Production Conference

(permanent or standing production conference, PDPS), in the USSR, one of the forms of socialist democracy and public control and a means of actually involving the working masses in industrial management. The production conferences have been functioning since 1958. The current Statute on the PDPS was approved by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions on June 18, 1973.

Production conferences are organized at industrial and transportation enterprises (production associations or combines) with at least 300 employees, as well as at organizations and structural subdivisions (shops, departments, laboratories) of that size in construction, scientific research, design, and planning. In agriculture, communications, trade, and consumer services, production conferences are organized in enterprises and subdivisions with at least 100 employees. The size of the membership of a production conference is determined at the general meeting (conference) of production workers and office employees. The production conference is made up of production workers and office employees; representatives of the party, trade union, and Komsomol committees (bureaus); and representatives of the councils of the science and technology society and the society of inventors and rationalizers. The production conferences are elected for the same term as the trade union committees, under whose leadership they function. They are convened whenever necessary and at least on a quarterly basis.

The production conference directs efforts aimed at successfully fulfilling the targets of the state plan, developing socialist emulation, making full use of internal production reserves, and achieving the greatest possible increase in labor productivity. Moreover, the production conference promotes the acceleration of scientific and technological progress and participates in the elaboration and discussion of the drafts of current and long-range plans for the social development of the collective, for organizational and technological measures, for the introduction of new technology, and for the mechanization and automation of production. The production conference takes part in carrying out measures aimed at protecting socialist property and eliminating substandard products, work stoppages, and uneven production work.

The production conference considers questions regarding the use of economic incentive funds and reviews plans for the construction of industrial installations, housing, and cultural and service facilities. It also proposes improvements in managerial methods at the enterprise or organization. The production conference has the right to hear reports by the top executives of the enterprise, organization, or structural subdivisions on the results of their financial and economic activities and on the execution of decisions approved by the conference.