The Education, Training and Careers of Production Managers in British Industry

The results of a survey of production managers in the UK, carried out in 1986, on behalf of the British Institute of Managers (BIM). It compares these results with those from an earlier, similar survey carried out in 1977. The evidence shows that changes in production management have not kept pace with changes in technology and competitive priorities, such as the importance of consistent quality. Recommendations include the closer involvement of production managers in determination of manufacturing policy, reorganisation to allow responsibility to be taken for quality, production control, and maintenance, increased training, and better liaison between production,marketing, and design functions.