RE: Boris you need to get back quick,someone is leaking the truth.20 Apr 2020 20:51
James - We need another Beaverbrook who Churchill appointed to a newly created Ministry of Aircraft Production ( or MAP). His unorthodox management (I would say brutal ) and will power rose up to the challenge. Monthly production of new fighters in May 1940 rose to 325 against 256 in April and 177 in March. In June, the monthly output would rise again to 446 fighters, a production level which would be retained throughout the Battle of Britain. To Dowding and the Fighter Command, these 200 extra fighters each month meant the difference between victory and defeat.
An extract of his "management skills" and will power, (in just 1 wk) from this spitfire site.........
He had also single-handedly decided that fighter production should have priority over virtually all other types of munitions.
The same day, he went on a three-day tour of England’s aircraft factories, assessing the production status and taking the opportunity to inform the boards that their authority would be suspended for the duration. Many company managers were also replaced by foremen and engineers recruited from the factories and reporting either directly to MAP or personally to the minister. He also adjusted everobody’s production plans, applying his usual practice of setting the goals 15% above what everyone else considered possible.
One of his more mercurial moves took place on May 17th upon his return to Stornoway House. Beaverbrook telephoned Lord Nuffield, the famous founder of Morris Motors. He was also the Chairman of Nuffield Organisation, the private group in charge of the new Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory in the Midlands. Without much introduction, Beaverbrook demanded an explanation as to why no Spitfires had yet been produced in the government-funded plant.
Lord Nuffield took time to explain the numerous difficulties in getting on with aircraft production in an organization and production line modelled after car manufacturing. Nuffield was disillusioned by the never-ending shambles with the government officials, trade unions and the Supermarine. He finished by sarcastically suggesting to Lord Beaverbrook that he might like to take control of the Spitfire factory. The latter reacted immediately: “That’s very generous of you Nuffield. I accept!”. Before Nuffield could respond, Beaverbrook hung up, leaving him perplexed, inable to understand what had just happened. But Beaverbrook had already made the decision and moved on. In the next five minutes, he called to Vickers, ordering them to take control of the factory and bring in managers from Supermarine in Southampton to speed the development.
At the end of his first week, Beaverbrook appeared on the radio, broadcasting an appeal to aircraft workers to accept day and night shifts on a seven-day week. He also asked garage workers, then largely out of jobs because of petrol rationing, to enroll as aircraft fitters.
http://spitfiresite.com/2010/05/battle-of-britain-1940-lord-beaverbrook-a-week-at-the-office.html
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