Enhancing technology and skills in small and medium-sized manufacturing firms: problems and prospects

This paper discusses the results of, and issues arising from, an interdisciplinary study of technology management expertise in a sample of smalland medium-sized manufacturing establishments in South-west England. Many mature companies suffer from an unrecognised deficiency in high-level technological skills. Although examples of good practice are identified and enabling factors discussed, the stimuli to improvement both within, and external to, the firm are weak overall. Changes in the practices of SMEs themselves, and of external agencies, will be necessary to facilitate progress.