IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTION METHODS IN RUMANIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700090245-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2011
• Sequence Number: 245
• Publication Date: November 4, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
INFORMATION FROM
CLASSIFICATION
CENTRAL. INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
COUNTRY Rumania
SUBJECT Economic - Production, manpower
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED Bucharest
DATE
PUBLISHED Dec 1951
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REPORT
CD NO.
DATE OF
DATE DIST. T Nov 1952
NO. OF PAGES 7
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
Rumanian industry has improved the standard of living of its workers and
created better methods of production in a number of ways. These include the
formation of economy brigades, increasing the productivity of labor, competi-
tions, the adoption of Soviet methods, modern equipment, and advanced training.
Two thousand economy brigades were established during 1950. In numerous
cases, cost checks were instituted. As a result, in 1950, metallurgical and
chemical enterprises alone refunded 161 million lei to the state from their re-
volving funds. The workers and technicians began, especially toward the end of
1950, to take a close interest in the quality of the products. During this pe-
riod, over 2,000 quality brigades were formed, and these contributed effectively
to a considerable improvement in products.
In an attempt to attain maximum productivity of labor, the methods of So-
viet Stakhanovites were studied. In 1950, Soviet Stakhanovite methods made
their appearance in every branch of production and in every enterprise. Th:
gallery reinforcement method and multidrilling in mining, rapid dri.Cing in the
oil industry, the quick preparation of charges in the iron and steel industry,
the high-speed cutting of metals in the machine-building industry, the "Five-
Hundred" movement in transportation, high-speed bricklaying in building, the
timetable method in the textile industry, and other methods helped more and more
workers and technicians to fulfill and overfulfill the plan. Numerous innova-
tors appeared. In the metallurgical and chemical branches alone, 1,700 innova-
tions, which brought about savings of 387 million lei, were introduced.
During 1949'and 1950, .production rose to twice that of 1948. The produc-
tivity of labor increased considerably. In the machine-building industry in
1950, it increased 26 percent over 1949; in the iron and steel industry, 13 per-
cent; and in the petroleum industry, 14 percent.
CLASSIFICATION ""'
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
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Increased production and increased productivity of labor made it possible
to reduce costs 6 percent for industry as a whole.
Socialist competition first became popular at the beginning of 1951. In-
itiative in all branches of production began to appear. For example, the initi-
ative of the workers at the Turda Cement Plant in undertaking to produce more
than the daily quota of cement set by the plan spread to all cement plants in
the country.
The appeal issued by Sovrommetal at Resits and Steagul Rosu to fulfill the
1951 plan in 11 months was observed in almost 1,500 enterprises.
The drive to achieve economy over and above the plan through the develop-
ment of cost checks and of economy brigades spread throughout the country. By
1 November 1951, savings of more than 230 million lei had been realized in the
machine-building industry, 450 million lei at Sovrommetal, and 580 million lei
in light industry. A total of over billion lei were saved.
Groups were formed to discover and utilize internal reserves. At the Baia-
Mare Combine alone, hundreds of suggestions were made by the workers and tech-
nicians, which led to rationalization of the production process and to the ful-
fillm,nt of the plan ahead of schedule.
To fulfill the plan ahead of schedule and to fulfill their pledges, the
workers and technicians began an extensive campaign to spread the advanced work
methods of the Soviet Stakhanovites. Delegations of Soviet Stakhanovites visited
the RPR (Rumanian People's Republic) and gave practical demonstrations of their
methods.
Pavel Bykov, a Soviet Stakhanovite, demonstrated the high-speed method in
the cutting of metals. At the time of his arrival there were only a few dozen
workers who applied this method. At the end of 1951, there were over 3,000
lathe, planing, and milling machine operators in the metallurgical branch alone
who applied the high-speed method. As a result the average speed in the cutting
of metals increased from 40 meters to 150-200 meters per minute.
The high-speed method of bricklaying introduced by V. V. Koroliyev, Soviet
Stakhanovite, has now become the prevailing method of bricklaying.
At Sovrommetal in Resita, savings of over 16 million lei have been realized
through the application of the Soviet Kuznetsov method of reconditioning tools.
In many enterprises, plan discipline has been strengthened following Soviet
experience by use of the hour chart, uniform procedures in transportation, and
other methods.
