Catalogue description Department of Industry and Department of Trade and Industry: Warren Spring Laboratory, MAPCON Unit: Registered Files (MAP/CLI Series)

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Details of FV 10
Reference: FV 10
Title: Department of Industry and Department of Trade and Industry: Warren Spring Laboratory, MAPCON Unit: Registered Files (MAP/CLI Series)
Description:

This series contains files of the Microelectronics Application Project Consultants (MAPCON) Unit of Warren Spring Laboratory, part of its Control Engineering Division (subsequently its Control Engineering/Computer Services Division). They were generated as a result of a scheme to encourage the use of microelectronics by manufacturing companies, and relate to individual firms applying to act as consultants or receive reimbursement of consultancy costs under the scheme.
Date: 1978-1986
Arrangement:

A typical later MAP/CLI file would contain:-

  • some literature about the company, for example sales leaflets
  • an application form completed by the company
  • a proposal form from the consultant for the feasibility study
  • letter(s) in answer to the application
  • a feasibility study report by the consultant
  • a summary form completed by the company giving the conclusions of the study, what use was intended to be made of them, and comments on the performance of the consultant
  • the consultant's invoice
  • a MAPCON assessment form of the consultant's report
  • a receipt from the company for re-imbursement by MAPCON of the consultant's fee
  • MAPCON checklist pro formas, including information on what type of manufacture and application was involved and a profile of the company.

Files from the earlier years of the scheme do not share this systematised format or have the complete range of material listed above.
Related material:

For the registered files from the Warren Spring Laboratory, see AY 28
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department: MAP/CLI file series
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Creator:

Department of Industry, Warren Spring Laboratory, Control Engineering Division, 1978-1983

Department of Trade and Industry, Warren Spring Laboratory, 1983-1994
Physical description: 21 file(s)
Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure
Selection and destruction information: Files have been selected for preservation illustrating:- various applications in different sectors of industrywork by different consultantsthe varying level of detail and complexity of the solutions offered. They have also been taken from different years of the scheme, though with rather more from the earlier formative years.
Administrative / biographical background:

The Microelectronics Application Project (MAP) scheme was launched in response to the Department of Industry's (DoI) concern that the UK's manufacturing industries, outside the electronics industry, were unaware of the potential benefits of microelectronic technology.

The project consisted of:-

  • measures to increase industrial awareness of the technology, including training and practical demonstrations
  • the MAPCON scheme
  • financial support for actual projects involving the application of microprocessors

The Electronics Applications Division of the DoI had overall responsibility for the management of MAP, and in this connection liaised with Warren Spring Laboratory (WSL) on consultancy as well as on regional and sectoral initiatives.

The Microelectronics Application Project Consultants (MAPCON) scheme started in 1978. A MAPCON Unit (or team), within the Control Engineering Division (subsequently the Control Engineering/Computer Services Division) of WSL were responsible for it.

MAPCON provided grants to UK based manufacturing companies who wished to undertake feasibility studies administered by professional consultants on the application of microelectronics in their products or production processes. The team within the WSL, which arranged for publicity for the scheme, received applications connected with it. These were both from consultants, wishing to be included in the MAP list of authorised consultants, and from businesses, wishing to qualify for re-imbursement of consultancy costs. The team assessed both of these, and the consultants' reports (where a feasibility study was proceeded with). They also maintained the list of consultants and monitored their performance.

Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacture (CADCAM) consultancy scheme established in 1982, operated on similar lines to MAPCON. CADCAM was run by WSL on behalf of the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Division of the DoI, who's aim was to make companies aware of the potential benefits of computer aided design and manufacture. This scheme was primarily aimed at the mechanical and electrical manufacturing industries in the UK and their direct support operators.

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