When engineers talk to each other - the slow but sure payoff

Article Abstract:

Whirlpool Corp., a manufacturer of home appliances, established a program intended to increase the efficiency and productivity of its product and manufacturing engineers by getting the two groups to work together. The program, begun in 1979 and referred to as TQA (total quality assurance), has implemented mandatory procedures to assure that the two engineering groups work together, and both Alvin J. Elders, general manager of laundry engineering, and Joseph A. Grauer, director of manufacturing and resident quality engineer, agree that the system has generated positive results. The interaction between the product and manufacturing engineers at Whirlpool and how it contrasts with prevalent attitudes in other U.S. and Japanese corporations are described.

Methods, Case studies, Innovations, High technology, Product development, Business planning, Engineers, Engineering design, Industrial management, Elders, Alvin J., Gauer, Joseph A.

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France's age of reason

Article Abstract:

France has developed its computer software services industry into the largest in Europe with a domestic value of French francs 56 billion (8.1 billion Ecu). Six of the top ten European software services companies are located in France, but the market in Europe for prepackaged software is still controlled by US firms. Domestic contracts constitute around 50% of the software services industry's business, but French companies are eager to expand into other markets.

France, Computer services industry, Information technology services industry, Data processing services

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