The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 38

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1936. 6 AERIAL VIEW SHOWS PLANT'S MAGNITUDE. DEALERS KEEP IN CONFERENCE EXECUTIVES GET TOGETHER Chevrolet Keeps Receivables Under Control Despite Mounting Volume. i i i 5 i I I 4 i LEAR I I 1 ff2 1 ys-. 4 Chevrolet dealers' achievement of new all-time sales records has been a recurrent highlight, month after month, in the automotive news this year.

A fact less generally known, but of decided significance in any over-all picture or tne dealers situation today is that these tremendous increases, extending to parts, service and accessories as well as to new and used cars, have entailed practically no increase in Chevrolet dealers' receivables. For the first time in the history 2zg! Lc. 05S of the industry, perhaps, reoeivaDies nave been kept under control in the of mounting volume, And the healthy condition of the Cnevrolet retail organization as a whole is the direct reflection of this accomplishment, just as truly as it is the reflection of a quality product and aggressive selling. Program Worth Glance. During many of the real estate Oooms it was frequently remarked that a man who had made millions in real estate didn't have a dollar for lunch money.

Many a businessman draws off his profit statement at the close of the year, only to discover that although the profits are Conferring im new model irograms are these plant ofllcials. Left to right: K. H. Miranda, 'lief inspector; J. H.

Wechsler, production superintendent: M. B. Harris, plant engineer; K. 15. material supervisor; P.

D. Haldouf, body engineer, and C. L. Watson, superintendent of tool and die design. These men are charged direct with the responsibility to keep designing and production at top efficiency.

most satisfactory, there is little cash left in the business to represent those profits. So the program whereby Chevrolet Driver's Seat time, the seat angle changes, tilting ih. hov fnrwnrd. Thus, the seat Has Triple Adjustment I automatically adjusts itself to pro- to the stature of the driver. Chevrolet has succeeded in remedying this state of affairs is worth more than a passing glance.

In the case of Chevrolet, the improvement unquestionably springs from the sales department's emphasis on "Quality dealer operations." From the moment when he took office as 6-Month Truck Record Shattered by Chevrolet Chevrolet shattered all previous records in truck sales for six consecutive months in 1936, delivering more than twenty thousand trucks a month during that period and' making a total of 205,000 placed into owners' hands during the model year. Triple adjustment of the driver's seat is an innovation in Chevrolets. A fingertip latch releases the seat permitting it to be moved over a range of four inches from rear position to forward position. As the seat moves forward, its height is Increased by half an inch. At the same PIONEER AUTO PATENT.

George B. Selden applied for the pioneer patent of the American automobile industry in 1879. It was granted in 1895. of the Chevrolet commercial body division plant here may be seen in tha above aerial view of the new factory. The plant grounds cover approxlinalely forly acres, while the new factory contains 472,522 square feet.

As may be seen, the building is in an "I and lias an overall length of 1,121 feet 10 inches. The average height is 25 feet JM4 Inches. BODY PLANT CONTROLLER. DESIGNER OF NEW CHEVROLET PLANT vice-presidit and general sales manager, W. E.

Holler has set an example of business-like administration. He has not only recognized the importance of a sound, permanent dealer body to the prosperity of Chevrolet, but with characteristic energy and disregard for precedent, has acted on that recognition. Department Is Organized. Formation of the dealer accounting and business management with a regional and zone organization stretching from coast to coast, was only one of several steps 5 it1 ti4i phi1 ipffiifi which Mr. Holler took to enect tne needed improvement in the dealer hnrlv Tt was among the moBt im- uteris however, and the de partment in question has now been operating long enough to have shown soma real results, is io In fact, that dealer organization's present splendid cnnrtiflnn is verv largely aue.

The department's work has by no means been contlnea to tne reuucuim X'f of accounts receivable, but its efforts in that direction are wortnv ot spe II cial note. Commenting on this phase of the program, E. J. Hogan, airec tor of the department, said: Much Progress Made. DELCO REMY I- I Ml I I 1 "One of the first jobs we had to a deoartment was to further the installation of a standard accounting system throughout the dealer body, so as to obtain a true picture of the dealers' financial position.

With the co-operation of the dealers, much progress has been made. This better accounting pro 11 JvVO- 1 I I Ji I ALBERT KAHN. cedure did not take long to reveal that our dealer organization was much like the rest 6f the industry with respect to excessive receivables, and once we knew that, it became our job to find and apply the remedy. FROM HER NEIGHBORING CITY OF ANDERSON "Certain fudamentals had to oei recognized. In the first place, it i must be remembered that credit is always extended with the expectation of ultimately receiving payment.

The time to get payment is when people have the money. Money is now freely Albert Kahn, head of Albert Kahn, Detroit (Mich.) architects, has supervised the design of Chevrolet plants for many years. The new body plant represents Mr. Kahn's latest contribution to the Chevrolet organization, and, in the opinion of many building experts, itj is as fine an example of modern in-! dustrial architecture as can be found in the country. Excellent working conditions, and, provisions for maximum operating: efficiency have been combined in this! plant to an unusual extent, industrial experts agree.

