Development of Engineering Technology

Abstract

The eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were times of great achievement for British engineering. The important contribution made by Britain during this period is shown in figure 1.1. This good start enabled us to export the ideas and products of the Industrial Revolution to the rest of the world. During the latter part of the Victorian period we became complacent and our position was being challenged by the United States and Germany. The twentieth century has seen a decline in our share of world trade in manufactured goods and the productivity of our manufacturing industries has fallen below that of our major competitors. British inventive genius still thrives but sections of our industry are badly managed and suffer from outdated trade union attitudes.