i Reduce Variety n Production
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AREDUCTION in the variety of products manufactured is recontmended by the Committee for Standardization of Engineering Products, under the chairmanship of Sir Ernest Lemon, and by thc AngloAmerican Council on Productivity, which is led by Major-General J. S. Crawford, director of Guy Motors, Ltd. Both have issued reports.
The conclusions of the engineering committee take the form of a White Paper. The committee maintains that greater progress can be made .in reducing the number of varieties of engineering products. Representatives of 17 major sections of the engineering industry, of nationalized industries and Government Departments were seen.
Another of the committee's recommendations is that the . Government should consider amending the system of taxation to encourage rapid progress in the re-equipment of industry; which, normally, entails immediate and heavy expenditure. The committee thinks that its recommendations, if carried out, would reduce costs and materially improve the country's export prospects, A warning on the dangers attending standardization in nationalized industries is given, It is pointed out that they could standardize requirements without considering Other interests. •
The 'Anglo-American Council, which recently visited the U.S.A., is also convinced that an organized and determined effort to reduce the variety of products manufactured would 'greatly assist in .increasing productivity and lowering costs.'
Trade associations 1re recommended to survey the extent to which effort is being dissipated by manufacture in undue variety, and individual companies are urged to study closely the possibility of simplification throughout production. • FREE SPEECH FOR B.T.C. STAFF?
AT the 30th anniversary luncheon of the Institute of Transport, on Tuesday, the president, Brig.-Gen. H. Osborne Mance; K.B.E., in welcoming the guests of honour; Marshal of the R.A.F. Lord Tedder, G.C.B., and Mr. A. Barnes, Minister of Transport, said that a large proportion of the Institute's members were now servants of the British Transport Commission.
He appealed to nationalization chiefs to give them freedom to express their opinions. He thought that even theses on opposing interests would be of great interest and value.' "Do not," be said, " treat them as orchestras in which, if a Member strikes a discordant note, he is sacked."
Mr. Barnes agreed that all charged with responsibility in nationalized transport should be able to give their views to their colleagues in industry. Reconstruction of transport had been delayed beyond the limits of safety.
Lord Tedder declared that Britain might yet lead the world in the speed and comfort of its air transport. The Services'. main needin the air was the counterpart of the mercantile marine.
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