South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-15
MODERN METHODS
REPUBLIC QUALITY
Has Unique System of InSpeC-
ton in Great Plants Saving
Manufacturing Costs.

In the earlier stages OF motor
truck manufacturing it was not an
uncommon sight 10 see huge scrap
heaps at the various factories con-
tanning many and various parts In
an advanced stage Of construction.
Inspection methods. such as they
were in those days were so inef-
fcient that defective parts were
permitted 70 go from one depart
ment to another, only to have the
finished parts discarded in the final
stage such fragrant violations OF
all manufa curing ethics not only
inflated manufacturing costs, but
jeOpardized the standing OF the
maker and the reputation OF his
product.
The manufacture Of motor trucks
has. however been thoroughly revo-
lutionized in the past decade. And,
M pnily nowhere are the changed
methods more in evidence than in
the system OF inspections now IN
force at the plants or some OF the
/ industry's largest producers.
BY contrast with the inefficient
methods of the earlier days of the
/ truck industry, the system en-
ployed at the factories of the Re-
public Motor Truck Co. Inc, Alma,
Mich insures accuracy and saves
manufacturing costs by preventing
parts that foil TO measure up to
specifications from passing a single
. operation.
From the time the engineers
f drawings are made the Republic in
spection system is in force. Armed
with definite specifications from the
( engineers, inspectors are sent to
every source of supply, and nothing
I is accepted until approved by Re-
public inspectors at these sources.
I An error IN producing raw material,
/ for instance, is corrected before an
ounce OF that material is accepted
/ instead of later when the material
would have been paid for. and time.
| labor and machining spent upon
part only to have it discarded be-
cause Of faults which, should have
been prevented at the source.
The Republic inspectors next
tackle material as soon as IL reaches
the factories. A portion of each
batch OF raw steel stock Is taken
and put in the laboratories, where
/ the engineers specifications must be
met or the shipments turned back.
Production requirements are care
fully studied and vast quantities Of
the steel stock, sufficient to meet
all demands for a period OF five
weeks. are ordered With so great
/ "A supply always on hand there is
plenty of time for careful chemical
analysis by the Republic laboratory
/ experts.
By means of a novel stock room
/ arrangement a green man may in
| stantly select exactly the right
grade of steel to meet each manu-
/ featuring requirement. The steel
/ bar stock is carefully stored in huge
| bins. each bin painted a particular
color. The ends Of each piece Of
steel also bear the same color and
a chart hung in a conspicuous place,
acts as a guide with unfailing ac-
curacy. Opposite each spot OF
color on the chart IS a description
of the particular grade OF steel
stock that color stands for-just
what percentage of alloy, carboy.
etc. it contains. Such colors as red.
yellow, green, purple, blue and
white are employed, and. unless a
+ man is absolutely color blind, there
is no danger whatever OF a slip-up.