Walter Rautenstrauch (1880–1951) was an American mechanical and consulting engineer, and Professor at Columbia University's Department of Industrial Engineering in the 1930s. He coined the term

break-even point The break-even point (BEP) in economics, business—and specifically cost accounting—is the point at which total cost and total revenue are equal, i.e. "even". There is no net loss or gain, and one has "broken even", though opportunity costs ...

, and developing the break-even chart together with Charles Edward Knoeppel. Rautenstrauch was instrumental in the creation of Columbia University's Department of Industrial Engineering, which is said to be the first such department in the United States. One of his most important students and colleagues was

Seymour Melman Seymour Melman (December 30, 1917 – December 16, 2004) was an American professor emeritus of industrial engineering and operations research at Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. He wrote extensively f ...

,Chris Smith (1984)
Design Engineers and the Capitalist Firm
University of Aston, p 40. who went on to be a professor in this department. Rautenstrauch, together with

Howard Scott Howard Scott (April 1, 1890 – January 1, 1970) was an American engineer and founder of the Technocracy movement. He formed the Technical Alliance and Technocracy Incorporated. Early life Little is known about Scott's background or his early ...

, formed the Committee on

Technocracy Technocracy is a form of government in which the decision-maker or makers are selected based on their expertise in a given area of responsibility, particularly with regard to scientific or technical knowledge. This system explicitly contrasts wi ...

in 1932, which advocated a more rational and productive society headed by technical experts. However, Rautenstrauch and Scott soon found they held very different views. Scott advocated for complete control of society and the government by Engineers. Rautenstrauch was more moderate, wishing for Engineers to only be in charge of industrial and economic decisions and the government to maintain some level of democracy. Rautenstrauch also stressed the need for human and moral values. In 1933 the Committee disbanded, largely because of different views held by the two men.Beverly H. Burris (1993)
Technocracy at work
State University of New York Press, pp. 28-30. Partially due to his involvement in Technocracy (despite his break up with the increasingly erratic Scott) and partially due to his other political views, Rautenstrauch gained animosity from more conservative staff members at Columbia up to his retirement in 1943. Despite this, he was remembered by most students as a "caring and insightful teacher". Rautenstrauch remained active even after his retirement. He helped raise funds for refugees during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. He actively defended

Edward Condon Edward Uhler Condon (March 2, 1902 – March 26, 1974) was an American nuclear physicist, a pioneer in quantum mechanics, and a participant during World War II in the development of radar and, very briefly, of nuclear weapons as part of the ...

after the Condon was investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Rautenstrauch also worked for the

Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to: Active parties * Progressive Party, Brazil * Progressive Party (Chile) * Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus * Dominica Progressive Party * Progressive Party (Iceland) * Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...

in the 1948 Presidential Election. He contributed to scientific journals and authored books on engineering up until his death. He died at the

Lenox Hill Hospital Lenox Hill Hospital (LHH) is a nationally ranked 450-bed non-profit, tertiary, research and academic medical center located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, servicing the tri-state area. LHH is one of the region's many unive ...

on January 3, 1951. He was 70 years old.Rautenstrauch of Columbia Dies
(January 5th, 1951)

References

External links

*
Walter Rautenstrauch papers
at columbia.edu. {{DEFAULTSORT:Rautenstrauch, Walter 1880 births 1951 deaths American mechanical engineers American business theorists Columbia University faculty Technocracy movement People from Sedalia, Missouri