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).
Observations on car work at G.M. and referencing production efficiency ideas from an aircraft article.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\2\ img034 | |
| Date | 7th March 1940 | |
| Serial No. 7 Rolls-Royce,Ltd. Derby,England OY 7/D/Mar.7.40 March 7,1940 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Car Work 1) It may interest you that on a visit to T.P.Chase at G.M. Research Monday morning, we found him working on-- Hydramatic transmission, plus fluid drive, plus axle gears in a single casing at the rear end of the car. DeDion rear axle with coil spring suspension. Two-cycle engine under the hood. This is an indication of the way in which thought is travelling. Getting low floors by using a drive shaft which does not move up and down. And shifting weight aft to correct the weight distribution, which on American cars is now seriously nose heavy. Distribution would be 50-50, says T.B., with normal passenger load on this car. 2) May I also refer you to an article called "Simplified Production in U.S.A.", in (British) "Aircraft Production" for January, 1940. This contains several ideas useful to R.R.Ltd. on car work. As for example:- page 4 "....most of the time saving was in transferring information from the engineering dept. to the manufacturing divisions, the accomplishment having been spurred by the fact that previously the transfer of information was probably the greatest cause for delay...... "....making the fewest possible number of drawings consistent with having adequate records. "....Consolidated set up a loft department.... "....where possible, layouts were made in the loft department rather than in engineering.... "....sketches were made by the various group designers and draftsmen.... | ||