Production Research in Its Application to the Machine Shop of a Dockyard *

Abstract

The author was entrusted with the task of reorganizing the machine shops of the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard at Rotterdam-Schiedam in 1936 and of raising their output considerably. It was uneconomic to replace all the old machines; machines which were not adaptable were gradually eliminated, whilst those capable of having their speed doubled and of working to precision limits were rebuilt.

All hand-grinding machines were removed from the shop and collected in a central grinding department, and the number of materials was reduced from 50 to 14 machining groups. For each group the tool angle, size and shape of tip and shank, and the tool steel to be used were fixed so that the optimum output coincides with the minimum cost of materials and repairs. To ensure that the instructions given by the rate fixer are followed by the workmen, an engineer continuously inspects the work produced. A form was drawn up, and is reproduced, giving all the data required by the operator for carrying out the rate fixer's instructions.