Evening star., 1941-02-23

preSSlVe proportions tnls summer anu
the proportions of deluge in the late
winter and spring of next year BY the
end of the 1912 fiscal year, American
aircraft and engine production should DO
at full tide.
The immensity of this aircraft produc-
ton program is little appalling TO an
observer visiting one factory after an
other These modern engine and air.
frame plants are huge-25 acres under
one roof is commonplace. The engine
factories of the Wright Aeronautical
Corp. alone provide approximately liz
acres Of floor space.
Air defense production is subject to
the choking influences of four major
bottlenecks today. These. as explained
by Charles E. Sorensen, Ford Motor Co.
production manager are: l, personnel;
2, machinery and tools; 3, raw materials,
and, 4, time.
Problems of Labor.
The provision Of adequate numbers
of trained Workmen is one Of the Nations
outstanding defense problems today.
Federal and State governments are CO.
operating in the operation of vocational
schools. In many Of these schools, execu-
tives of the airplane and aircraft engine
factories are acting, voluntarily and
without pay, in their spare time, as in
structors.
Ali the major aircraft and engine
plants. in addition, are operating their
own training schools for mechanics Of
all types, apprentice schools in which
workers are trained for better positions
and more complicated tasks. and schools
for foremen and other administrative
and supervisory personnel
An intelligent Federal policy govern
ing the operation of the SeleCtive Service
Act as it relates to the aircraft industry
is recognized among the leaders Of tbs
industry as necessary to prevent inter-
ference with the production program.
There is no uniformity of policy among
the local Selective Service Boards and
a great deal of time has been wasted in
some locations in gaining exemptions
for aviation employees called up for mill
tary service.
The matter OF regulating strikes and
labor disputes also is Of great and grow
ing importance. The level of wages in
the aircraft manufacturing industry gen.
orally is lower than for comparable and
less skilled work in the automobile manu-
featuring industry Solution of the prob
lem seemingly calls for Federal action.
The need for immense supplies of new
machinery and tools for the aircraft in
dustry is immediate and apparent. The
old-line producers, generally, had enough
experience and a background of emer-
gency planning to complete the early
listing of machine and tool require
ments and the placing of orders. Thers
have been some delays in deliveries, but
the situation. so far has been fairly
good. The industry has been given prior
ity in the delivery of machinery and
tools, which has been of great assistance
in equipping new plants.
IS Per Cent of Capacity.
Plants in the aircraft industry today
probably are operating not more than rs
per cent of the total time each week on
gines This is a great improvement over
last fall however. when it was estimated
they were working at 65 per cent capac-
ity. The engine factories probably are
at 80 per cent capacity or better today.
That they are not at 100 per cent
capacity is due to the fact that expansion
has been spasmodic and unco- -ordinated,
that there are difficulties in obtaining
supplies of machinery and tools and
especially of raw materials and partly
to lack of balance in production Of
equipment.
The American defense effort must be
supported by public morale. Undue
optimism over production, based on mis-
conception, followed by disillusionment
and Encouragement, is not conducive
to high morale. 1t must be realized that
even American industry, which has led
the world for years. cannot accomplish
the impossible. Americans should know,
however that industry is doing re-
markable Job