10-5», #4632)
The divisional policy had divided TAE Inc. along product
lines and was inevitable that the engineering services
provided the laboratory should follow suit. The essence his job was focus the services of
the lab onto his specific product; was able use all the
service departments the lab— toolmaking, drafting,
testing— his work. (Illus.X-27
responsible for scouting out new musical talent, purchasing
music, and making the listings Edison records. The product engineer was member the
laboratory staff and was supervised the chief engineer. Engineers with specialized knowledge
of business were hired and permanently allotted product,
such Newman Holland with the business phonograph. memo 1917 classified the duties the product
engineer experimental, development, manufacture, and sales.
The emphasis first, however, was the latter two
categories, and the engineer's duty "to keep your product one
42
jump ahead the sales requirements" was stressed. the years
before the divisional policy, the lab had begun organize
engineering services around each product; the lab's work was
becoming product specific.
.
He was expected remain close contact with the
manufacturing and sales departments his product, and
initially this was the rationale behind the creation the
job. The
product engineer was specialist who devoted his time a
single product, such the disc phonograph the motion
picture
