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The overall purpose of this paper is to determine to what extent organizational citizenship behaviors predict followership behaviors within medical organizations in the USA. This is the first part of a two-part article. Part 1 will refine an existing followership instrument. Part 2 will explore the relationship between followership and organizational citizenship.

Part 1 of this survey-based empirical study used confirmatory factor analysis on an existing instrument followed by exploratory factor analysis on the revised instrument. Part 2 used regression analysis to explore to what extent organizational citizenship behaviors predict followership behaviors.

The findings of this two-part paper show that organizational citizenship has a significant impact on followership behaviors. Part 1 found that making changes to the followership instrument provides an improved instrument.

Participants in this study work exclusively in the health-care industry; future research should expand to other large organizations that have many followers with few managerial leaders.

As organizational citizenship can be developed, if there is a relationship between organizational citizenship and followership, organizations can provide professional development opportunities for individual followers. Managers and other leaders can learn how to develop organizational citizenship behaviors and thus followership in several ways: onboarding, coaching, mentoring and career development.

In Part 1, the paper contributes an improved measurement for followership. Part 2 demonstrates the impact that organizational citizenship behavior can play in developing high performing followers.

Foundries have made massive investments in computerized casting systems. Suggests that Cosworth Castings, Worcester, and VAW West Yorkshire Foundry, Leeds, are setting new standards in foundry automation.

Presents a case study of Oilgear Towler, supplier of one of the most sophisticated electro‐hydraulic control systems for a Eumuco Hasenclever radial forging machine. One of the key elements of the system is the control of two synchronized manipulators and four forging rams.

Demonstrates the advanced state of automation in the footwear industry by reporting on the working operations of two companies, Totectors in Rushden, Northamptonshire, and Eccolet Sko, the Danish shoemaker.

British toolmakers are not renowned for their investment in advanced manufacturing technology. In spite of this mould and die maker, Fletcher & Hamilton has taken the ultimate step and installed the first robotic EDM cell in the UK at its Cheltenham plant. This new facility was introduced following a BIMBO that has transformed the company into a profitable operation specialising in the manufacture of moulding tools for the caps/enclosures, medical and pharmaceutical industries. The philosophy surrounding this transformation is described together with the set‐up and operation of the EDM cell.

Describes the background and development of a battery powered domestic robot vacuum cleaner. Major problems that have been solved are having the ability to clean a whole room without human intervention, and cleaning as well as a mains‐powered manual cleaner. A total of 50 on‐board sensors enable the robot to detect obstacles and plan cleaning strategies.

At its Deeside plant in North Wales, Pilkington Micronics produces 0.4‐4mm glass panels for use in LCD and emissive displays for watches, calculators and laptop computers. The material for these panels is cut to size, ground and packed at Deeside. Describes the automation of the packing operations on three purpose‐built machines designed and developed by the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Institute (AMTRI). It was found that dedicated two‐axis electric drive gantry loaders most efficiently perform the process of stacking the glass sheets interleaved with special non‐contaminating paper. AMTRI was able to use experience with the first machine, which uses three gantries, to simplify the design of the second and third machines that use just one gantry each. The result is easier, with faster set‐ups, while maintaining the capability to meet the maximum cycle time set by Pilkington Micronics.

Examines the challenges facing the shipbuilding industry today and details the solution offered by a consortium of three German companies. It is based on the prefabrication of sub‐assemblies on production lines in which automation is critical to the economics. Describes welding robots playing a key role in this approach and the robot systems supplied to one German shipbuilder. Also important to cost effectiveness is a new high speed welding process that uses two wires in the weld torch, enabling productivity to be at least doubled. Another necessity is an off‐line programming and simulation system, specifically developed for the shipbuilding industry, that is typified by one‐off and low volume manufacture.

An outline of the current activities in the Rapid Manufacturing (RM) Group at Loughborough University, one of the new Innovation Research Centres funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC). A description is given of the facilities available for research and some of the projects underway – laminated tools for die casting, laser fusion of functionally‐graded materials, and design for RM. Another activity is the industrial Consortium that helps its members in the application of RM technologies. Three Consortium projects are described: deep slot tooling production using copper plated rapid prototype (RP) produced electrodes, cost reduction through RP‐produced patterns for investment casting, and production of thin walled investment cast components with RP‐built low thermal conductivity tooling.

Motoman Europe has opened new facilities at its UK operation in Banbury. During the ceremony news was given of the company’s market share in both the UK and all of Europe. Details were also released of technical developments including synchronous multi‐robot control, large gantry systems, off‐the‐shelf welding packages, a new torch for fast welding of aluminium and press brake tending software. A partnership in warehousing automation was announced with details on recent UK applications, including one at Premier International Foods blending Typhoo Tea. Soon Motoman will be able to supply robot painting systems in Europe following the acquisition of a painting robot manufacturer in Japan.