SOVIET PRODUCTION OF INSTRUMENTS BY CONVEYER METHODS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Sequence Number: 846
• Publication Date: July 12, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT{ 50X1-HUM
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIALNNFiDEENTIA[
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Economic; Technological - Machine tools,
measuring instruments
HOW
PUBLISHED Monthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Moscow
DATE
PUBLISHED Feb 1950
LANGUAGE Russian
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION APPICTINI THE NATIONAL DIPENNI
OP THE UXITEO STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF ESPIONAGE ACT E0
U. S. C.. SI AND SE. AG AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION 01 THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANT MANNER TO AM UNAUTHORISED PERSON IS PRO?
NINITID ST LAW. NIPRODUCTION OT THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1950
DATE DISTJ' Jul 1950
NO. OF PAGES 4
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
SOURCE Mekhanizatsiya trudoyemkikh i tyazhelykh rabot, No 2, 1950.
SOVIET PRODUCTION OF INSTRUMENTS
BY CONVEYER METHODS
The Moscow Instruments Plant produces approximately 300 types and sizes
of both alternating and direct-current electric measuring instruments.
Until recently, the plant's volume of production was far from adequate
in satisfying the demands of the national economy. Without the construction
of additional production areas production methods then in use could not no-
ticeably increase the simultaneous output of different types of items in the
instrument-building industry.
Personnel of this plant resolved to increase production by extensive
mobilization of internal reserves, introduction of new technological methods,
mechanization in construction, and adoption of conveyer methods of production.
They worked out a complex of organizational and technical measures which ef-
.Nfected a rapid increase in production on existing production areas. The en-
.^ire production of electric.measuring instruments was converted to conveyors
operating at a set rhythm.
Technological principles of mass production had not been used previously
in instrument building, in the manufacture of products of many types and sizes.
In the transition to mass production methods, great difficulties arose creating
a conflict between conveyer methods of production and production of many types
of instruments.. Parts had to be standarized to the greatest extent possible,
designs of special units and parts had to be changed to conform with uniform
technological processes, the processes which would not lend themselves to con-
veyer methods had to be revised, high-production special equipment, checking
apparatuses, etc, had to be designed and manufactured.
Conveyer production with set rhythm was first used in the manufacture of
bodies and stands and in the assembly of switchboard-type measuring instruments,
since this involved a long production cycle and labor-consuming operations.
- 1 - CONFIDENTIAL
KJ.NSRS
NAVY
STATE
ARMY
it _ - ~ ..
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
MNFIDE TIAL
The technological process for manufacturing the body consisted of 26
operations, and body parts traveled a distance of 258 meters from the mate-
rial stockroom to the assembly shop. Nineteen operations were required for
manufacturing the stand, and its parts traveled a distance of 274 meters to
the assembly shop. The production cycle for manufacturing the body and stand
took 13 days. Transfer of these parts by hand, from one operation to the next,
kept 10 men busy.
An analysis of the technology in use showed that the only way to increase
production was to streamline the technological process, shorten the distance
that the parts had to travel, and mechanize the transfer of parts from one op-
eration to the next. In addition, the technological processes had to be stand-
ardized.
In accordance with the standardized technology which was developed for
the production of all instrument bodies and stands, a conveyor, along which
presses were installed, was built. All subsequent operations of drawing cy-
lindrical-shaped parts were performed on these presses. However, a number of
operations, A. C., annealing between drawings, degreasing and pickling the
body, were not included in the set rhythm. This plant then started to manu-
facture the specified parts not from pickled iron but from structural steel,
which is cheaper. As a result, annealing, pickling, and other obstacles en-
countered in converting to conveyer methods were eliminated.
The bodies and stands had to be washed and dried in order to remove the
layer of grease after forming operations. Previously, the bodies of large-
size parts were prepared for painting in separate tanks, pickling, washing
and degreasing, and in drying cases. This equipment and the process itself
required large isolated areas which excluded the possibility if including
the process in a conveyor. The problem was solved by building a completely
mechanized washing and drying conveyer unit and incorporating it in a gen-
eral conveyer line. The unit consists of a metal-net transport conveyor,
which passes through chambers containing a caustic solution, hot and cold
water, and then through a drying case. It puts out clean, dry parts which,
while still on the conveyer belt, undergo welding operations, including
welding on of glass holders.
