ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a technologist's view, rather than a manager's, and some of the points made are somewhat controversial. In the post-war period a large effort was spent in automating process industry, such as: chemical plants, refineries, water treatment plants, gas distribution, power stations, and so on, even though this was frequently unseen from outside. In automating these processes, attempts were usually made to approach them as complete plants. Most manufacturing processes are, on the contrary, discrete by nature, producing quantities of discrete components. The industrial robot has thus become a necessary element in flexible manufacturing systems, essentially providing mechanical arms to link machines in the process. Because of the increased need for research and development the national infrastructure of R & D has become critical for the manufacturing base in the UK to survive. Large commercial enterprises usually have their own research and development centres capable of supporting new developments.