In the framework of socialist competition, during the first year of the
Five-Year Plan, much attention has been given to the training of skilled person-
nel. Here, too, the workers and technicians learned from Soviet experience, ap-
plying Stakhanovite Kotlyar's method for qualification on the job. Over 18,000
workers were qualified during the second quarter of 1951 alone with the help of
this method.
On the basis of Soviet teaching and experience, the first signs of close
collaboration between scientists and workers have begun to appear. Thus, at the
Timpuri Noi Plant in Bucharest, scientists have assisted the workers in solving
certain technical problems. At Tesatura in Iasi, research work has been con-
ducted in connection with the preparation of certain substances needed for the
production process.
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More than 5,000 innovators appeared during the first h
l
a
f of 1951
.
The enrichment of socialist competition with these
and the participation in competition of new elements and 68 percent of the wage earners has made
Possible Outstanding results in production. one For e ea g a Seadednby and tteam of opetin, atminer forgers Lonea ded syby, Ion in July Ciupea1951, eraa
the leadership qua , a miner the
1 Mai Plant in Ploesti were working gro under t19 lotas of
prises had completed the the their
Over 1,4 te -
half of quotas ruby June 5, and rovember, plan for the first half of the year b
Plan 547 enterprises were working on th: second y June
ve and by
In Stalin Regiune alone, 30 plants are working onetheo1952 the Five-Year
dition, 36 enterprises in the metallurgical and chemical branch and 11
ad-
in the electrical engineering plan. In Of the elec. The industry completed the 1951 plan 2 months ahead
iquarter of 1 Productivity of labor increased 13 percent over the third
950.
The rise in the standard of living in the RPR is sh
table: own by the following
100
130 1951
Tis explained by year; This 1 4 y the fact that the average wage grew continuously an-
other 11 a 9, it increased 30 percent over 1948, and in 3950, it increased ann-
p949, over 1949. increased
miners, metalworkers, and oil workers earn 20,000-50,000 lei per month.
Leading Stakhanovites such
erator, earn earn 80,000-100,000as Gheza Kopetin or Constantin
lei per month. Vasilache, a lathe op_
Paralleling the successes achieved in production there
crease in the volume of goods distributed to the
has been an in-
cooperative organizations. The distributed through state and
cent): following figures Show this increase
(in per-
1948
100
306 1951
~10
10
Also, the 370,000 square meters of workers' housing which were
able
able for use in 1950 constituted a great contribution to the improvement standard of living avail-
of the workers. nt of the the only ihetimprocement in the workers' material status, however, is not apparent inve wage earners and their children whopwerer earnings. The more than 2 ts du
wag 1950, the more than 11 billion lei provided with vacation financiie dur-
sistance through state social security,pandithe n
as-
for earlyn2lbillion lei Spent to
improve health conditions for the workers represent only a few aspects of the
increase in social welfare. The contribution made by social welfare to the im-
provement of the workers' standard of living is apparent from the fact that in
1949 alone 26 billion lei were spent to meet the health and cultural needs othe workers, and in .1950, social welfare increased 25.6 percent.
The state budget expenditures for social and cultural purposes are increas-
ing every year. Thus, the following expenditures (in billion lei) were made in
the years indicated;
1949
1950
787 1951
loci.7
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f-
Social and cultural expenditures during 1950 represented 20.3 percent of
the state budget.
The fight against illiteracy during the last 3 years was carried out with
success as illustrated by the following figures:
1947 - 1948 1948 _-1949 1950 1948 1949 1950
9, 69 15,291 l9,834 171,2641 29~ 697 557,E
During 1951, literacy courses were taken by 700,000 students.
A total of 60 million copies of books and pamphlets were printed during
1050, and the circulation of newspapers rose to 564 million copies. The number
of volumes in libraries increased 1,500,000.
As a result of the improvement in living conditions and the rise in the
cultural level, infant mortality decreased considerably. This situation is
shown (in percent) by the following figures:
1945
19.1
1948
173
1950
9.3
A number of enterprises have been equipped with modern technological facil-
ities. Among them are Sovromtractor, the Steagul Rosu Ball-bearing and Petrol-
eum-Machinery Plant, and the Vaduri Forestry Combine. Many of the old enter-
prises such as the Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej at Hunedorara and Timpuri Noi have
been outfitted with modern machinery and equipment. Today, the RPR is producing
tractors, agricultural machinery and tools, lathes, petroleum machinery, special
steels, electric motors, equipment for the manufacture of cement, textile ma-
chinery, tugs, heavy railroad cars, and street-cars.
