Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-10
Nelson Drafts Plans
To Break BottIeneck
In War Production
Schedules to Be Revised
Small Firms Tokine
Part Of Overload
BY the Associated Press.


The War Production Board today
announced its plan to break the
bottleneck in production of critical
| components motors, valves,
boilers, gears. instruments and other
products whose shortage is a drag
on all the major armament pro-
grams.
The plan, similar to the ration
Aviation of industry" programs de-
veloped in Japan and Germany to
boost industrial output, will be car
ried out by WPB in collaboration
with the industries involved, which
together comprise a considerable
part OF American industry.
Task forces made up of produc-
tlon men and engineers from each
OF the components industries will
take part in the production sched-
ullng program, WPB Chairman DON
aid M, Nelson reported.
Orders to Be Reallocated.
The full scheduling scheme means,
Mr.. Nelson said. that orders will be
withdrawn from firms having ex-
cessive backlogs and will be given to
less crowded plants: and that man.
power will be provided to those firms
which have the producing capacity,
but lack the labor force.
Moreover, WPB has issued an Or
der providing for the transfer of
critical machine tools from plants
where they are not being used to the
best effect, to other factories where
they can be utilized to step up pro-
duction Of the components.
The transfer will be effected bv
loan, sale or if necessary. by out
right requisitioning. WPB has reoui-
sitloning power, but has not pre-
viously set up machinery for prompt
use Of its authority.
Mr.. Nelson called the overall
scheduling plan "a simple, straight
forward method Of breaking indus
trial bottlenecks by the most intel
ligent utilization of all industrial
facilities, small as we'll as large"
Small Plants Included.
He said small shops and factories
would be brought into the setup
| through the Smaller War Plants
Corp, WPB agency.
The plan is under command of
Charles E. Wilson, former president
OF General Electric Co., who is now
production vice chairman of WPB.
Inc industry men chosen to form
the task forces or advisory sched-
ullng committees" will work within
| WPB's existing industry divisions.
One leading figure from each indus
try will become a WPB employe
either on a without compensation
basis or on the Government pay
roll.
This Official will work out with
the task force and with his indus
try detailed recommendations for
action. In this capacity he will act
as an aide to Ralph j. Cordiner. d.
rector general for war production
scheduling. who is Mr.. Wilson S
| right-hand man.
Key Figure TO BE Named.
A key figure in the program still
remains to he appointed. He will
be the dirt ctor general for war
production who also will work
under Mr.. Wilson and will be
charged with developing the most
efficient and effective use of facili-
ties and labor" in carrying the COM
pleted production schedules into
operation.
Mr.. Wilson said yesterday this
official would be hard hitting
production man" and indicated that
he would come from outside the
Government.
Because the program involves
closest collaboration within each
industry, WPB has taken care to
safeguard 1t from accusations of
antitrust law infringement.
All final decisions relating to
matters such as redistribution of
orders will be made within WPB,
after careful review, Mr.. Nelson
said. Other sources said also that
conversations have been held with
Thurman Arnold, Assistant Attor-
ney General, who is in charge of
antitrust nrOSecutiops