Industrial Preparedness
Abstract
During this century the United States has gone through four periods of industrial mobilization, each followed by war production and then demobilization. Unfortunately, we have not applied the lessons learned from these experiences. In each period of industrial mobilization we paid heavily in terms of men, money, and time for our failure to provide an adequate peacetime industrial base to serve as a springboard to wartime production. This essay will consider four major areas relating to industrial preparedness. Since the requirements of the three military services all have to be met by the United States Industrial Base, the four areas will be examined in the context of total Department of Defense needs: (1) Uniform planning factors for all three services, to include uniform criteria to determine the military forces that would be supported in the initial phases of a mobilization; (2) Criteria for selection of appropriate items and weapon systems to assure maximum industrial preparedness planning with a judicious and economical application of resources; (3) Stimulation of greater participation in industrial preparedness by private industry through incentives provided by leasing and sales agreements and the Armed Services Procurement Regulations (ASPRs); and (4) Modernization of the government portion of the industrial base to assure a systematic upgrading of the skills, manufacturing techniques, equipment, and plant facilities in our government-owned, government-operated (GOGO) arsenals; government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) plants; and the layaway packages (ASODs) used to supplement both the government and privately owned industrial base in time of war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- ADA511033
Entities
People
- Christopher S. Maggio