Integrating separate processes: English Steel Plate Mill

Abstract

In the English Steel reorganisation at the beginning of 1973, Dr Ron Vincent took over the responsibility for all production control activities in the Sheffield area. Vincent sets broad guidelines for the operations at each plant, fixes the sources of supply, and puts targets on stock turnover levels, delivery performance, and utilisation, while ‘line’ (equipment and running) responsibilities remain under individual plant managers. As Ron Vincent put it: ‘The plant managers have to keep output up regardless of what it is and the production controllers have to make sure that what comes out is the right stuff at the right time.’