Evening star., 1942-03-16
Auto Firms Depend
On Subconfractors
In Arms Drive
5000, 600. 900 Shore
In Vust Program to
Be Formed Out
BY DAVID ]. WILKIE,
Vida World luton1 otive Edftnr.

DETROIT, March 1e.--In normal
times high-gear production in the
plants Of the automobile industry
meaEs that parts and materials
from virtually every State how into
its assembly lines at the rate Of
81 ,000, 900 worth an hour.
Consider that before. this year
end the one-time automobile In
dustry will be producing at q rate of
something like 81, ,ooo, ,0o0. 900 a year
or equal to three times normal out
put. 1t means an enormous produc-
ton job and one that Is going to
require q great deal Of help
The industry is solving Its prob
lens by calling for lot more man
power, directly and indirectly. It
has built dozens Of new plants and
rapidly Is nearing the complete
conversion of its former car as
sembly units to the making OF tanks,
aviation engines, aircraft sub-as-
semblies, anti-aircraft cannon and
scores of other items.
Help Is Required.
But even this will not be enough.
So in addition to doubling the num-
ber of men and women in its own
plants the industry Is leaning more
heavily upon its subcontractors. 1t
has been authoritatively estimated
that If the industry reaches Its ex-
pected production level by the year.
end 1t will be farming out" or SUBJ
contracting 5000, ,o0o, 900 year In
materials and parts production.
The subcontractor, Of course. Is q
very definite fixture In the develop
ment of mass production within the
automobile industry. His newest
task, however, is much greater than
any he ever has undertaken, and
the importance of his delivery tim
ing Is being impressed upon him
with increasing emphasis.
Because the flow Of parts from
the subcontractors must be rminter-
rupted, the erstwhile automobile
builders thoroughly examine the
productive capacity Of outside plants
before placing orders with them.
In many instances the prime con-
tractors not only have followed up
these original factory inspections
but have had to loan engineering
talent to the subcontractors to make
sure deliveries to the main as
sembly plants will be on time.
without q well-organized sub
contracting system the automobile
industry's war production objective
would be impossible Of realization.
At the same time there are many
seeking subcontractor classification
who present problems difncult to
overcome.
Dealer Shops Impractical.
Several months ago 1t was sug-
gested that the shop facilities OF
automobile dealers might be utilized
in the production of sub-assemblies
for war weapons. It was contended
that such work on a subcontracting
basis not only would aid In reaching
production goals but would serve
to keep In business many dealers
who otherwise would be forced TO
liuuidate under the now-new-car
manufacturing program. ,a-..s
Speaking for General Motors
and undoubtedly voicing the con-
viction Of several other automobile
manufacturing company heads
Alfred p. Sloan, jr., chairman OF
the corporation. told dealers last
week that the proposal in its
broader aspects was unfortunately
impractical from an operating
standpoint" ..
He asserted the work the cor
poration had been called upon to
perform was 50 highly technical as
to- be outside the experience and
facilities of the dealer.
More recently Joseph w. Frazer,
president of WHY'S Overland Mo-
tors, urged the War Production
Board to utilize the tool and ma
chinery equipment of the dealers
for the production Of small parts.
On the basis of q survey he directed,
Frazer said there was available
through some 10000 dealers ap-
proximately $500, 900 900 worth of
equipment that could be assigned to
. "bits and pieces" production pro-
gram similar to that inaugurated In
England.