1. Evolving technical, economic and industrial context

1.1 The Thirty Glorious Years (1944-1974)

After the Second World War, France experienced historic growth. Everything had to be rebuilt, and the French were imbued with a new joie de vivre and a frenetic desire to consume, equip themselves and live better. With the support of the United States, France is experiencing an economic boom, with growth every year that would make today's economists swoon. Demand far outstrips supply, and in this context, the watchword for our industrial companies is productivity.

Manufacturers can be sure that every product they produce will find a buyer, and they realize that every minute wasted on a machine means lost sales. Consumers, on the other hand, are dependent on manufacturers and therefore cannot be particularly demanding...