Results of investigation in certain industries.

Date:
1924
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Results of investigation in certain industries. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    wide individual differences in output observed amongst plate makers, saucer makers and towers appeared to be due largely to the diverse methods adopted.* 3. Labour-saving Devices—Compared with other industries, the pottery industry seems to have been backward in adopting labour-saving devices. Though there may be special reasons for this policy, such as the exceptional fragility of the ware at certain stages, many processes seem to call for consideration in this respect. Specific suggestions on this point are made.* JREPORT. No. 18.—Two Investigations in Potters’ Shops, by H. M. Vernon, M.D. and T. Bedford. Price 2s. 6d. net, V.—_GLASS INDUSTRY.+ (a2) WoRKING CONDITIONS. 1. Temperature.—There is a distinct seasonal variation in production, output being higher in winter. than in summer. This falling off of output during the hotter months might be eliminated or reduced by better ventilation in the neighbourhood of the workers exposed to heat. Further investigation on this point is suggested [24, 8]. 2. Hours of Work.—The relative hourly efficiency in bottle- blowing (both by hand and on semi-automatic machines) appears _ to have been increased by shortening the shift from 10 hours to 8 hours, though this increase is not in itself sufficient to bring the output of the shorter shift up to that of the longer. Ina continuous process of this kind, however, hourly output rather than shift output is the important factor in regard to production.. Here the advantage is clearly with the shorter shift, and in this instance becomes still more pronounced since on the longer shift work was carried on during only 20 out of the 24 hours [24, 4, 5]. Some information is given as to the comparative efficiency of the shifts. On the three-shift system the night shift is always more efficient than the morning shift and not much less efficient than the afternoon shift. Under the system, however, in which 12 of the 24 hours are spent in alternate 6-hour shifts, the night shifts are consistently less efficient than the day shifts [24, 10]. (6) WorRKING METHODs. 3. Change of Activity.—It is suggested that fatigue might be reduced and efficiency increased by alternating the work of a ‘chair’ or gang, instead of the present system of allowing the same work to be done throughout the whole shift by each member of the group [24, 17]. REPORT. No. 24.—A Comparison of different Shift Systems in the Glass Trade, by E, Farmer, M.A., R. C. Brooks; M:A., and E. G. Chambers, B.A. Price 1s. 6d. nei, * Third Annual Report, p. 66. | The investigation into the glass industry was undertaken by the Board and the Glass Research Association jointly.
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