41111111T: ready to
Page 45
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
take on all comers
e Society of Motor Manufacturers and iders is the 'watchdog' of the inufacturing side of the transport lustry, but an additional, and more public e is its organisation of the Car and mmercial Motor Shows. We have been )king at the SM MT organisation and teflon.
E SOCIETY of Motor nufacturers and Traders Ibrates its 76th birthday year by bringing ether the Car and nmercial Motor Shows the first time.
that were not a sufficient evement, they have gone o move the shows from don for the first time and them under the same roof irmingham. That decision courage — a quality it ns that SMMT has never ed.
rederick R. Simms was the iwho organised the motor istry into SMMT in 1902. It 40 members then and 32 lem were importers. Today Society has 1,700
nbers and 340 of them are orters.
IMMT embraces all of )in's vehicle builders and importers, manufacturers and suppliers of components and accessories, finance houses, the technical, trade and motoring press.
It makes representations to government on behalf of the industry and it is its own watchdog on the standards employed by the industry. It provides technical, export and managerial services and in some measure protects its members from unfair or unethical competition.
In its 76 years, SMMT has maintained a low profile but its bold move to take its biannual shows to NEC has attracted the spotlights. The move has attracted many critics and sceptics from inside and outside the industry. Whether or not the confidence of those responsible for the move was justified will not be apparent until late October. However, because SMMT is the vehicle manufacturing industry and because the industry has so often had to defend itself against attack from pressure groups, it was well prepared for these most recent assaults.
The outgoing president, David Plastow — he is the 53rd — probably best sums up the true role of SMMT with these words. "In the years through which the Society has existed, we have seen the change from a group which ran the Motor Show to an organisation which is an integral part of this country's industrial structure and a Society which has an ever-increasing influence on the decisions which are taken by Government on matters which affect the largest of all Britain's manufacturing industries."
The objects of SMMT are to promote the interests of the motor industry and its contribution to the national economy. How it achieves its objective is possibly best explained by reference to the family tree.
SMMT has eight functional departments covering such widely diversified topics as economics and public relations. The economics department is concerned with the analysis of data relevant to the motor industry and the preparation of representations to Government and the EEC Commission on economic, taxation and materials supply issues affecting the industry.
The following functions are particularly relevant to the needs of individual members. El Production of motor industry forecasts; EInterpretation of current statistics, economic trends and events in the UK and abroad in terms of the interests of the motor industry; lEj Representation of the industry on taxation matters.
Although the circulation of forecasts and reports relating to these areas of work is restricted, the department discusses the economic outlook and individual forecasting or taxation problems with members and provides information to assist members' own forecasting.
The exhibition department organises and administers the car and commercial vehicle exhibitions, The legal department advises on and monitors developments in the law affecting members and the making of representations to Government on legal matters.
It also monitors, on behalf of members, the operation of a voluntary Code of Practice covering all aspects of the sale and servicing of vehicles, parts and accessories to consumers.
The overseas department assists British manufacturer members with overseas marketing problems and in the promotion of exports.
The staff of the department have detailed knowledge of the market areas allocated to them. It circulates its Export Information News Sheet (EINS) weekly. Market reports are prepared following visits to overseas markets and these are circulated with EINS.
Through the various incentive schemes offered by the British Overseas Trade Boards, the SMMT is able to obtain substantial financial assistance for members in direct payments towards travel and subsistence costs when they participate in trade missions.
Joint venture schemes are also arranged for overseas exhibitions agreed with the BOTB, under which companies are provided with fully prepared stands at a nominal charge or are reimbursed with part of the space cost, depending on the nature of the promotion.
The department provides a customs tariff service on a subscription basis, and can provide detailed information on overseas tariffs affecting motor industry products.
For many years the department has prepared an annual Buyers Guide to the Motor Industry of Great Britain containing detailed information about member companies particularly concerned with export. This guide has a wide circulation overseas.
The shipping and transport department resolves problems of common concern to members of the Society in the shipment of their goods to overseas markets throughout the world. It also provides an advisory service to individual members regarding the shipping of their products.
Negotiations are conducted with the leading shipping conferences operating from, the United Kingdom and with non-conference ship owners on the levels of freight rates and other terms and conditions of carriage for the products of the motor industry.
Liaison is also maintained with port authorities, airlines, and other bodies responsible for the movement of the industry's exports, and with the appropriate Government departments.
The Press and public relations department publishes an overseas news bulletin in several languages which is sent to many countries and contains news stories about the industry, member companies and their products. The SMMT News Digest is aimed primarily at politicians and others who have an important influence on public opinion.
The technical department advises members, both individually and collectively, on the technical implications of existing and proposed legislation in the United Kingdom, European Economic Community (Brussels), Economic Commission for Europe (Geneva) and the major export markets, close liaison with the United Kingdom Government, international regulatory authorities and other national trade associations being maintained for this purpose.
Co-ordination and presentation of industry views to the British Standards Institute and the International Organisation for Standardisation are functions of this department.
Members' views are co-ordinated through technical committees specialising in specific subjects. Correspondence membership of these committees is open to all members in those areas in which they are interested.
Correspondence members receive all papers, have the right to make written comment on any subjects under discussion, and to seek representation at meetings on an ad hoc basis when items of particular interest to them are being discussed.
The statistical department produces a number of general returns and publications relevant to the motor industry. Not only do these refer to the United Kingdom, but also include statistics relating to overseas markets, in particular production, exports and new registration statistics of the major motor vehicle manufacturing countries.
It provides statistics of United Kingdom new registrations and vehicles in on a subscription basis throu the Motor Vehicle Registratic Information Scheme (MVRIS Statistical information is a produced for the membershil of the various trade sections the Society.
However, the main pre-occupation of the SMMT permanent staff is to ensure • success of the 1978 NEC shr In terms of exhibitors, this w be the biggest with 717 star CM is on stand 344A.
In terms of attendance, th are targets the 1965 Motor Show attracted 660,000 visitors, the 1948 Commerci Motor Show pulled in 145,000, and these are the record attendances. Allowim for overlap of interests, if the NEC venture attracts an attendance of 750,000 peor to the combined show, it should go a long pay towarC satisfying the organisers.
Whether or not NEC becomes the permanent hon of the show will depend on ti attendances between now ar 1984. It has had five previo. homes in its history at SoutF Kensington; Old Deer Park; Richmond; Crystal Palace; Olympia and Earl's Court.
There are a few reputatiol staked on an NEC success, a there is a lot of capital invesi It's a gamble that the indust cannot afford to lose.