Father of industrial engineering: Who is Frederick Winslow Taylor?
Although Taylor was a mechanical engineer, he is considered the father of industrial engineering by many engineers. Known as the first person to work systematically in the field of productivity, Taylor is also the father of Business Management.
Frederick Winslow Taylor was an engineer and management expert who was born in 1856 and died in 1915. Taylor, whose main profession is mechanical engineering, also holds the title of Industrial Management Specialist. Known as the first person to work systematically in the field of productivity, Taylor is also the father of Business Management. The origins of Taylor's work are based on industrial engineering principles.
Frederick Winslow Taylor (March 20, 1856 – March 21, 1915) was an American mechanical engineer. He was widely known for his methods to improve industrial efficiency. He was one of the first management consultants. As a result, scientific management is sometimes referred to as Taylorism.
Taylor was born on March 20, 1856, in Pennsylvania. He received education in France and Germany between 1869-1870. After his education, he went on a trip that would last one and a half years and included the countries of Italy, Switzerland, Norway, England, France, Germany, and Austria. Due to his health problems, he ended his education in different branches and started his apprenticeship as a machinist in 1874. However, during the same period, he was taking night training to become an engineer. He started working as an employee at Midvale Steel Company in 1878 and managed to become chief engineer within six years. In 1883, he received his engineering degree.
Taylor's work on many industrial efficiency studies at the company he worked for, and his design of systems and the entire factory, contributed a lot to him and the company. During this period, the steam processing machine he produced was the largest steam processing machine in the United States at the time. In 1890, Taylor also patented this machine.
Taylor became general manager of the Manufacturing Investment Corporation in 1890. Taylor, who worked in various jobs at the company until 1893, began to introduce his management system to various institutions after his contract ended. During Taylor's time at Bethlehem Steel Company, the modern Taylor-White high-speed tool machining method was introduced. Taylor's book called "The Art of Metal Cutting" consists of experiments that reveal this method.
At the Paris Fair in 1900, Taylor was awarded a gold medal for this invention. In addition, he was awarded the "Elliot Gresson Gold Medal" by the Franklin Institute.
Starting from 1901, Taylor devoted the rest of his life to the cause of "Scientific Management". He paid the expenses of the people who learned the practical application parts of the "Principles of Scientific Management" in the machine shop. In this context, he wrote books and gave lectures. By 1907, Admiral Goodrich asked Taylor for his suggestions and assistance for use in the New York shipyard. When Taylor's work was found to be very successful, these methods were applied in all units of the American Navy. Taylor had done his work without asking for compensation.
Taylor's fame peaked with his book titled "Shop Management". In order to improve the management mechanisms of factories, the need for some disciplines to be established and the importance of constant cooperation of employees were emphasized. Taylor also shaped the future with his Method Study and Time Study. In explaining his doctrines, Taylor, who had very sharp lines on the subject, dabbled in terms such as “tempo adjustments” and “method adjustments” related to management skills and production efficiencies. In this context, his work of teaching the concept of the system and integrating some practices into the processes was frequently objected to by the workers and caused strikes for a period. The strike at Arsenal in 1912 resulted in a congressional investigation.
Taylor embraced the idea that productive workers should earn more, and was seen as an enemy by the bosses who employed workers using classical methods. He believed that he could increase the productivity of workers in this way. Although Taylor was a mechanical engineer, he is considered the father of industrial engineering by many engineers. He died in Philadelphia on March 21, 1915.
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Frederick Winslow Taylor: Hero of Scientific Management
https://www.qad.com/blog/2018/04/frederick-winslow-taylor-scientific-management