Outlining the reorganisation of the Test Department to separate testing and inspection from completion and rectification duties.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 33\1\ Scan211 | |
| Date | 1st October 1924 | |
| [Handwritten] HS {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X1775 [Typed] CJ5/E9/10/24 From CJ. To R. {Sir Henry Royce} , BJ., Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} , EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} , My., D. {John DeLooze - Company Secretary} , Hm. {Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} , Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} , Hy. {Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} , BY. {R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} , Wd. {Mr Wood / Mr Whitehead} , PN. {Mr Northey} , H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} , CWB., C., Cxr., E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} , Da. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} The Administration have found in the general regulation of the Company's business that it is difficult to estimate the probable dates of delivery of chassis by Derby to London inasmuch as they have to deal with the history of each chassis in two sections:- (1). Delivery by the Works to Test. (2). Delivery by the Test Dept. to London. The Test Dept. as originally organised was intended to operate as a department to certify that a chassis when completed by the Works was up to Sales standard of quality. It is felt that the administration of the Company would be simplified if this original intention were re-instituted. From the first of November:- (1). The Test Department will cease to be a department for completion and rectification of chassis. The function of the Test Department will be to test and inspect only. All completion and rectification work will be entirely done by the Production Department. (2). When once a chassis or aero engine is built and the Production Department consider it to be up to the standard of quality, the chassis or aero engine will be handed to the Test Department to test and despatch. If the Test Department cannot pass it, it will be returned to the Production Dept. (3). EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} as Head of the Test Department will exe(Aero Engine)rcise full control over quality. He will be an official of the Central Administration, and will, with suitable assistance, be attached to the Sales Dept. His main function will be to certify that the chassis or aero engine presented by the Works as above described does or does not conform with the standard of quality. (4). To do this it will be necessary for the Test Department to go through the whole routine of testing and inspection as they now exist, in fact the present routine should be augmented by a system of more complete/unit testing, in which capacity EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} will act similarly to a Government A.I.D. Inspector. [Handwritten] Most certainly a counsel of perfection which was most difficult if not impossible of achievement in full. a fine distinction between 'normal tune up' & 'adjustment to rectification'. | ||
From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).