Evening star., 1942-01-21
KnowIson, Bott
And kunzIer Are
Key Output Men
By THOMAS C. HARDMAN.


Sweeping reorganization of the
Government war production Or
ganization, including the aboli-
ton of the once of Production
Management and the creation Of
a power-packed administration
under his guidance, was an
nounced today by Chairman
Donald M. Nelson of the War
Production Board.
Principal features of the revamped
organization outlined by Mr.. Nelson
at a press conference follow.
Establishment of a Requirements
Committee to handle the ALLEGATION
Of all raw materials for the Army,
Navy, Lease-Lend Administration,
Maritime Commission and civilians.
Creation of Division of Industry
Operations, including the appoint
ment of an individual with au-
thority to handle the entire con-
version OF the automobile industry
to war production.
Division TO Handle Contracts.
Absorption of all contract distribu-
ton. including subcontracting, with
in a production division.
Creation of a planning division to
"look ahead" to war production
problems and postwar economy
measures.
Other divisions included in the re-
aElzation-similar in purpose. but
more far-reaching in authority than
their set-up under o. P. M.-were
those on purchases. materials, labor
and civilian supply.
Mr.. Nelson described the Division
of Industry Operations as one Of the
most important changes in the
production organization He named
as head Of this division J. S. Knowl-
son. president of the Stewart Warner
Corp. who has been serving as act
ing director of priorities under the
o. P. M.
O. p. NJ. Unit Absorbed.
This division will be in direct
charge of priorities marking absorp-
ton of the old O. P. M. Priorities
Division. and will be in complete
charge of the conversion of industry
to war production.
Within this organiza ton. Mr..
Nelson announced, Ernest Kanzler,
former chief of the o. P. M. Auto
motive Branch, will be in sole charge
OF converting the automobile in
dustry. Mr.. Nelson indicated that
other individuals may have to be
appointed with authority to convert
additional industries.
Mr.. Kanzler will have all the
authority he needs to perform his
task. As an illustration OF it, Mr..
Nelson said:
IT there are tools in Ford's fac
tory that are needed in General
Motors they will be moved
over"
AS chairman OF the Requirements
Committee. Mr.. Nelson named Will
liam L. Bait, who also will head
the Materials Division. This new
committee will be made up of repre-
sentatlves from the Army. Navy.
Lease-Lend. Maritime Commission
and Civilian Supply, and will serve
as clearing house for the alloca-
ton OF raw materials according to
the importance of the demand from
the various consumers.
international Council Link,
Mr.. Bait has been reported head
ing United States British Cana
dian Supply Council to handle in.
ternational problems of war mate
rails ALLEGATION, and it was under
stood that this council and the Re-
quirements Committee would work
In close touch to solve this prob
lem harmoniously.
Named as head OF the Production
Division was william H. Harrison,
vice president of the American
Telephone IL Telegraph Co.. when
has served in a similar capacity
within the o. p. M. organiza ton.
His function will be to see that in
dustry as whole is doing its job
in the shortest possible time Mr..
Nelson explained. and he will con-
fer from time to time with MIR.
Knowlson. who will deal with spe-
cific industries.
The handling of contracts and
subcontracts by the Production Di-
vision automatically eliminates the
o. P. M. Division of Contract Dis
1sna MN CON pana ~