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).
Cost of forgings and supply chain strategies with other companies.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0336 | |
| Date | 25th May 1938 | |
| 1260 Alvis R... Policy PRIVATE. also 1091 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/R.25.5.38. COST OF FORGINGS. We went over to Rovers yesterday, and, amongst other things, discussed the cost of parts bought outside in a partly fabricated condition. Curiously enough, Wilks has been through exactly our experience on frames, and finally placed his order with Manning at a far lower cost than he could get anyone in the frame ring to quote. Wilks is now tackling the forging problem, and considers that the ring here is just as bad as the frame ring. He is aware, as we are, that crankshaft forgings in .4 carbon steel can be sold at less than 4d per lb in quite reasonable quantities. We cannot get a quotation of less than 10d, though our shaft does not have integral weights, and Rovers cannot get below 8 1/2d. The same thing applies to connecting rods. Wilks has been making some enquiries in America, and finds that people like Shardlows have forging equipment which is hopelessly out-of-date. Crankshafts which Shardlows definitely say they cannot produce, are being produced in large quantities in America at exceedingly low costs. He would like to discuss with you the possibility of forming a Company to undertake forging, which would have the latest American equipment, and would alter the present state of affairs. If necessary, various other Companies could probably be brought in to ensure that the correct quantity of work for the plant was guaranteed. Wilks believes that steel supplies could be assured at the right price by negotiating a long term contract. Considering the state of our own forging plant, which can hardly be said to be up-to-date, and that we know we pay in extreme cases up to 100% too much for our own forgings on chassis, we thought you might be interested. I would like to arrange for Wilks to come to the Works and see you on this and gearbox manufacture, some day during week-commencing June 13th. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||