Bud of mine got to tour the Remington Plant in Huntsville Alabama. He is not a gun person so he was not interested in the same things I was and did not ask the sort of questions I would.
He said the plant was divided into three sections. One a firing range, the second section for storage. They had a bunch of guns sitting around. The third section, which I assume was the same size as the other two, the machines and the assemblers.
The automated machines were making everything. I think it was frames, receivers, bolts, barrels. I got the idea small parts were contracted out, probably stocks, handguards, internal parts, springs, etc. If you saw someone, it was a single person picking up something that fell off the conveyor belt, walking around the other machining centers patrolling the area. He saw a barrel machine but it was all enclosed. Something went into, a barrel came out. He said the in process inspection technology was beyond anything he had ever seen before. Lasers and probes and God knows what else. The machines would tell the humans when a tool needed changing.
At the end of the production line were a bunch of 20 somethings standing around benches assembling guns from parts. I asked if he saw anyone with a file, and he had not. He did remark that no one had a chair, you stood all day and I assume, just put the things together from parts. No bench fitting at all. I will bet if someone brought in a special tool, it would be taken away.
Changes in production came from the Engineering Area. They would send instructions to the machines. I don't know what tool changes they needed, had to be some, but pretty much these machines are configured to use the tools they have, which can be a massive selection. The machines were run by programs. Someone goes through a checklist, makes sure the proper materials are being sent in, hits a button, makes sure what comes off the end of the production line is what is wanted.
Modern manufacturing uses very little "touch labor". I have examined pictures of old gun manufacturer's, lots of people, lots of in process inventory. Not what is going on now. Pretty much no in process inventory, everything is just in time. Very few people and the jobs are so simple that it takes very little time to train the monkey to do his job. Sort of the skill difference between a short order cook and a hamburger assembler at a fast food joint. It takes about 15 minutes of training and you are a fully trained hamburger assembler. Low wages too, less than 32 hours a week, total salary less than minimum wages at 40 hours a week.
You guys who hate Unions, they are pretty much gone. Gone are the well paying jobs with benefits. Welcome to immiseration of the working class. You wanted it, you voted for it, and now you got it. How is it with the kids and grand kids living with you because they can't afford an apartment with their salary? Where are they going to go when you kick the bucket?
Be careful what you ask for.
He said the plant was divided into three sections. One a firing range, the second section for storage. They had a bunch of guns sitting around. The third section, which I assume was the same size as the other two, the machines and the assemblers.
The automated machines were making everything. I think it was frames, receivers, bolts, barrels. I got the idea small parts were contracted out, probably stocks, handguards, internal parts, springs, etc. If you saw someone, it was a single person picking up something that fell off the conveyor belt, walking around the other machining centers patrolling the area. He saw a barrel machine but it was all enclosed. Something went into, a barrel came out. He said the in process inspection technology was beyond anything he had ever seen before. Lasers and probes and God knows what else. The machines would tell the humans when a tool needed changing.
At the end of the production line were a bunch of 20 somethings standing around benches assembling guns from parts. I asked if he saw anyone with a file, and he had not. He did remark that no one had a chair, you stood all day and I assume, just put the things together from parts. No bench fitting at all. I will bet if someone brought in a special tool, it would be taken away.
Changes in production came from the Engineering Area. They would send instructions to the machines. I don't know what tool changes they needed, had to be some, but pretty much these machines are configured to use the tools they have, which can be a massive selection. The machines were run by programs. Someone goes through a checklist, makes sure the proper materials are being sent in, hits a button, makes sure what comes off the end of the production line is what is wanted.
Modern manufacturing uses very little "touch labor". I have examined pictures of old gun manufacturer's, lots of people, lots of in process inventory. Not what is going on now. Pretty much no in process inventory, everything is just in time. Very few people and the jobs are so simple that it takes very little time to train the monkey to do his job. Sort of the skill difference between a short order cook and a hamburger assembler at a fast food joint. It takes about 15 minutes of training and you are a fully trained hamburger assembler. Low wages too, less than 32 hours a week, total salary less than minimum wages at 40 hours a week.
You guys who hate Unions, they are pretty much gone. Gone are the well paying jobs with benefits. Welcome to immiseration of the working class. You wanted it, you voted for it, and now you got it. How is it with the kids and grand kids living with you because they can't afford an apartment with their salary? Where are they going to go when you kick the bucket?
Be careful what you ask for.