Under the old technology, painting required a multitude of prelimi-
nary hand operations. Now this process has been made automatic. Priming,
painting, and drying of the part is performed on a painting and drying con-
veyer unit. Labor-consuming hand operations such as applying the first coat
of paint and sandpapering, which were difficult to include in a conveyor, be-
came unnecessary as a result of using high-production drawing dies. These
dies draw parts without any flaws.
After painting and drying, the bodies go on the assembly conveyer belt.
Their assembly and the threading of the stands are included in the conveyor
run. It was designed for a 15-second operating rhythm, but at present, a
finished item comes off the conveyor every 10 seconds.
As a result of revising the technology and introducing mechanization
of the production cycle of bodies and stands, only 4 hours are required in-
stead of thirteen 24-hour days by the old technological process; rejects,
which reached 20 percent previously, were lowered to 2-3 percent; labor-
consumption in manufacturing the body decreased more than 3.5 times, and
for instrument stands, more than a half; the distance that the part now
travels is only 79 meters. It is particularly important to note that on
this conveyor, nine parts are manufactured at the same time, not only one
as is usual in conveyer production.
GONFIl RTIA1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
I
From the assembly conveyor, the parts go onto a sloping elevator which
transfers them to the assembly shop. The uninterrupted conveyer lines stretch
out one after the other from floor to floor of the plant building.
According to the old technology, the assembly of instruments was theoreti-
cally conveyer-type. However, this conveyer did not have a set rhythm, as a
result of which a large number of post-operation delays arose, the operators
transferred parts from hand to hand, frequently the instruments were returned
for repair (defects occurred in up to 35 percent of the items), the assembly
cycle lasted from 480 minutes to 25 days. Many other bottlenecks arose.
At present, instrument assembly takes place on two conveyors with set
rhythm. To.ir total length is nearly 80 meters. On the alternating-current
instrument conveyor, 95 different types and sizes are assembled, and on the
direct-current instrument conveyor, 188 types and sizes. The rhythm of the
first is 30 seconds and the second, 2.3 minutes. The instrument assembly
and testing cycle comprises 25 and 45 minutes, respectively.
New universal gaging and checking units have been installed on the
conveyors which are suitable for any instrument and which have intermediary
checking and repair points.
Manufacture of instruments in series can involve from 5-10 to several
thousands of pieces. The conveyor permits simultaneous assembly of several
types and sizes of parts, and can start producing instruments of other dimen-
sions without stoppage. This is made possible by proper selection and syn-
chronization of operations. Both conveyors are equipped with high-production
assembly tools. Instrument units are assembled on them, the quality of the
units are verified, the instrument is balanced, tested, and scales are stamped
on it. A total of 49 operations are carried out on the assembly conveyors.
The inspection of instruments and their delivery to the storehouse for
finished products was also reorganized. The technical inspection section and
the state inspectors check the instruments directly on the assembly conveyor,
on which the instruments are also packed. The assembled and packaged parts
are transferred to the storage space by a transport conveyor. The checking,
testing, and packing operations have been shortened from three 24-hour days
to 20 minutes.
The plant itself has manufactured a total of six production conveyors
and four transport conveyors having a total length of 320 meters (see appended
sketch).
All fastenings which are required in large quantities on lathes and tur-
ret lathes are now made on upsetting automatics and knurling machines; pins
are also manufactured on these machines.
In 9 months the plant shifted to the new technology of manufacturing
instruments without stoppage or disturbance in its natural flow of production.
During one year labor productivity doubled, the cost of instruments was
cut almost in half, output per square meter of production space doubled. De-
creasing the labor input,, utilizing cheaper materials without impairing the
quality of products, rapid decrease in loss due to flaws, etc, will make it
possible for the plant to reduce production costs 12,000,000 rubles in 1950
as compared to the 1948 costs.
[Appended sketch follows]
-3-
CONPIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
CONFIDENTIAL
Presses
Sketch of Conveyor Method of Producing Electrical Measuring Instruments
1 - drying; 2 - painting; 3 - priming; 4 - washing with hot and cold wa-
ter; 5 - washing with alkali.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600320846-7
F s8ILu ML