The aim of this study is to carry out a fairly overall empirical analysis of the conditions of production in an industry. The aim of the empirical analysis is, however, not only to give information about empirical conditions, such as technical development, efficiency of production, etc, but also to illustrate the theoretical and methodological problems in the economic theory of production.The engineering analysis makes the foundation from which economic production functions are constructed. As the study focuses on Leif Johansen!s production model, four different types of functions are constructed: ex ante and ex post micro functions and long run and short run macro functions. A study of structural changes and technical development in the periods 1960-1975 and 1850-1975 then follows. For the first period a study of productive efficiency is also made.A discussion of theoretical problems is integrated with the empirical analysis, Two big problems in production theory are, however, dealt with separately, namely the theory of engineering production analysis and the aggregation of micro production functions.It is difficult to state a specitic conclusion with just a few words. The study consists of so many minor observations and results, that it is difficult to lift out any separate. A negative general conclusion can perhaps be said to be that great scepticism should be shown the empirical value of ordinary production function estimates. On the other hand, the positive conclusion can be said to be the fact that the dissertation shows the value of having an engineering approach in empirical studies of production. / digitalisering@umu