British industry must do better says Ezra
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
BRITISH industry must become more efficient, National Coal Board chairman Sir Derek Ezra told the National Materials Handling Centre in his presidential address last week.
He told members there was a need for more effective use of investment to match overseas competitors' production there has to be a greater emphasis placed on the use of micro-technology, and products must be adapted to meet such changes.
In addition, the most able people should be attracted to work in industry, small firms should be encouraged in order to foster expansion, the disincentive effect of taxation which discourages new skills should be reduced, and the present wage bargaining structure should be reformed.
Sir Derek told members that the NMHC has an important role to play, as the overall efficiency of industry will be boosted by effective and efficient materials movement and distribution.
He warned members against regarding emergent nations' economies as being based on cheap labour. "In many cases they have highly efficient and capitalised plants," he said.
He continued: "To meet this further challenge, we must not only improve our performance, but also show much greater adaptability."