A time for training

LETTERS

ASSOCIATE REVOLTMadam- I agree fully withyour correspondent Mr NWright AMIMfgE in Novemberregarding the position of asso-ciate members' designations.Another problem also exists inthat the IEE does not recognisethe diploma in ManagementStudies (DMS) as a valid desig-nation although the Engineer-ing Council etaldo.

My business card now readsDMS lEng AMIMfgE, but theIEE uses Esq lEng, not recog-nising the 'fiddling' limited com-pany letters AMIMfgE.

The Engineering Council onthe other hand uses DMS lEngAMIEE. I fear this is also inac-curate, which is strange as theirdata must have come from IEE.

The takeover by (sorry mer-ger with) the IEE, we were as-sured, would be good for us andwould help enhance the statusof all engineers.

The existing "pig's break-fast" is not satisfactory and if itis not cleared up the Institutionof Mechanical Engineers willgain quite a few new members(or associate members). Appli-cation forms anyone?

CE Manning DMS lEngAMIMfgE (I think)

WDS MarlcoHagden Lane

WatfordHerts WD1 8NA

As an Associate Member ofIMfgE I was entitled to use thedesignatory letters IEng AMIMf-gE. I am still entitled to usethese letters, but there is nolonger such an Institution.

As N Wright AMIMfgE pointsout, what is going to be done toallow Associate Members con-tinued use of the appropriatedesignatory letters.

Mr SSBurtlEng AMIMfgE23 Prince of Wales Road

WeymouthDT4 OBY

...when finally I do manageto achieve Associate Memberstatus, the Institution I have solonged to join is absorbed intothe IEE and I discover that I am

to be made merely an associateof this Institution.

Quite frankly I am appalled.I should like to think that theeducation, training and experi-ence that qualified me for theIMfgE would count for a littlemore that associate status with-in the IEE. This is especiallyinsulting when you read the IEEbrief concerning associates:

"persons who have a goodeducation at least that necess-ary for enrolment in tertiary edu-cation ..."

I have worked laboriously tojoin the IMfgE and feel I haveevery right to use designatoryletters that have real meaning.AMIMfgE I feel does not.TA Randall AMIMfgE MBPICS

34 Sussex LodgeNorth Parade

HorshamWest Sussex

RH12 2DD

My electrical experiencegoes no further than wiring aplug and I feel that the changedoes not reflect my training andbackground as a production en-gineer. My dilemma is shall Istick with it or become a mem-ber of the Institution of Mechan-ical Engineers. Do any of mycolleagues feel the same?

DJ Beaumont lEng AMIMfgEBritax Vega

DroitwichWorcester

I would join the IMechE if itwas not for the fact that theythemselves are considering amerger with the IEE. I wouldsuggest that both the IEE andthe Engineering Council gettheir act together and reassurepersons such as myself as towhat the position is and what isbeing done, in writing to all.

It will be interesting to seehow many dissatisfied engin-eers vote with their feet.

Martin G Wirtz lEng AMIMfgEGlnstM LCG

29 Radnor AvenueHarrowMiddx

HA11SB

With reference to Manufac-turing Engineer November1991, and the letters fromMessrs N Wright and R Jen-kins, would someone pleaseanswer their specific questionsrelating to the position of Asso-ciate Members of the IMfgE andthe new merged institution.

Philip C Davies AMIMfgE42 Edgeley Road

WhitchurchShropshireSY13 1EU

Brigadier Gordon Rawlins,Deputy Secretary B,comments:Early on in the merger discus-sions it was appreciated that,because the IEE (like theIMechE) is not a vertically inte-grated institution, IMfgE mem-bers entitled to the designatoryletters AMIMfgE would not beable to adopt IEE designa-tories, and that it would there-fore be necessary to identify amechanism to enable peoplewho wished to continue to stylethemselves AMIMfgE so to do.This is, however, not a straight-forward matter. Members willappreciate, I am sure, that theIEE Charter can only authorisethe use of IEE designatory let-ters. It was therefore necess-ary to find a way under theaegis of the IEE to enable andprotect the continuing use ofAMIMfgE etc, hence the estab-lishment of a limited companyto do just this.Turning now to the constitu-tional position o( ex-IMfgE As-sociate Members, it has to besaid that, save for the matter ofdesignatories, the situation inthe IEE is directly analogous tothe IMfgE. Their interests arelooked after by the newlyformed Associates Committee,which has a voice on Executiveboard and Council. The viewsof ex-IMfgE Associate Mem-bers and Associates weregiven a very robust airing at themeeting of the AssociatesCommittee on 7th December1991, and will certainly be re-layed to Executive Board as amatter of priority.

A TIME FORTRAININGMadam- Hollander's com-ments in September's Manu-facturing Engineer were verypointed, particularly in your di-rection! After years of non-sense from politicians about apost-industrial service econ-omy, a realisation dawns thatthere is no way that servicescan substitute for manufacture.An economy of our magnitude,faced with competition fromservices from other more suc-cessful industrial nations, cannever survive on servicesprofits.

There is a shortage of skills,but people given a few weekson a centre lathe or doing down-hand welding will make no con-tribution to industry's needs,they are taking part in an exer-cise to massage the unemploy-ment figures. Our old Institu-tion, ably backed by manymembers both practitionersand academics, has hammeredthe need for both quantity andquality in those responsible formanufacture. But the parsnipshave remained resolutely un-buttered. There have been in-creases, it is true, but minorcompared to the need.

If there is one common pur-pose that the Manufacturing Di-vision should be hammering, itis for more well trained people.Newly housed in the IEE, wecan influence a major sector ofindustry to be more competi-tive, effective and profitable. Itis an industry with a long future,and very efficient overseascompetitors.

EN CorlettThe Institute for Occupational

ErgonomicsNottingham UniversityNottingham NG7 2RD

Due to the recent deluge of let-ters received in the editorial of-fice, and the shortage of spacein this issue, some letters arebeing held over to our nextissue. However, most, if not all,should be printed eventually;and in the meantime, keep 'emcoming!

The Editor

MANUFACTURING ENGINEER DEC 1991 /JAN 1992