Austrian Productivity and Efficiency Center

The Austrian Productivity and Efficiency Centre (ÖPWZ) is a non-profit adult education institution headquartered in Vienna, Austria. It was founded in 1950 by government resolution, initially named the Austrian Productivity Centre (ÖPZ), and is one of Austria's earliest social partnership institutions. Its founding members included the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, the Austrian Workers' Association, the Federation of Austrian Industrialists, the Austrian Trade Union Federation, and the Conference of Presidents of Austrian Agricultural Chambers. The institution was established using Marshall Plan funds, following talks in 1949/1950 between the representative of the U.S. Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA) in Austria and the Austrian federal government. Its initial mission was to promote productivity in the Austrian economy through public relations, information gathering, publications, study tours, in-house activities, seminars, and conferences, including training REFA engineers. In its early years, ÖPZ operated the Economic and Technical Information Service (WTI), translating American magazines and reports, screening technical educational films throughout Austria, and presenting industrial products then unknown in Austria. In 1951, it launched a film service with 130 films covering work and production methods, mechanization, automation, transport, and accident prevention, as well as documentary and cultural films. Media and cultural theorist Ramón Reichert analyzed these films as tools to convey the goals of the Marshall Plan, disseminate ideas of the American capitalist economic and social system, and promote productivity growth. In the same year, a nationwide distribution network was established with screening points at all social partnership educational institutions. Over the decades, ÖPZ expanded into seminars, courses, and academies, making education and training a core focus. In 1973, it merged with the Austrian Economic Efficiency Committee (ÖKW) to form the Austrian Centre for Efficiency and Productivity, and its membership was broadened to include the Association of Certified Public Accountants. In 1979, the institution was renamed the Austrian Productivity and Efficiency Centre, matching its abbreviation ÖPWZ. From 1999 to 2009, together with the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, it awarded the National Marketing Prize to recognize innovative strategic marketing concepts. ÖPWZ has been a non-profit association since its founding and is funded through its market success.

The Österreichisches Produktivitäts- und Wirtschaftlichkeits-Zentrum (ÖPWZ) was founded in 1950 by government decision as the Österreichisches Produktivitäts-Zentrum (ÖPZ), making it one of Austria's first social-partnership institutions. Its founding members were the Bundeskammer der gewerblichen Wirtschaft, the Österreichischer Arbeiterkammertag, the Vereinigung Österreichischer Industrieller, the Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund, and the Präsidentenkonferenz der Landwirtschaftskammern Österreichs. The establishment was funded by the Marshall Plan and resulted from discussions between representatives of the US Economic Cooperation Administration (ECA) mission in Austria and the Austrian federal government in 1949/1950. The goal was to direct material, intellectual, and moral forces toward increasing the productivity of the Austrian economy. Public relations and promotion of "productivity" were central, including information gathering, publications, study trips, in-house actions, seminars, and congresses. A core element was the training of REFA engineers. The ÖPZ operated a Wirtschaftlich-technischer Informationsdienst (WTI) to provide companies with information to spread modern know-how and increase productivity. American magazines and reports were translated, technical educational films were shown throughout Austria, and industrial products still unknown in the country were demonstrated. The information service became an important node in the network of international and national information services. In 1951 the ÖPZ launched its film service with 130 films showing work and production methods from various sectors of industry, trade, and commerce, as well as mechanization, automation, transport, and accident prevention, along with documentary and cultural films. According to media and cultural theorist Ramón Reichert, who analyzed the ÖPZ films, they were intended to bring the goals of the Marshall Plan closer to the population, convey the idea of the US capitalist economic and social system as broadly as possible, and contribute to increasing productivity. In the same year, a nationwide distribution network with projector locations in all social-partnership educational institutions was established. In the post-war period, the ÖPZ held productivity congresses that for the first time in Austria addressed questions of modern corporate management from the perspective of international research and practice. One congress, under the motto "Das Unternehmen im größeren Markt" (The Company in the Larger Market), featured speakers from all over Europe and was opened by Federal Chancellor Josef Klaus. The ÖPZ began offering seminars, courses, and academies, and education and training developed into a focus of its activities. In 1973 the ÖPZ merged with the Österreichisches Kuratorium für Wirtschaftlichkeit (ÖKW) to form the Österreichisches Zentrum für Wirtschaftlichkeit und Produktivität. The circle of association members expanded to include the Kammer der Wirtschaftstreuhänder. In 1979 the institute was renamed Österreichisches Produktivitäts- und Wirtschaftlichkeits-Zentrum, corresponding to the abbreviation ÖPWZ. From 1999 to 2009, together with the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend, it awarded the Staatspreis Marketing for innovative strategic marketing concepts of companies and organizations. The ÖPWZ has been a non-profit association since its founding, and its financing comes from its market success.

• 1999

  Began awarding Staatspreis Marketing together with the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend (until 2009).

• 1979

  Renamed Österreichisches Produktivitäts- und Wirtschaftlichkeits-Zentrum (ÖPWZ).

• 1973

  Merged with Österreichisches Kuratorium für Wirtschaftlichkeit (ÖKW) to form Österreichisches Zentrum für Wirtschaftlichkeit und Produktivität.

• 1951

  Launched film service with 130 films and established nationwide distribution network.

• 1950

  Founded as Österreichisches Produktivitäts-Zentrum (ÖPZ) by government decision with Marshall Plan funds.

Non-profit social-partnership institute for vocational adult education and productivity promotion in Austria.

• REFA engineer training

• Seminars and courses

• Academies

• Productivity congresses

• Wirtschaftlich-technischer Informationsdienst (WTI)

• Film service

1. 1Österreichisches Produktivitäts- und Wirtschaftlichkeits-Zentrumde.wikipedia.org
2. 2Österreichisches Produktivitäts- und Wirtschaftlichkeits-Zentrumwikidata.org