Wartime Radio Production

Abstract

It is argued that the problem of war production, in radio as elsewhere, is to keep output in line with the requirements of war. That involves synchronizing the various kinds of output. It requires that the factors of production, namely, facilities, materials, manpower, be available where needed. The War Production Board (WPB), in co-operation with the Armed Services, is endeavoring to minimize these problems. Within the Radio Division there are three groups which handle the three major problems of war production. There is a program group which keeps abreast of the requirements for military electronic equipment. Another group, working primarily with the B-1 components, sees to it that critical materials are delivered at the right time and delivered to the right places. A resources group makes certain that equipment and facilities of the industry are adequate to meet the schedules which have been set. There is a separate group in full charge of the maintenance of our civilian radio equipment. Finally, there is a new Radio Field Operations section working within the WPB regionaloffice structure, which assists the manufacturers at their plants, helping to solve their specific problems outside of Washington. An Engineering Advisory Section closely watches the developmental work going on in the laboratories in order that, when new devices reach the production stage, there be facilities to undertake the production swiftly; and also that these new designs use the minimum critical materials and components. We welcome any suggestions from The Institute of Radio Engineers which will assist the WPB, the Services, and Industry, to reach our 1943 objectives.