Evening star., 1942-08-30
Business Prepares
For Big Changes
After Conflict
Survey Shows Many
Concerns Working on
Postwar Plans
BY FRANK MacMILLEN,

to plan for the postwar period?
A survey by a leading industrial
designer indicates the answer of
many businessmen is an emphatic
yes, with the important qualifica-
ton that it shall not interfere with
present or prospective war produc-
ton.
1t also shows that many key con-
Germs have such planning efforts
under way, that relatively small
number approve of the idea but
have not found time or men avail
able to start it, and that a small
minority think this is no time to
lay plans for peace.
The survey, conducted by the in
dustrial designing firm of Walter
DorWin league, which numbers
some of the country's leading manu-
facturers among its clients, was
under the direction of Coleman
Shaughnessy
Nearly 95 per cent. 480 out of the
506 concerns which gave definite re-
plies, answered yes" to the ques-
ton:
DO you think it wise during the
war to lay plans for peace $50 far as
this can be done without detracting
from your war effort) ?"
Vast Changes Foreseen.
Almost equally significant ap-
peared the replies of 400 concerns
which answered yes to the question
OF whether they believed major mar
keting changes are in store after
the war, due to new materials. new
machines and expanded productive
capacity.
But So answered no to the ques-
tion and 8 more said they didn't
know what to expect.
A substantial number of firms
saw war production experience as
likely to be helpful to them when
peace returned, 247 concerns took
this view. 1879 saw nothing to be
gained in this direction, 20 had no
war work, was baff1ed.
The survey was addressed to 1000
key concerns in the manufacture of
planes, automobiles, building mate
rlals, chemicals, clothing, drugs. farm
equipment, food. hardware, heating,
house furnishings, household appli-
ances, jewelry.. machinery, metal
Office equipment, petroleum, plastics,
rubber and sporting goods. Transport
concerns were also in the list, and
100, or 5 per cent of the queries,
were specially directed to retail
distributors.
Surprises Expected.
/ league, beginning with the prem
ise that nothing should be allowed
to interfere with present war pro-
duction, had this to say Of the
survey:
Strange things happen in wars,
and structures like the Axis some
times collapse with gratifying speed
once they get on the skids. That's
what happened in 1918.
If 1t should happen again, will
America be caught short? @s
Conversion to war production has
been difficult, but it is nothing to
the problem that reconversion will
present.
I'm conversion, industry has been
told what, how and how much to
produce; relatively simple after all.
In reconversion, each manufac-
turer is going to have to answer
these questions for himself.
THE success of industry as a
whole in answering them rightly, its
success in swinging back into civil
ian produc ion swiftly and smoothly,
with as little unemployment and
economic dislocation as possible
that will decide whether this coun-
try wins or loses the peace for which
we will have fought and won the
war"
New Products Planned.
OF companies already laying plans
for the future, the survey showed
greatest activity was in study look
ing to production of new products
or redesign of old ones; 316 COM
panies reported such efforts.
Other big fields being surveyed
the study showed. included 284 COM
panies looking into new materials,
262 examining new manufacturing
processes, 236 studying new markets,
240 analyzing future competition
and 1872 figuring new ways to utilize
expanded equipment.
(These figures contain duplica
tions, OF course; many companies
were working on more than one OF
the planning ideas.)
The commonest explanation OF
the II companies which said they
approved postwar plans, but had
not yet made any, was too busy on
war work.
But this group also cited one OF
more of the following reasons: 1t is
too early, or conditions are too un-
settled; no changes are needed, or
Just haven't got around to it vet"
Some of the most illuminating
information from the survey, league
said, came in incidental comment
from industrial executives whose
names he had agreed not to reveal
but he cited these:
Rail Problems to Grow.
From the passenger traffic man
ager OF leading railroad:
After the war is over and rubber
is again available, together with
other raw materials for manufac-
ture OF newer and better CONNER
clal planes and automobiles, the
railroads will face more serious
problems than any with which they
have yet been confronted.
1T will be necessary ." fol
them to very greatly improve theil
plants and equipment and theil
operating technique in order to hole
for the rails any substantial amount
OF traffic that otherwise would bt
lured away by other types Of We
hicles.'
From food professor:
Have talked to no one who ha,
failed to benefit from forced change.
and substitutions of the war effor
In adding to technical knowledge.