One industry: two different technology management systems

Abstract

The chemical industry exists in two forms: batch processing and continuous processing, which have different management systems related to their different technologies. Each system is well known to those who work in each but not across the boundary between them, and not known in the literature. Having worked in both forms, this author is able to see those differences. This paper outlines the differences, explains why they occur and sets out the hypothesis why each is appropriate to the individual form of the industry. The hypothesis from this is that the form of the technology determines the appropriate management system.