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SUMMARY:Charles Babbage: Reclaiming an operations management pioneer - Pro
 fessor Michael Lewis\, Bath School of Management
DTSTART:20150409T163000Z
DTEND:20150409T173000Z
UID:TALK58837@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ella Davey
DESCRIPTION:Charles Babbage (1791–1871) was the embodiment of a polymath
 : elected a Royal Society fellow\, holder of the Lucasian Chair of mathema
 tics at Cambridge\, founder of the London Statistical Society\, author of 
 many papers and full-length monographs and\, most famously from a 21st cen
 tury perspective\, the architect of modern computing with his difference e
 ngines and designs for the analytical engine. The scale and complexity of 
 these machines meant their realisation was dependent upon the latest indus
 trial advances like parts standardization and machine tool technology. As 
 a result Babbage committed large amounts of his time and money to the theo
 retical and empirical study of advanced production and engineering practic
 e.\nThis paper argues that Charles Babbage deserves to be recognised as a 
 pioneer in the field of operations management. His path-breaking contribut
 ions were born of a singular intellect and degree of creativity combined w
 ith a commitment to empiricist scientific method and statistical measureme
 nt. Moreover\, he was working as Britain transformed itself into the most 
 highly industrialized country the world had ever seen. The paper draws in 
 particular upon the various editions of his best-selling book\, ‘On the 
 Economy of Machines and Manufactures’\, first published in 1832. It revi
 ews the many core operations principles evident in Babbage’s analyses an
 d highlights insights that remain relevant to today’s theoretical and pr
 actical concerns. The paper concludes with a discussion of how a combinati
 on of contextual and biographical factors left Charles Babbage a largely u
 nsung pioneer in the field of operations management.\n\n*Programme*\n17:00
  Welcome refreshments\n17:30 Lecture and questions\n18:30 Drinks and netwo
 rking\n19:00 Close\n
LOCATION:Institute for Manufacturing\, Alan Reece Building\, 17 Charles Ba
 bbage Road\, Cambridge CB3 0FS
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