Re: multistory assembly line

Posted by 58L8134 On 2015/1/15 19:17:04

Hi Steve203

One wonders if that postwar "one-story plant envy" was more a reaction to Kaiser-Frazer emphasizing Willow Run as the latest, most modern thing rather than there being any real advantage to the layout. Even the "ideal" River Rouge had a second story if I understand correctly.

Given the majority of customers neither knew nor cared what the plant configuration was where their cars were built, management would have been better off to simply organize the factory the best they could to deliver a quality product efficiently.

Let the upstarts of Ypsilanti crow all they liked about their "efficient" new plant....while hiding their loss statements from the public! After the first year or so, K-F would have been better off hold up in the old Graham-Paige plant.....maybe rented the old Hupmobile plant as supplement if sales were high enough.

Steve