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).
Evaluating a competitor's system for charting service costs, expenditures, and complaints using graphs and pictures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 126\2\ scan0169 | |
| Date | 26th July 1939 | |
| Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}/SB.{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}1/MG.26.7.39 (cont'd) 2. In addition they have a 'target' line at which they aim to arrive. Incidentally, from what one could see of these charts in the few moments during which they were exhibited, the average cost of Service of the Hillman Minx is rather less than 30/- per car, whilst the 'target' line stood at £1. per car. 2. A second graph which shows how the total expenditure is made up by splitting up the cost into various major components. It is clear from this which is the most expensive part of the car to maintain. 3. A picture is then drawn of each individual complaint. The method of presentation is very good, and is worth studying. Briefly, the total number of complaints is indicated by the progress of a red line or column, the unique feature being that there is a separate column against each series in the order of manufacture, so that the progress made during the course of production can be seen. Also it enables a line to be drawn at the exact point in production where any change has been made which may affect that particular complaint, and it is then clear what effect any alteration has had. On the same sheet is a graph showing the total expenditure on that complaint. We attach specimen charts drawn purely on assumed or fictitious figures. They give some idea of the clarity with which the whole Service problem is presented to the Engineering Dept. We are so impressed with the obvious merits of the system that we are convinced that it will pay us to work on exactly similar lines. Humbers do not favour tabulation by the Powers System, because, although they admit that it could be made to work all right from a statistical point of view, it would not give the visible picture which is so essential to the Engineering Dept. Mx{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} | ||