Biography
Liversedge came into prominence with the publication of "Engineering Estimates, Costs and Accounts." in 1889, which he wrote under the pseudonym "A general manager." Late 19th century he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He became editor of "The Engineering Supplement" of the '' Daily Mail'' Overseas Edition, and made contributions to the ''Work
''Engineering Estimates, Costs and Accounts,'' 1889
Liversedge came into prominence with the publication of "Engineering Estimates, Costs and Accounts." in 1889, which he wrote under the pseudonym "A general manager." This work was published in at least 3 editions, and was first published as a series of articles in the ''Mechanical Engineering'' magazine.This work is intended primarily as an aid to persons called upon to make estimates of costs of manufacture. There are some parts of the work that contain matter of considerable suggestive value to those having to do with running cost accounts. Several chapters are devoted to a discussion of methods of rapidly estimating quantities of material and time required for labor. A chapter on indirect expenses and their departmental distribution, although short, contains sound principles which may be applied to advantage in a further expansion of this important phase of manufacturing accounts.More recently when discussing his second book "Commercial Engineering" published in 1912
A great number of specific examples of estimates follow, covering almost every class ofmachine-shop A machine shop or engineering workshop (UK) is a room, building, or company where machining, a form of subtractive manufacturing, is done. In a machine shop, machinists use machine tools and cutting tools to make parts, usually of metal or plast ...and millwright work. The last chapter is devoted to costs' bookkeeping. Here again the best part of the discussion is that having to do with indirect expenses. A criticism, of the methods described would be that there are too many bound volumes, many of which would be better replaced by loose-leaf or card systems. Again, dependence is made upon the workmen themselves for entries of labor, and upon records of storeroom boys as to material consumed, without any check as to the correctness of such draft at the time of issuing stores. The value of the book is in its discussion of the process and methods of estimating rather than in any contribution to the science of cost-keeping.
Reception
Wells (1977) noted, that "although they covered the same subject matter, the books of Garcke andDuring the 1914–18 war, accelerated expansion of production methods caused a new branch of engineering to emerge — production engineering. This was based on the theory and techniques contributed by the work of F. B. Gilbreth andAccording to Urwick &F. W. Taylor 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. In 1909, Taylor summed up hi ...in the U.S.A., J. Slater Lewis and A. J. Liversedge in England, andHenri Fayol Henri Fayol (29 July 1841 – 19 November 1925) was a French mining engineer, mining executive, author and director of mines who developed a general theory of business administration that is often called Fayolism.Morgen Witzel (2003). ''Fifty key ...in France. At the end of 1920, H. E. Horner wrote to 'Engineering Production' proposing an organization for engineers specializing in manufacturing processes. Correspondence developed, interest led to a plan, and the 'Institution of Production Engineers' was inaugurated in February 1921...
In the two decades prior to World War I, a number of British writers and consultants had begun to address the problems of management in the modern world. Although they were aware of similar developments in America, where scientific management was becoming the latest business fashion, these writers sought to develop distinctly British approaches to management. Writers such as the engineersJoseph Slater Lewis Joseph Slater Lewis MICE FRSE (4 June 1852 – 27 July 1901) was a British engineer, inventor, business manager, and early author on management and accounting, known for his pioneering work on cost accounting.Chatfield (2014, p. 379). Biography ..., A.J. Liversedge and F.G. Burton, the consultants Edward Elbourne and J.W. Stannard, and the accountant Lawrence Dicksee laid stress on the need for a methodical approach to business management, the need to be inclusive and to motivate workers to see the company's goals as their own, and above all the need for more and better training for would-be managers... heir work showsthe directions in which British management thinking might have gone had not World War I and the subsequent "Americanization" of British industry intervened. Today, they remain an important example of an alternative way of thinking about and practising management, and demonstrate the plurality and diversity of management thought... Edward F.L. Brech (2003) ''British Management Writings Before the First World War''
Selected publications
* 1889. ''Engineering Estimates, Costs and Accounts'' by A general manager (A.J. Liversedge). Crosby, Lockwood & Sons. 2nd ed. 1890; 3rd ed. 1896. * 1904. ''Memorandum on the Utilisation of Tidal Power in the Estuary of the Severn'' * 1912. ''Commercial Engineering. By "A general manager"'' (A. J. Liversedge). ;Articles, a selection: * Liversedge, A. J. "The Nile dam at Assouan," in: ''Cassier's Magazine: An Engineering Monthly,'' Vol, 21. 1902. p. 139-146 * Liversedge, A. J. "Training of Engineering Foremen and Works Managers." London, 1916. in: ''Mechanical World,'' Vol. 59, pp. 208, 250–251, 276, 317–318 ; Vol. 60, pp. 44, 68–69, 140–141, 160.References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Liversedge, Alfred John 1854 births 1934 deaths English civil engineers British business theorists Engineers from Yorkshire People from Huddersfield