Evening star., 1942-11-24

q talk with some OF the military ana
naval procurement chiefs and a
glance at their documentary evi-
dence will convince the most skep-
tical that a valiant effort has been
made. considering the imperative
demands Of war on both oceans,
to spread contracts among as many
concerns as possible.
AS early as January Is, 194l, Capt.
Walter A. Buck, deputy to the Navy's
chief of procurement, told the Sem
ate Small Business Committee re-
Gently Secretary Knox, in series of
orders, directed the various bureaus
in charge of Navy procurement Ito
expedite ship and other material
programs by encouraging subcon-
tracing where possible"
Special Units Set Up.
The Army was taking similar steps,
as 1t. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell,
commanding the Army Services of
Supply, informed the same commit
tee.
Both of the armed services have
small business branches set up ex-
pressly to throw these plants as
many contracts or subcontracts as
possible. AT the Navy, this work is
carried on through the Industry Co.
operation Division, which has staff
in Washington and a field force sta
toned in the regional and district
Offices of the War Production Board
advisers. The Armys procurement
agencies have a similar setup.
Naturally. to meet enemy menaces
and prepare for the swiftest possible
offensives, the services have had to
make delivery of urgent materials at
the quickest moment the imperative
consideration. But, even so. it often
has proved not only feasible, but
more efficient, to spread contract
among small plants, with some large
manufacturer acting as prime con-
tractor and assembling the product.
Often it is quicker to do the job
this way than have the big in
dustry fill the entire order. Little
factories and machine shops with
the tools can turn out parts simul-
taneously while the big plant is
making others, and the completed
articles will be on their way soon.
The large plant might have had to
do some retooling or at least to make
parts await their turn on existing
machines.
Timing Major Factor.
1t all depends on the nature of
the job, and the facilities found
within reasonable distance of the
prime contractor. Delivery of the
best obtainable guns or shells or
uniforms when needed, not later,
must remain the first objective
before cost and every other factor.
Capt Buck cited the Mare Island
(Calif) program of prefabricating
and subcontracting for destroyer
escort vessels as an outstanding
example of how Navy yards
throughout the country have spread
the work, especially in the construc-
ton of smaller ships.
Mare Island farmed out fabrica-
ton of parts in such farmland re-
gions as Denver. Similar work was
done in Nevada, Utah, New Mexico
and in many cities of Northern
California. 1t was a far-flung as
sembly line that delivered the ves-
sels-speedily too-at the Navy Yard
for completion and assignment to
duty.
The Navy's Bureau Of Supplies
and Accounts is testing method
known as the Atlanta plan. The
bureau forwards notification of buy
ing requirements to a naval of1icer
stationed in the WPB Smaller War
Plants Division regional ONCE. The
WPB and the naval adviser select
the firms in that region best suited
to the particular job, and informa- =
ton on what is needed is sent to
these concerns.
Warrington Receives Bids.
Other WPB ofnces in the section
are notified at the same time. 80
that they may assist In obtaining
price quotations and other informa-