Evening star., 1942-08-29
WPB PIannino
To Schedule All
War Production
Thousands Of Army
Navy Officers Would
Be Attached to Agency
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Production Chief Donald M.
Nelson plans to take over virtu-
ally all of the scheduling powers
Of the armed services In another
step toward balancing the NUM-
tions program and returning to
the War Production Board all
control over production, The Star
learned today.
The plan now under discussion
would provide Mr.. Nelson with what
described as "ingertip"
controls over the flow of materials
from the raw state to the finished
product. The action, expected to
take place in 10 days, would 60 far
beyond the withdrawal of priority
powers from the Army and Navy
which Mr.. Nelson said yesterday
would be done September 7. 1t fol-
lows logically, however, recapture Of
full priority control by WPB.
Several thousand officers, field
representatives of the Army and
Navy, may be transferred to the
WPB or supervision of Joint
WPB-armed services group under
the plan. Transfer of the men to
WPB district Offices is under study.
The step would be taken to assure
maximum output of tanks, planes,
guns and other munitions.
Would Curb Stock Piling.
One of the shortcomings of the
current Production Requirements
Plan, under which war producers
state in advance their needs for ma
terials in the subsequent quarter, Is
that it permits stockpiling of parts,
accumulation in inventories of price,
less war materials for production
several months in the future, Of
ficials said This PRP failing, which
results of shortages of materials for
munitions most urgently needed,
would be corrected by the plan un-
der consideration
The new scheduling powers for
WPB would be imposed on top
Of the Production Requirements
Plan. It would not only give the
agency control over materials but
power over production it has not
exercised recently. The new ma
chinery would be directed by Ernest
Kanzler, deputy chairman for pro-
gram progress, or through the Re-
quirements Committee.
Spot checks would be conducted
in the field to make certain that
materials were producing quick re-
suit by the Army and Navy NUM-
tions Board. working as an individ-
ual branch of WPB.
Provides "On Spot" Priorities.
The program calls for further de-
Capitalization of WPB, with greater
power and responsibility placed in
the field and district Offices. The
field officers of the board would be
empowered to issue "quickie" priori-
ties wherever vital job was slow
ing up for lack of materials.
The move would assure efficient
use of materials in plants. Labor
leaders, it was said, have urged
Mr.. Nelson that labor be given re-
sponsibility to make sure that plants
handle materials efficiently and
that munitions are produced in the
shortest time possible.
WPB plans, it was said, to give
priorities for definite number of
war implements to be produced in
a given time. For example, COM
pany would be given a preference
rating for materials to build 400
jeeps in 80 days. If at the end of
the period more jeeps were needed
a priority for another order would
be issued. Should there be an
ample supply of jeeps on delivery
of the order, critical materials
would be diverted to some weapon
more urgently needed.
Under the old system where a
company was simply given priority
for making jeeps, production
has resulted frequently, throwing
the war program out of balance and
denying the services of materials
equipment they need urgently.
Similar to G. M. Plan.
The plan for new scheduling
powers for WPB follows In some re-
spects proposal submitted by
officials Of the General Motors Corp.
for a new War Scheduling Board.
it was said.
This plan, a warrant system, sets
up War Scheduling Board to deal
with the armed services.
Under 1t, the prime contractor is
made a little WPB." The con-
tractor would use trade associations
for collection of statistics on the
amounts and availability of raw ma
terials. He would then report his
needs for a particular order to the
War Scheduling Board, composed
perhaps OF representatives of the
Army, Navy and WPB. The WSB
would take the order to the services
and. on approval, would issue a war.
rant OF need to enable the contractor
W oSStAAA lilC WdTTdHJ
would replace the current priority.
The plan, it was said, would reduce
powers of the War Production Board
to the job of policing, or compliance,
and a certain responsibility for re-
viewing overall requirements. It is
not regarded with high favor by
the WPB.
The board is working hard under
The verbal lash of Mr.. Nelson that
the war program must be put in
Balance can only be
officials believe, through
WPB control of scheduling,
'he important job of making sure
hat all component parts of q war
arrived at the right place
vt the right time.
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