Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
AUTO ECONOMY DUE
|. TO CONSIDERATIONS
Production Officials Hold
National Session of
S. A. E.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT, October 1O.-Advanced
conservation methods that make pos
sible economy as we'll as speed in build
ing automobiles were revealed here this
week. when production officials of the
plants held a national session of the
Society of Automotive Engineers, at
which they compared notes.
AS an instance of speed, It was
shown that carload Of frames, shipped
from Milwaukee on Thursday after
noon, reached a Pontiac, Mich, plant
the next morning. and left the as
senbly line in finished cars the same
afternoon. From the assembly line,
the cars were loaded on freight train,
which hauled them to Milwaukee the
same night. BY Saturday afternoon the
new cars were delivered to purchasers.
Possible without Haste.
This was possible. it was made plain,
without undue haste or any lack Of
care in established factory routine, such
is the modern precision which factory
methods have attained in comparison
with those of 10 years ago.
The advancement has come through
scientific study by which stocks are
now kept to a minimum. Formerly 1t
was LAOuBAlN hCNCSo1Ay W pAdNN OlRCA6
for materials far In advance of factory
needs to be certain of a supply.
Back in 1920, which, it will be re-
membered, was slump period. pro-
viding ample stock to guard against lack
of material was the aim of manufac-
turers. But 1921, with its losses from
forced economic adjustment, brought
the beginning OF a change. Where
once the supply of material was suffi-
cient for three months ahead, this Pc
Rod has been shortened to as little as
three days.
In one corporation. each division
submits monthly forecast based on
10-dav reports of stocks and reports of
actual and estimated sales from the
distribution end. This forecast, COW
ering the current and three forward
months, estimates the number OF cars
to be sold by dealers, delivered to the
dealers and manufactured.
The forecast. as accepted, lets fac
tory proceed with output and with or
ders for materials to cover it, subject
to adjustments that may be necessary.
Plants Are Zoned.
In place Of the large stock rooms mat
factories used to have limited amount
of space is assigned for stock near the
point where 1t is to be used. Entire
men in charge and they have little use
for any record except report indicat-
ing shortage. BY this means the
eficiency of handling has been improved
until supply for only three days is
now normal.
How Improvement in welding processes
makes possible the production OF all
steel bodies for cars was described for
the production forces by w. Meadow
croft and James j. Pough Of Philadel-
phia.
All-steel bodies have fewer parts than
composite bodies of steel and wood.
The doors consist of two pieces only.
There are no outside seams visible in
the BODY shell. Other characteristics
of the all-steel product are lower tops
for head room. less weight and lower
center of gravity. With these factors
the claim is made that the all-steel
body is safer and gives better visibility
and silence in car operation.
Entire Side Made.
By the use of mammoth stamping
machinery the entire side Of body Is
fabricated from a single sheet Of metal,
with the openings formed by dies to
reinforce it. The chassis frame and
body follow the same lines, so that they
reinforce each other, and body sills can
be omitted.
In all-steel body building the skin or
shell becomes the chief structural men,
Der, with. additional strengthening
members where needed. A sedan body
requires 2,303 spot YIELDS, in addition to
flash welding. D
"Bonderizing" of sheet metal parts of
a car also was explained at the engi-
neering session. This is term that has
been widely used in the last year, but
few automobile owners know what it
means. 1t is a process by which the
surface of tenders is treated before
painting. The parts are hung in a
boiling mixture Of chemicals, which de-
posts on them q fine coating Of copper
Of crystalline texture that makes it re-
ceptive to paint.
Bonderizing also acts as a preventive
of rust.
(Copyright, 1881, by the North American
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