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).
The procurement policy for bought-out chassis and fabricated parts, emphasizing the need for competitive quotations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0431 | |
| Date | 8th September 1938 | |
| 1260 RHO. c. to SE. HPO. c. to EL. ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/WE. c. to Mpt ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/Les.9/E.8.9.38. BOUGHT OUT CHASSIS FABRICATED PARTS FOR B.III AND B.50. We should like to emphasize that no tools must be instructed for forgings or pressings etc., to firms which have not proved in each particular case to be economical for production supplies when compared with at least two other competitors. It is being found continually that dies for forgings are being instructed where no competitive price has been received. Although it is realised that in such instances the decision to accept a single quotation is made in order to save time, it should be appreciated that alternative quotations nearly always are beneficial to us even if the original firm which quotes receives the order. The Wraith front suspension housings were an example of the benefit derived from alternative quotations, which were instructed the same day that the drawing left these Works. Hughes-Johnson 30s.0d Deritend 29s.0d Hughes-Johnson 22s.6d (same day) This is a saving of 13s.0d per chassis due to alternative quotations, which only delayed the item a few hours. Before any forging dies or pressed tools are instructed to outside firms, approval must be given by one of the following - ROY.{Sir Henry Royce} ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/We. or Self. Where possible a week to ten days should be allowed for quotations, but for exceptional cases where it is agreed that urgency is imperative, this time can be considerably reduced. It must be realised when dealing with Experimental parts, that unless the production price is satisfactory, we do not want to test that particular part until the design has been simplified. ROY{Sir Henry Royce}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||