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).
Meeting minutes discussing cost reduction strategies and production methods for the 20/25 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\2\ Scan157 | |
| Date | 28th January 1935 | |
| -2- 28.1.35. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} asked all concerned to endeavour to find ways and means of increasing the profit on the 20/25 H.P., and he would like suggestions as to how we can reduce the labour and material figures. He mentioned we had been struggling for a long time to get these down, but now thought it would be a good plan to call all concerned together so that each one might know the position and endeavour to tackle the labour and material figures by suggesting better machines and better methods without reducing quality. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} proceeded with his remarks as under:- He thought with regard to the high cost of material we might try fresh firms from whom we could purchase material, or at least obtain more quotations, to create more competition. As to new and improved machines, Sft.{Mr Swift} and others had visited various factories, but were unable to find better machines than we already have, but he welcomed suggestions. Fords have a Wonder car, and the cost of it is not more than the cost of material for our 20/25. He did not expect a lot of suggestions at this Conference, but he was anxious to get all concerned thinking round the matter. He wondered whether we had anything on the "Peregrine" which could be applied to the 20/25 with a view to helping to reduce costs; as a matter of fact, for the past 3 years, or so, we have been striving to get more models to be in readiness for anything that might happen. There should be something on these which could be applied to the 20/25. The Meeting was then open for discussion. Mr. Gradwell. Mr. Gradwell thought we required more machines, and jigs and tools, but it was no use having a multiplicity of these without a settled output. Settled quantities, or bigger output, might, however, involve extra expenditure. He certainly did not recommend reducing quality, but thought we might be able to bring about a saving by considering carefully operations performed on pieces which customers may never see. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} in reply stated that he could not offer more than 200 sets, but was at the present time considering ordering additional machines. It had been definitely decided that we are not to become a mass production firm; we must keep ourselves flexible, and let others manufacture in mass production., We must have quality. | ||