Evening star., 1941-02-04
BY JOSEPH s. EDGERTON,
Star STAFF Correspondent.

DETROIT, Mich. Feb. 4.-Ger-
many never can hope to match in
dustrial production with the United
States in the opinion of Ford Mo-
tor Co. engineers, who now are
turning the vast Ford facilities to
aircraft engine production and re-
search.
The Germans learned their pro-
duction technique from this coun-
try, but they never can beat their
teachers, because we have num-
ber of new stunts to uncork which
we are confident they know moth
ing about" Ford spokesman said.
Among these stunts" are ad-
Vances in the science of metallurgy,
the substitution of castings for forg-
tngs in aircraft engines and the
adaptation of American automo-
bile production methods. unrivaled
anywhere in the world, to aircraft
production.
Flow of Material.
One of the major phases of the
Ford research program today Is di-
rected toward 'integration of the
flow of material" into the aircraft
and aircraft engine production
lines. This is an eXacting science,
developed by the automobile in
duStry through many years of study
and experience and as yet not mas
tered by the younger aircraft in
dustry generally, 1t was explained
by Ford experts
Upon the proper rate of flow of
the thousands of parts which go
into the individual airplane or en-
eine depends the effectiveness of
the entire production line, it was
explained. The development of pre-
cision methods of integrating the
flow Of so many parts is contribu-
tion which has been made to in
dustry generally by the automobile
factories, it is claimed, and is the
real key to mass production, APP
pliCatln of these principles to air
craft production is regarded here
as the greatest contribution the
automobile industry can make TO
Air defense.
To meet the demands for trained
personnel to handle its aircraft en-
gine program the Ford Motor Co.
has set aside 10000 square feet of
floor space at Rouge River to be
used for an aircraft apprentice
school The school is located in
the s21 100000 aircraft engine plant,
now in an advanced stage of con-
struction, and is TO be one of the
first sections of the building in op-
Grafton. 1t will be occupied by stu
dents long before other parts of the
building are finished and probably
before even the roof is completed
over the entire structure.
Flooded With Applications.
The Ford company has been
Flooded" with applications for ad-
mission to the new aircraft school
The volume of applications has
been so great, according to F, E.
Searle, superintendent of Ford
schools. that only one of every 40
can be accetped, Before the end
Of 1910 several hundred young men
had been qualified for admission,
and full quota of 1000 is expected
to be filled before next June. AS
the students complete their train
ing course new applicants will be
accepted to fill vacancies left by
those graduating into regular pro-
duction Jobs.
Only high school graduates be-
tween the ages of 18 and 20 years,
who live in the Detroit area, now
are being admitted to this new
branch of the Ford school system.
Applicants must have recommended
tions from principals of the high
schools they attended and from
the Placement Bureau of the Board
of Education.
I'VE are seeking only the best
material 10 fill our new training
school" Mr.. Searle said The ac-
euracy required in building airplane
parts is not so much greater than
that needed in producing automo-
biles, but we have a slightly differ
ent problem when it comes to fin
ishes. In aircraft work almost all
surfaces must be super smooth or
the material will be scrapped. while
in car parts great smoothness is
not required in many cases.
Thus our preliminary training
program and the schedule to be
followed in the new school will
have to be geared to cover this new
attitude of mind. The additional
skill in working smooth surfaces will
be vitally essential
BOYS now being enrolled are given
a three months training course in
the present Ford school facilities.
which include the Henry Ford
Trade School. the Ford Training
School and the Ford Apprentice