Abstract

"All emergencies, especially those created by war, have marshalled the industrial might of nations, among other things. World War II was no exception; in fact, it produced the greatest expansion of industrial facilities in history.

Most all plants in the country underwent some degree of expansion. In certain industries, the experienced workers of existing plants were employed as nuclei for the organization of the gigantic new plants required to produce the arms and equipment necessary to the conduct of a global war.

This thesis pertains to one phase of the design and construction of such an enterprise. This particular phase of the project was the electrical system; the project:- the largest bomber-engine plant in the country. More specifically, this project was the Dodge-Chicago Plant, a Division of the Chrysler Corporation.

In the early stages of the war period, Chrysler was given development and production contracts for radial aircraft engines--to be installed in heavy bombers. A part of this program was the design and construction of a huge plant to support the production schedule required by the Air Corps.

The plant was constructed in Chicago; it turned out to be one of the world’s largest industrial projects. By way of comparison, the main assembly building housed 88 acres of production floor space. This unit, plus some 18 “small” buildings, constituted the complete project.

Any description of the entire plant would require several volumes. This discourse can only cover the general aspects of the subject matter:- the Electrical System serving this enterprise.

Since there were no precedents, this plant, and many others of similar size and scope, had to be conceived, designed, and equipped, as completely new concepts of industrial development. Some or the country’s very best designers and builders were grouped into a joint venture--to accomplish this miracle in mass production.

This thesis is written in the belief that graduate Electrical Engineers, like the author, might some day be cast in the role of Project Managers of similar work, and might profit somewhat by the experience related herein"--Introduction, pages 5-6.

Advisor(s)

Lovett, I. H.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree Name

Professional Degree in Electrical Engineering

Publisher

Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy

Publication Date

1953

Pagination

49 pages

Rights

© 1953 Robert F. McCaw, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Electric power systems -- Design and ConstructionProject managementElectrification -- Management

Thesis Number

T 1049

Print OCLC #

9527004

Electronic OCLC #

935335982

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