Comme rears and System.
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From the title which we have selected, it might easily be imagined that we have the intention of fastening a new head on to an old body—that we wish once again to emphasize the ease with which the modern motor system of delivery can outdistance corresponding horsed equipment, but this time to insist how best such improvement can be effected by the selection of Commercar automobile plant, or the Commer truck, as it is dubbed in America. But this is not our desire. At the moment, rather do we wish to draw attention to the transformation which has taken place in the Commer methods of production since the present writer was last at Luton.
It cannot be denied that, some three of four years ago, the developments which had been periodically taking place at Luton had resulted in considera.ble overlapping of departmental areas. Things had got to a state which is not unknown to many of us to whom works organization is familiar. Valiant attempts had been made up to that period to get a quart into a pint pot, and several of the pint departmental pots at the Luton works showed signs of overflowing badly.
It is the praiseworthy manner of tackling at Luton this familiar phase of the development of a big business which we think will interest our readers, as itkhas indeed already interested us. Departmental definition is now an accomplished fact in the enlarged Commercar works of to-day ; there is a place for everything and everything is pretty well in its place.
This has all required firm handhug and a ready appreciation of the situation. Mr. IL C. 13. Underdown, the energetic managing director, has had able executive backing in this direction from the workg-manags,r, Mr. E. L. Coxhead.
Between them they have " sorted things out" quite satisfactorily, and the whole works at Luton is now, in our opinion, commendably organized—and in such a way, be it remembered, as to permit expansion and extension when and where it becomes necessary in the future —a provision which is not so usually evident at motor-vehicle factories as one could wish. The provision of an excellent costs system, in the evolution of which the company's accountants have much assisted, is by no means a, negligible feature of the present organization.
Commercial Cars, Ltd., offers to users a,remarkable range of loadcarrying chassis, but it in no way tackles the light lorry—the 10-ewt. and 15-ewt. proposition, holding, with reason we consider, that no single production plant can equally well concentrate upon the design and building of such divergent types as, shall we say, tha parcelcar and the six-tonner. The same men will not successfully design the two types, the same assemblers will not equally well put them together, and the testing staff must have a different " touch." All the principals and leading hands at the Luton factory then are intent on heavy lorries, weight-carrying machines. The lightest type of chassis that is considered is the popular one-tormer.
This simplification of production policy is the satisfactory basis of the factory organization. The careful departmentalizing which is now apparent. is based on a clear knowledge of the company's sales policy and activities.
A detailed reiteration of the various works departments and of their functions would not only be wearisome, but would in effect be a repetition of what is found in other big factories. The Commercar works, however, now take front rank in the matter of its detailed organization of these departments, and it will suffice for our present purpose, which is to draw attention to the improvements that have been effected, if we consider the present organization of its fine and comprehensive series of stores. We choose this branch of the works organization because it is the folis et origo of whatever a factory produces.
Now, the range of stores at the Luton factory includes the following: stores for raw material ; stores for finished parts from outside,; stores for work in progress (\VLF.); tool stores ; and stores for finished units. All these respective divisions are, of course, sub-divided in respect of the various standard types of machines which the company produces. Over and above these, there is a small thread of organization running through the system which takes care of the parts which are nce.ded for the production of such special orders as the Cornmercar tire-engines and their accessories, tip wagons, and special machines of that kind.
The whole of the stores is organized on an approved system
which enables the number of individual components or units to be ascertained at a. moment's notice. Suitably-contrived stock cards at once reveal the contents of every one of the many hundreds of bins. Each stores has its entrance and exit for goods ; there is no confusion of incoming and outgoing streams of parts or material. Each stores, again, is so arranged that its contents can systematically flow in and out from and to the departments with which it is most closely concerned. The " work-in-progress stores," for instance, is arranged in such a way as to he constantly in touch with all the stuff that is going through in the machine shops.
Viewing is performed after each operation, and this, Mr. Coxhead is of opinion, is a far more practicable method than the employment of a number of " progress men" or inspectors, who go round the machines and see that. further good work is not being put on to parts which have suffered in regard to inaccuracy by previous faulty machining or other operations.
All the other departments at Luton have undergone similar " spring cleaning" and extension. The fitting shop is now a very fine department, and one of our photographs serves admirably to illustrate its extent. The machine shops are already crowded and extensions are in contemplation. We inspected a number of fine machine tools which have been recently installed ; others are to follow quickly. The erecting shop ha5 taken in much new building, and there is now ample room for a large output of chassis of various types. There is a considerable amount of coaehwork done in the Luton shops, and this is carried out in conjunction with the wood-working-machine shop and the patternmaking department.
We only have space to add, as evidence of the re-organization, the fact that quite recently a very useful new range of shops has been erected, and these include : a fine engine-testing department with Froude dynamometer and all the latest devices for accurate and speedy engine testing : and a wellequipped case-hardening room with electric pyrometers and thEi necessary baths and ovens.