These centers were modeled on the successful 

 productivity centers established in Europe during the 

 Marshall Plan years and were designed to help 

 developing countries increase productivity by applying 

 well-known technologies and management practices. 

 Programs included visits by teams of U.S. experts, 

 sponsored visits to the United States and to third 

 countries of industrial engineers and other managers to 

 observe U.S. industrial techniques, symposia at which 

 techniques for increasing productivity were presented 

 and discussed, consulting on individual plant 

 production problems, and other related activities. We 

 propose that the United states first identify the most 

 useful programs of productivity centers and then revive 

 support for them. 



The successful program of the U.S. Bureau of 

 Standards might be used to complement and support work 

 with productivity centers. This program is aimed at 

 strengthening industrial standards and quality control 

 and is carried out in developing countries and at the 

 Bureau's own facilities in Washington, D.C. and 

 Boulder, Colorado. 



Initiative 4. Support Establishment of Centers 



for Small Industry and Rural Development 

 in Developing Countries 



The development of small-scale industry is 

 important to the economic growth of developing 

 countries. Here support is suggested for a mechanism 

 that would provide technical and management assistance 

 to small enterprises in those countries. 



We propose that assistance be provided, on request, 

 for strengthening or establishing "centers for small 

 industry development," with extension services, in 

 developing countries. These centers would comprise a 

 network of small field offices and a central management 

 center, analogous to the U.S. Agricultural Extension 

 Service. Centers would provide technical and 

 management consulting services, as well as bookkeeping, 

 accounting, and other services necessary for the 

 viability of small enterprises. Also, they could help 

 business enterprises by mounting engineering clinics, 

 workshops, seminars, continuing education programs, and 

 short refresher courses. Many of these services would 

 probably need to be subsidized. 



The central management center could be affiliated 

 with and located at an educational or other appropriate 

 institution, preferably an engineering school or 

 research and development center that has engineering, 

 marketing, accounting, and management know-how as well 

 as technical information and data useful to small 



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