Adlib Internet Server 5

Title
Collection of manuals illustrating online management of factories and retail businesses
Reference
MS/2184
Production date
1975 - 1977

Creator

International Computers Limited Biography Biography
International Computers Ltd (ICL) was a British company formed in 1968 as a part of the Industrial Expansion Act of the Wilson Labour Government. ICL was an initiative of Tony Benn, the Minister of Technology, to create a British computer industry that could compete with major world manufacturers like IBM. English Electric Leo Marconi (EELM) was merged with the computer interests of Elliott Automation which was then taken over by International Computers and Tabulators (ICT) to form International Computers Limited (ICL). Plessey Co and English Electric each owned 18% of the equity of ICL, with 53.5% in the hands of former shareholders of ICT and the remaining 10.5% held by the government. ICL represented the last step in a series of mergers that had taken place in the industry since the late 1950s. ICL tended to rely on large contracts from the UK public sector. Significant customers included Post Office Ltd., the Inland Revenue, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Defence. The company had various buildings at Bracknell (its main one being at Lovelace Road in the town); it also had numerous locations throughout the UK and worldwide. Manufacturing took place in Letchworth (Hertfordshire), Manchester and the Midlands (including Kidsgrove). It is thought that there were over 100 ICL locations in the UK alone with many more overseas. Fujitsu's involvement with ICL steadily increased; in 1990 Fujitsu acquired 80% of ICL plc from STC. Following the acquisition of Nokia Data in 1991, personal computers and servers were marketed under the ICL brand. Eventually in 2002, Fujitsu acquired full ownership of ICL and subsequently fully integrated it, dropping the ICL brand.

Scope and Content
The manuals were sold to customers to illustrate how they might make use of up-to-date techniques for online management of factories and retail businesses. They represent a departure from the standard ICL practice of developing software purely internally, with its inherent risk that it may not become widely used, towards an approach of market research and consultation with their existing and potential clients. The manuals preceded ICL’s investment in OMAC/OMAC29, which provided computer systems that implemented this approach. They were constructed to encourage customer feedback and collect data about customer needs and requirements. The manuals are divided into two sets, the details for which are as follows: 1. The 'Manufacturing Industry' guides comprise 7 volumes: • Preview – 12 pages – Publication 5121 – dated October 1975 • Management Overview – 78 pages – Publication 5120 – dated July 1975 • Product Data Control – 68 pages – Publication 5123 – dated October 1975 • Material Control – 111 pages – Publication 5124 – dated October 1975 • Factory Control – 88 pages – Publication 5125 – dated October 1975 • Implementation Guide – 64 pages – Publication 5126 – dated July 1975 • Sales Order Control – 53 pages – Publication 5127 – dated October 1975 2. The 'Retail and Distributive Trades' guides comprise 4 volumes: • Overview – 75 pages – Publication 5128 – dated December 1977 • Physical Distribution Management – 138 pages – Publication 5129 – dated December 1977 • Retailing – 111 pages – Publication 5130 – dated December 1977 • Implementation – 79 pages – Publication 5131 – dated December 1977
Extent
11 volumes
Language
English
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
Science Museum, London
Conditions governing access
Open Access
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions