Page 24 - Remembering ISTEL
P. 24
Remembering ISTEL
The system also allocates chassis serial numbers, records line stoppages and
maintains a vehicle history file for supporting online enquiries on hourly
achievement, plus various end of shift reports. Typical enquiries and reports
include:
How many of which derivatives have gone on to and off assembly for each track and
the numbers passed to Sales.
The number of vehicles off assembly which were 'okay first time'.
The production achievement analysed by paint colour, engine size. Etc.
The beginning of the electronic office
Instead of using a conventional
typewriter, the typist has a typical
television-type computer terminal
with a keyboard with certain
additional keys for manipulating text.
As typing is done it is displayed on the
screen of the terminal and at the same
time goes into a micro computer
system. The computer takes care of
margins and line endings — the typist
just types as though it is a single long
line of type.
Should an error be made, the typist
can simply go back to the error and
replace the word on the screen or
insert or delete a sentence or paragraph. The computer system 'shuffles' the
words and lines and paragraphs without the typist taking any further action.
Laying out tables and matrices is not made particularly a pleasure, but is made
very much easier.
Once the text is completed to the typist's satisfaction, a printed copy is then
produced automatically by the computer system and the text if required is
stored on a simple magnetic disc. Familiarity with the system takes only a
couple of days and once this has been accomplished major productivity gains
can be achieved.
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