Available online
Description
The programme attempts to show how the "Systems Approach" might be applied to a ship building yard. A series of questions are posed and the way in which one might begin to explore them is... indicated.
The programme attempts to show how the "Systems Approach" might be applied to a ship building yard. A series of questions are posed and the way in which one might begin to explore them is... indicated.
| Module code and title: | T241, Systems behaviour |
|---|---|
| Item code: | T241; 15 |
| First transmission date: | 02-09-1973 |
| Published: | 1973 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:22:57 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | David Nelson |
| Contributors: | Duncan Bain; Tony Benn; John Naughton; Jimmy Reid |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Clyde shipyards; Scott Lithgow yard; Shipbuilding industry; Systems management; Trades unions |
| Footage description: | John Naughton in dockyard. Several shots of yard operations. Naughton asks 'what is a systems approach' and discusses this in the context of the ships yard. Shots of large steel sheets being lifted and moved by an electrmagnetic crane. Shots of shot blasted and painied steel plates being manually 'marked up'. Shots of marked up steel plates being cut by a computer controlled machine. Shots of steel plates being welded together automatically. Shots of steel plates assembly being strengthened with further welds. These are positioned by hand. Shots of steel plates and ribs being pre-heated before welding. Shots of complex assemblies being welded manually. Commentary by Naughton tells why. Shots of assembled stern sections of a 250,000 ton tanker. Naughton begins discussion on setting up system parameters. (How does one distinguish between the system and the environment?) Shots of workers leaving the Scott-Lithgow yard at the end of their shift. Naughton discusses effect of outside influences such as availability of public transport on the system. Duncan Bain, shop steward, discusses the effect of shipbuilding at the Clyde on the local community environment. James Jack, Secretary of the Scottish TUC, discusses the effect of shipbuilding ( the monopoly industry) on the community's outlook in the West of Scotland. Aerial shot of Clyde Bank, A. Wedgewood-Benn, M.P., gives a national politicians view of the effect of ship-yard closure at the Clyde on the local community. Sir Iain Stewart, an industrialist, briefly discusses problems of the ship building industry in Britain. Naughton outside the Scott-Lithgow works. He defines the system parameters as the work's walls and explains why. Naughton points out three main components of the system now that the boundaries have been defined 1 . Workforce 2. Management. 3 Technology. Shot of the Scott-Lithgow ship-yard. Naughton explains why the technology component of the system is the easiest to examine. Robert Laverty, shop steward at Scott Lithgow explains what in his opinion is the objective of the worker component of the system. Sir Iain Stewart gives the objectives of the management component. Naughton points out the conflict of objectives between these components. Shots of the yard as he talks. Sir Iain Stewart discusses ways in which the conflict can be resolved. Jimmy Reid, a Clyde side shop steward, discusses working condidtions in ship-yards and how they may be improved. Robert Laverty discusses other areas of conflict over working conditions. He then goes on to to discuss some of the major changes in worker management relations which he would like to see. Jimmy Reid gives his opinion. An increased worker participation in management. Shots of Scott-Lithgrow ship-yard. Naughton sums up the programme. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/71158 |
| Production number: | 00525_5025 |
| Videofinder number: | 2712 |
| Available to public: | no |
