Outlines traditional and nontraditional information services developed at a large, highly diversified firm to exploit power and value of online databases and support goals of the Independent Searching Program. Highlights include awareness, set-up and vendor selection; training and continuing support; local database building; electronic search…

A comparative study of Australian industrial workers in four factories examined whether the immediate work context or social context explains the variation in orientations toward work. The analysis reveals remarkable similarities despite differences in employer, technology, and organizational structure, and in the demographic and labor force…

Examines how authors have looked at the future and probes the limits of forecasting. Looks at several futurists' views on the manufacturing industry and emerging occupations. (SK)

Examines changes in employment, unemployment, and hours of work in manufacturing, with particular focus on the five major metal-using and producing industries which are particularly sensitive to economic cycles. (SK)

Increasing information suggests school buses are defective at the manufacturing level. (Reprinted from The Financial Post, Feb. 24, 1973.) (Author)

Employment and hours movements are compared with patterns in two preceding recessions. (Editor)

Advances in factory computerization (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) are reviewed, including discussions of robotics, human factors engineering, and the sociological impact of automation. (JN)

Explores the organization of the maintenance function of five manufacturing and utility companies and the involvement of maintenance workers in plant improvement. Highlights the role of tacit skills of maintenance workers and of the maintenance function on technological change and organizational performance. (Contains 41 references.) (JOW)

Describes advances in and advantages of computer simulation in education and industry. Gives examples from health care and waste handling industries and technology education classrooms. (SK)

States that short-run production theory and U-shaped cost curves do not conform to industrial reality. Explores in detail the reality of manufacturing stating that fixed proportions seem more suited to describing short-run manufacturing processes. Addresses fixed proportions in short-run production and short-run cost functions. Includes…

To demonstrate the impact of planned learning on company performance, direct relationships between training and systematic job performance improvements were observed. Results were used to refine Kirkpatrick's four-level evaluation model with an intermediate level 3.5 (performance impact) between levels 3 (behavior) and 4 (results). (Contains 29…

Provides insight into the exciting future of robotics. Includes a student quiz and possible student outcomes. (JOW)

In 1992, manufacturing continued to lose large numbers of jobs and other industries had small employment declines; only services and government added substantially to their employment but with weaker gains than in the 1980s. (Author)

The Screening Battery of the Adult Basic Learning Examination and a demographic questionnaire were completed by 65 employees in small manufacturing firms in Oklahoma City. Despite overall educational attainment of 11.5 years, grade equivalents of scores were 7.6 for reading comprehension, 8.9 for problem solving; 21.5% were classified as…