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).
Justification for a new purchasing scheme, citing a 20% reduction in material costs on the Bentley 30 compared to the Wraith.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0447 | |
| Date | 23th September 1938 | |
| -2- RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}16/MM.23.9.38. that this scheme should be accepted until it has been proved that it is unworkable, otherwise if the price is not right Leslie will always be able to plead divided responsibility. To say that on experimental work the Order Office have been consulted in every case may mean that the Order Office are simply asked to sign an order when the future supplier has actually been told to go ahead and sink his dies. In justification for giving this scheme a fair trial we would point to the difference in the material cost of the Bentley 30 and the Wraith. The Wraith material has been dealt with by the old procedure, the Bentley 30 by the new, though not under ideal conditions. A reduction of some 20% has already been achieved without, we believe, an appreciable sacrifice of quality. Whilst complete 12 h.p. saloons are being sold to the public for less than £190 we consider that it is clear that, at present, we are only just beginning to learn the art of purchasing at competitive prices, and that a unified control is essential to ensure progressive improvement in material costs. RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||