Chemical ?^^^^fJ^«W5fS»q!»SE^^
Engineering g
WALTER J . M U R P H Y , Editor
News Wasting Professional T a l e n t A H E president of the N e w York State Society of Professional Engineers, H . Gregory Shea, has gone on record as saying that more efficient use of engineers in industry and public projects could increase their availability for engineering tasks as much as 50%. W e are not in a position to affirm the exact correctness of his percentage figure but it is plainly obvious more efficient use of professional personnel is a distinct possibility. Industry has been highly critical of the Armed Forces because in the past technically trained personnel frequently has not been used in work utilizing to anything like the maximum degree its training and skills. We have heard more than one spokesman for the military who has said in effect "such remarks are like the pot calling the kettle black, industry is not doing its part either." Frankly,* w e must agree the military does have a point. In analyzing the current nationwide shortage of engineers, Mr. Shea stated that existing practices of engineering and manufacturing concerns and public organizations aggravate the scarcity of such talent. More efficient use of engineers would justify higher pay rates, according to Mr. Shea, thus attracting back to engineering operations many of the thousands of graduates who have left the field to become salesmen, or to enter other fields where reward seemed greater. In describing common examples of inefficient methods, Mr. Shea pointed out the waste of time in such varied duties as answering telephones in engineering offices, writing reports which have to be written longhand when they might more readily be dictated, and in handling of catalog files and making reference searches. By more extensive use of nonprofessional assistants for such work, the same duties could be accomplished with limited supervision, according to Mr. Shea, and w e agree thoroughly with his viewpoint. Mr. Shea also stressed the fact that many professional engineers n o w spend from 50 to 90% of their time in some fields doing clerical work instead of engineering tasks; that by concentrating clerical work with secretaries and office boys the productivity of engineers would be increased. Summarizing, Mr. Shea claims that t h e fully trained engineer should do only engineering thinking, directing, inspection, and conference work. Said h e , "By adding nonengineering personnel to do minor tasks two engineers could do the work for which four are needed now." What the head of the N e w York State Society of Professional Engineers has said about the way engineering skill is used is pretty close to t h e truth in the case of chemists. A few weeks ago w e asked one of the best-posted men on personnel matters in the chemical field if he knew of any company doing ^n outstanding job of maximum utilization of professional personnel. After thinking for a few minutes h e admitted that, at least offhand, he could not name one. Obviously, before criticizing the military w e should make sure our own house is in proper order. With the strong likelihood that a shortage of competent
V O L U M E
3 0,
NO.
7
» * FEBRUARY
18,
scientists and technologists capable of initiating and directing research projects and large-scale production will be with us for several years, is it not just plain common sense to take steps n o w to utilize the available force most efficiently? Is it not highly desirable to set u p proper machinery in each company to look into this problem and to make recommendations after a suitable period of study? Are there not many chemists and chemical engineers already employed by your company who can b e upgraded— promoted into positions of greater responsibility? Is the period of internship too long in a time when professional personnel is in short supply? On the other hand> can your company increase the over-all efficiency of its professional employees b y the institution of a short but intensive training period for t h e younger professionals? Are you providing adequate nonprofessional help for your professionals (and we do not mean just more bottle washers)? What about the introduction of more modern instrumentation in analytical work, in fact, in all research and production? These are but a f e w of the spots where your company may b e wasting the invaluable time of technically trained personnel. The problem is worthy of serious study by your top management. In any world-wide crisis w e will have to use more efficiently our limited scientific and technical manpower resources. T h e propitious time to learn how is now.
O u t o f the I v o r y T o w e r A HE Louisville
Section
of
the
AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY recently staged a somewhat unusual meeting—a forum o n the chemical industry of Louisville. Representatives of the principal types of local industries presented concise reviews of their particular industry. Among the fields covered were: fermentation ( a must in LouisviUe), synthetic rubber, paint and varnish, and the tobacco industry. Another speaker covered comparatively new industries now located in Louisville, and the secretary of the chamber of commerce gave a rounded picture of Louisville as a center of varied industrial activity. The inf ormatioh presented included the type and volume of products produced, how many and what kind of chemists and chemical engineers are employed, and what new developments are expected, as well as interesting facts in general about the local plants. A considerable portion of each speaker's time was devoted to questions and answers. This is an excellent type of program to stage occasionally, for it not only is informative to the membership of a section, but it does provide an excellent opportunity to invite the public and to inform it on what chemistry and chemical engineering are doing to expand the local industries. In telling this story to the general public including businessmen, bankers, lawyers, teachers, labor leaders, clerics, housewives, w e are establishing a real educational program on the scientific and technical manpower problem at the grass-roots level. If such an evening can include actual exhibits, s o much the better.
1952
603