I T. A. McDKK.MOTT. Salutes the New I In Flint he was assistant controller. I Ha was transferred to Indianap-I olis as resident controller last August.

I Luggage Capacity in 1937 Approximately fifty-five persons are employed in the auditing and accounting department of Chevrolet's new commercial car body plant, according to T. A. McDermott, resident controller. All these employes reside Chevrolets Is Increased in Indianapolis. The department is fully responsible Lupgage capacity in the 1937 Chev structure of the volets has been substantially in for the financial plant operations.

CHEVROLE available, so now is the time to collect receivables, particularly past due receivables, and also to reduce the amount of credit currently extended. Notes Are Accumulated. "Over a period of many years, automobile dealers have been accumulating excessive notes and accounts receivables inventories. They have gone on extending credit on the same basis, year after year, and without developing any new technique either for credit extension for collection. The result is that too many of them now have excessive investments of labor and profits tied up in the items in question.

"Many times credit is extended and accepted only from force of habit. Many customers would be glad to pay cash is the dealer requested it. And in those cases in which credit is extended, certain principles should be kept in mind. "When credit is extended on physical property and the time for payment lasts beyond a short period, there should be a written agreement regarding payment and it should comprehend a lien where the goods are of high value. In the case of an intangible sale, such as automobile service, the time for payment should be short.

It must be remembered that a lien can rarely be applied here, since the dealer has simply restored to usefulness a commodity already purchased and a commodity usually mortgaged already on an creased. Trunk models contain approximately 50 per cent greater space than in 19,16. and all models have a wide lodge just inside the rear window for packages. In addition, rear seats of coaches and sedans are hinged at tha top and raise to reveal a large compartment. Sport coupe models have luggage room behind the front seats, access being gained by tipping the right-hand seatback forward.

New Chevrolet Wider, Lower Than Before The new Chevrolet for 1037 Is wider and lower than previous models. The body Is nearly five inches wider at the floor level in front and one and one-half inches wider at the windshield. It is two inches wider between the doors across the front seat. The rear floor is two and one-sixteenth inches lower than in the 1936 models, an improvement made possible by tho new hypoid rear axle. Refueling Operations All Made From Right Chevrolet has made things easier for filling station attendants this year by placing all refueling operations on the right-hand side of the car.

Fuel tank, crankcase oil filler intake and radiator fillers are all on the curb side of the car, out of the traffic lanes. So is the battery cover. "This phase of our work is of utmost importance, not only to Chevrolet, but also to our employes and indirectly to Indianapolis, Mr. McDermott said. "Without proper accounting control our financial structure miRht become weakened.

This might result in curtailment of manufacturing activities. It is our job to see that rigid inspection and control is maintained at all times." Nearly throe hundred and fifty firms supply materials to the plant. The financial department must handle all accounts and see that payments are made promptly and accurately. Mr. McDermott became associated with Chevrolet in 19125, being connected with the accounting department of the company's plant in Buffalo, N.

Y. From there ha was transferred to Detroit, Mich, and from there to Flint. in D3t Plant Knee Action Installed on All De Luxe Series Knee action, formerly optional as an extra, has been installed on all new 1937 Chevrolets fn the Master luxe series at no additional cost. Master models have semielliptic front springs. other obligation.

1 Offered Dealers Plans. i "Recognizing these facts, the Chevrolet Motor Division offered its dealers plans and devices for the sensible extension of credit and the prompt collection of outstanding ac- I counts and notes. "These plans took cognizance of the fact that success in any under- taking depends on the interest of the persons carrying the project out. This consideration prompted the for- mation of a dealer accountants' organization known as the Chevro- let Accountants' Credit Association. A certificate was provided, for pres- entation to members who demon- Congratulations CHEVROLET DELCO-REMY supplies the Starting, Lighting, and Ignition Equipment, Klaxon Horns and Delco Batteries for Chevrolet passenger and commercial cars.

strated exceptional performance by actually reducing receivables this year. "Each member to qualify is accorded the further distinction of having his or her name inscribed on a special Certified Credit Managers' Honorary Scroll maintained in the central office in Detroit, Mich. The actual award of the certificate if made by the Chevrolet zone manager having charge of the territory in which the accountant's dealership Is situated. Careful checking of the individual's record, with those of the Chevrolet Motor Division, precedes all this, of course. Self-Starter Developed in Dayton 25 Years Ago This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the self-starter, which was developed In 1911 in an old barn by Charles F.

Kettering and helpers. The old barn was the first "factory" and "executive offices" of the Dayton engineering Laboratories Company. INDIANAPOLIS MACHINERY SUPPLY CO. MACHINE TOOLS. SIIPPT.TF.fi.