The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-04
III. TIE MANUFACTURERS.
Copyright. 1906, by N. @. Fowler. .Jr.)

featuring
Copyright 1906. by N. O. Fowler. Jr.)
rsr E who makes something with his
7 hands, or by employing the
u n hands Of others, no matter
what that something is, is manufact-
urer. But the manufacturer, CONNER
cially considered, is one who employs
labor for the making of commodities
out Of raw or crude material, or from
material in more advanced stages, pro-
ducing more or less finished product.
The successful managing manufacture
er or working head Of concern, is
business man, who, i'm conjunction with
his knowledge of business and his trade
training, understands the practice, if
not the detail, Of manufacturing.
The manufacturer is prominently a
composite man, possessing a dual abili-
ty,4that Of business management and
the mastery Of mechanics or direct ia
1niliarity with the process Of manufac-,
turing.
Occasionally one sees evidence that
mechanical proficiency is not, or does
for success. There are some success
ful manufacturers who are apparently
devoid of mechanical capacity and who
do not appear to be able to compre-
hend anything Of mechanical nature.
These men, altho at the heads Of manu-
featuring business, are not true manu-
facturers. They are business giants,
long range manipulators, with the ex-
eeptional power Of making up their def
ciencies by proxy, by engaging those
who understand what they do not or
rannot comprehend. They are too much
the exception to be the occasion for
general consideration.
+ !. i.
The successful manufacturer is more
than a business man, for he combines
with his buying and selling knowledge
of the methods of production. Like
the business man, he must be proficient
in organization and able in manage
ment; otherwise he cannot proftably
handle his employees upon whom he is
dependent. True, large manufacturer
IS not, and should not be, his own super
intendent or foreman, nor does he work
ut the bench; but if he is pronounced
success, he probably has either come up
from the shop. or has otherwise mas.
tered every material detail Of manufac-
turing. He knows how to properly han
die his workmen, because he can. do
the workmen's work himself.
The great manufacturer understands
IN general way, at least, every de-
partment Of his business, and often is
q first-class skilled workman. It is now
the rule more than the exception, for
the manufacturer to refuse positions
of responsibility to those who do not
understand mechanical art and are un.
familiar with factory detail. .E.,
If the manufacturer 8 son enters the
trade, he often begins at the bottom as
a common workman, and works up ster
by step, receiving few privileges be
You'd those granted to the rank and
file in the factory. This is as it shoult
be. '.s''s =
IF the boy hopes some day to be 3
manufacturer, he should begin BY
learning manufacturing. He should
start at the bottom of the ladder ant
master every round as he climbs up
ward, always moving cautiously an;
earefully, and not attempting to forge
ahead by jumps. Unless he begins a.
She bottom and works at the bench o.
machine, he will not be properly
pquipped to master management.
An important part of a manufactur
er's work is not only the directorshiI
of the making Of finished products
from raw material, but the handling
Of his employees, one Of the most diff
cult problems and one which tries tn
nerve Of our strongest and best
equipped men, Unless the manufacture
er has actually worked with the men
unless he knows from experience tn
"details Of manufacture, he is at dis
advantage. He cannot understand til
situation from the viewpoint Of tn
employee and because he cannot un
ferstand it, he cannot successfully dea
with the complications which are con
stantly arising.
A common school education is abse
1utely necessary, and technical edu
cation Is Of the greatest value to tn
young man who is ambitious to be
dome a manufacturer. The graduate O
an institute Of technology or mechan
heal school has a far better opportunit
for ultimate success than others nc
thus equipped educationally.
The few extra years spent at schot
are not wasted. They are often tn
most profitable years Of all. True, tn
boy equipped with higher educatio
must start three or four years benin
others Of his age, who enter the IA
tory from the common school; but s
che end Of half a dozen or more year
the broadly and specially educated ma
will surely outstrip the others, a
things being equal.
I consider a higher education in m
chanics Of the utmost Importance;
fact, I may say It is well-nigh indi
pensable to "top'. success. Experient
in the factory itself will never give 1
the boy that general knowledge of m
chanics which is impaired to him ]
the high-g grade technical school. Whs
he enters the factory, his work will
confined to a large extent to one Or
cess or a few processes; therefore h
education from this point will be ma
row instead Of broad Consequent
unless he has obtained this general m
chanical education at some school.
will find it difficult to become mo
than an expert along some exclusiv
line.
The question may be asked: Shou
v1ynn INF lie 70