USEFUL POINTERS ON SUCCESSFUL MANUFACTURING
Should it, however, be decided to manufacture his invention, it will
be found that a proper system for regular routine will be required to
produce the articles within reasonable cost.
If the inventor has no special experience in manufacturing, it will
be greatly to his advantage to procure information, by inspection,
and carefully noting the methods employed in up-to-date manufacturing
establishments, making similar articles.
Manufacturing must be carried out from "THE TOP DOWNWARDS," not from
"THE BOTTOM UPWARDS." That is, the brain work in the office must be
carefully planned and carried out first, and recorded in assembly
and detail drawings and carefully written-up specifications.
Next a double set of metal patterns should be made to be kept in two
separate places to guard against fire.
To do everything should not be attempted in the beginning, as many
parts requiring special equipment and special skill, such as foundry
work, drop forging, gear making, and wood work, can very often be
contracted for with persons especially equipped to do that work, at
less than the price it would cost to produce them by a firm which
has to do a little of everything. Elimination of that much of the
work permits better concentration and increased facilities for the
other work, resulting in a maximum of production with a minimum of
investment.
The work in the factory should be carefully divided up, and localized.
If the quantities of complete manufactured articles to be made
are large, or there is a fair prospect that they will be so, and
their sale is not localized, a duplicate, interchangeable system of
manufacture is indispensable, and should be employed from the very
beginning. In spite of the initial expenses for tools, it will be
found to be a great saver of worry, annoyance, trouble, and money.
Also the labor cost for duplicate parts in the making and assembling
is very considerably less than if made in the "GOOD OLD WAY." This
makes it possible to supply parts that will fit the machine which
will be required in the course of usage, in any part of the world
where it may happen to be, and which often forms a considerable part
of the profits. Indeed it may be truly said that it sometimes pays to
give machines away for nothing, if assured a monopoly of its repairs
at one's own prices.
The "gang-boss" system in the shop will be found a material aid in
producing and maintaining a desired standard of quality and quantity.
It will also lessen the necessary supervision and worry in tracing,
and eliminate deficient and jarring elements in production.
[Illustration: THE GOOD WILL AND WELL WISHES OF THOSE WHO HELPED
CREATE IT.]
A healthy, accessible location, and a clean, comfortable shop
are indispensable. Fair, just and considerate treatment, with an
apparent ready appreciation by the management, of the merits of
their employees, will be duly rewarded by the willing and faithful
co-operation of those on whom in a great measure the success or
failure of manufacturing depends; also enhancing the value of the
profits by the addition of the goodwill, and wellwishes of those who
help to create it, as the want of it often mars the enjoyment of the
money when earned.