As 2002 drags itself wearily to an end, commentators of all sorts and complexions will soon be reviewing in exquisite detail the general performance and activities of UK plc over the past 12 months. Even back in the early Autumn it was becoming clear that any forthcoming reviews would be unlikely to heap paeans of praise for our efforts throughout the manufacturing and engineering industries, either on our worthy political masters or indeed on manufacturing management. The hard-pressed folk at the sharp end of British industry who are ultimately responsible for what is usually termed our 'wealth creation' have been getting an especially bad press of late. From the Department of Trade and Industry to the TUC, critics are placing the blame for the parlous state of the manufacturing sector not just at the boardroom door, but are wagging admonitory fingers at management as a whole. At the same time it has to be said that some of the great and the good who speak for UK industry have themselves been fiercely critical of Government policies, blaming everyone from the DTI to the Treasury for our industrial ills.
展开▼
