are responsible for planning and development work, estimating quantities and costs, testing new designs and initiating new processes, calculating material strength or suitability, and for originating plans to a preliminary stage.
Draughtspersons draw up the projected work to accepted standards, making sub-assembly drawings, compiling material lists and specifying work standards.
Processing
Works engineers coordinate production with sales, and, with planning staff, aim at maximum efficiency of the workshop labour and equipment.
Team leaders allocate machine space and labour to ensure continuity of work and supply. They act as liaison between management and the workers.
Tradespersons carry out detailed work from drawings on machine or handwork, set up machinery for process workers and mark out. They are also used for maintenance.
Apprentices assist tradespersons in all branches of their trade, and in so doing learn the skills associated with various aspects of the work.
Semi skilled workers carry out many machining operations, repetitive work and assembly line work.
Labourers are responsible for the general cleanliness of the shop, the movement of materials and general operations where no specialist skills are required.
Packing
Warehouse managers are responsible for the receipt and despatch of finished work or incoming components, and their handling and safe storage.
Storepersons catalogue materials in and out of the warehouse have a ready knowledge of stock. They also allocate areas within the store for stacking of material.
Packers crate or pack the work so that it can be stored or transported conveniently and without damage. Many operate forklifts or loading equipment.
Finance
Auditors check and verify accountant's statements, and are directly responsible to the management.
Accountants are responsible for keeping all books of account, calculating profits, payment of wages, taxation, and calculating costs of work and material from time cards.
Bookkeepers make entries in the vbooks of account to indicate the position of debtors, creditors, etc.
Clerical assistants are responsible for correspondence, mailing statements of account and invoices, issuing receipts.
Sales
Sales managers are responsible to management for coordinating sales and demand with production. They make personal representation to distributors or retailers to present new products.
Sales representatives act as liaison between management and customer. They usually travelling considerably to maintain contact or follow up enquiries or complaints.
Carriers are employed by the company for interdepartmental carrying or moving packed goods to retail outlets. Private contractors or government carriers may also be used.
Retailers sell the manufactured goods to the public and are usually not connected with the manufacturers except in this way. They try to stimulate sales and demand for the profit made on handling the goods.
Advertising managers put the product before the public through newspapers, television, radio, etc. in the best possible light to stimulate sales.
Market Research
Economists study market and consumer trends and advise management on production and marketing techniques. They study and report on industry's stability, likely economic changes and consequent effects on the company.
Industrial Research
Research officers are responsible for the technical control of research and development activities within a firm. They should become familiar with, and test, new techniques under the factory's particular conditions. They should follow trade journals, papers and developments to attempt to improve existing products and designs.
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