Evening star., 1919-05-11
ENGINEERS TO MAKE
AMERICA Efficient
Continued from First Page)

mar cent of the manufacturers in the
United States know their actual costs
of production. 1t is by cutting down
these costs that the United states will
win out in commerce competition.
Labor Unrest Is Costly.
Much of this overhead cost has
been caused by labor unrest. Loss to
industry from turnover-the hiring
and firing of workmen-has been va
riousIy estimated at from $l5o.oeo.eoo
to $4O0, ,O00, 900 year. This adds from
Z to 20 per cent to the cost OF pro-
duction, while it Injuries the product.
The engineer, of the future is to be
trained to use his brain and heart
to keen labor contented and do away
with this waste. 1t is by no means
labor by granting whatever wage In
creases may be demanded. But it is
recognized as good business prin-
ciple that part of this waste could
well be used in making the lot of the
average workman happier more COM
Portable and keeping MIN content on
one job.
The engineer must give scientific
study to how to prevent this turn
over-by better housing? better so
cial conditions?-prof1t sharing? op-
portunity for self-expression?-
economic treatment?-more kindli-
ness? He must decide whether the
time-study method of speeding up
work pays, whether it makes for bet
ter citizenship
The war experiences have taught
valuable lessons-for example, at one
plant not far from Washington, en-
gagged on war work of the utmost i'm
portance, there was an overturn
running to 800 per cent due entirely
to the fact that there was no decent
housing facilities near the project and
the workmen lost a half hours time
getting TO work each day.
Value of Training Shown.
The War Department in the thick of
the war crisis found itself in need of
technical men for the Army. and to
meet this emergency the Army estab-
lished a training system for techni-
clans in 157 schools throughout the
country. in every state in the Union
except wyoming. Intensive courses
were given and $4,000 drafted men
were taken direct from civilian life
and trained for special military serv-
Ice. Approximately 1V,OUU OF tneSe
were sent overseas before the armis-
tice was signed. They were trained in
sixty-seven different trades.
c. r. Dooley. educational director of
vocational instruction. in reporting to
Dr. c. r. Mann chairman Of the ad-
visory board. committee on education
and special training. for the War De-
partment said: "A continued study
ard cooperation with the schools
would have contributed greatly to the
development Of the human resources
Of the country"
DIR. Mann, who visioned and guided
this great wartime accomplishment
for the army. was taken from the
University of Chicago several years
ago by the Carnegie Foundation to
make a special study Of engineering
education under the direction of the
joint committee on engineering educa-
ton Of the National Engineering So
cietles. HIS repnr: vas made only a
few months ago. and il is based on
this report and IN the light of war
experience which he has had an op-
portunity to View first hard that the
conference uexi month vii, build for
business ngineer;ng training that
will promote Industrial production
through factory efficiencies.