The country obtains invaluable assistance from the Sovroms, which are rich
sources for the dissemination of Soviet experience. Through them the Soviet
Union is helping to introduce the most advanced technology.
During 1951, a changeover was made from the assembly-11?ae production of
the IAR 24 tractor to the production of the KD 35 with no slowdown in output.
Through Sovromacarbune, Soviet technology and Soviet technicians strength-
ened the coal industry. They introduced advanced methods of work, the ex-
tension of mechanization, the organization of work, cost accounting, and con-
stant care for the individual. The machine cutting of coal was extended, and
electric drills were introduced.
The establishment of Sovrompetrol gave a new stimulus to petroleum produc-
tion. The enterprises were supplied with superior technical equipment required
in drilling and extraction, tractors, and other machinery brought from the So-
viet Union.
In the electrical engineering industry, the workers and technicians are
applying numerous Soviet methods and making use of Soviet documentary material
for the manufacture of new products such as asynchronous motors, radios, inter-
rupters, telecommunications apparatus, and other items.
A factor which is contributing in large measure to raising the level of our
technology is Soviet professional literature. This material shows how to pre-
pare plans for new factories, how to develop existing factories, and how to
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improve the industrial processes in introducing the manufacture of new products,
in the formation of cadres, in raising professional standards, in fixing the
state standards, and in introducing cost accounting.
Special assistance is given by the Soviet specialists in the RPR. There
are consultants, engineers, technicians, and Stakhanovite workers who have given
direct a -istance in designing and building new factories, plants, and power-
houses, in organizing production, and in increasing the number of trained per-
sonnel.
A large number of students is studying at higher technical schools in the
USSR. In the fields of electric power and the electrical engineering industry
alone, 200 workers, technicians, and engineers are currently pursuing special-
ized studies in the USSR, acquiring the most advanced technical knowledge in the
scientific institrtes and the most modern machine and electrical equipment fac-
tories.
Industrialization is led by State Prize holders such as Gh. Sipos, lathe
operator, and Ion Vale, junior engineer at Steagul Rosu in Stalin, who studied,
designed, and manufactured new machine tools; Grigore Balaban and Ion Maria,
boiler maker at the Vulcan Works, Bucharest., who built a model high-pressure
boiler; Iacob Baca, automobile mechanic at the Timisoara Vehicle Depot, who pro-
duced a new type of automobile distributor; and many others
There are numerous workers and technicians who have completed several
yearly quotas. For example, Constantin Vasilache, metal worker at the Gheorghe
Gheorghiu-Dej Plant in Targoviste, by applying; the speed-cutting method, has al-
ready finished six yearly quotas; Ion Furtuna, milling-machine operator at Stea-
gul Rosu, Stalin, who, by a better organization of his work and by operating
several machines, has already completed three yearly quotas and is the initiator
of the campaign for better utilization of machines. Similarly, Mirita Marin, a
locksmith, has turned in two yearly quotas. Gheza Kopetin completed two yearly
quotas in 1950 at the Lonea Min,- and two more in 1951. Iosef Imre, a die-cutter
at Electroprecizia in Satulung, also completed two yearly quotas, and Aurelia
Sarkozi, Elisabeta Zahan, and Aurora Mora', weavers, are operating 60 automatic
looms.
The marked success achieved by Stakhanovites is not due to any overexertion
but to the sustained efforts to become as familiar as possible with the produc-
tion process, to bring to light methods for its perfection, to improve the equip-
ment, and to put the working hours to full use. The adoption of the new t-ch-
nology by these men is not an accidental affair. The party and the government
have worked constantly to build up the trained personnel needed for the adoption
and mastery of the advanced technology and the achievement of the objectives set
by the Five-Year Plan. in 1950 alone, more than 2 million students completed
courses in intermediate and professional schools, and 33,000 workers and tech-
nician' received superior-skill ratings and became specialists. This contributed
greatly to a better utilization of facilities.
Thus, in the iron and steel industry, the utilization of the usable volume
of the furnaces increased 16.5 percent in 1950, the number of hours of use per
year of installed power at the powerhouses exceeded the plan quota by 7.8 per-
cent, and the time-utilization index for machinery in the machine-building in-
dustry increased 13 percent over the first quarter of 1950.
The development of the Stakhanovite movement in the RPR has attracted wide
attention among the workers. Conferences with the leading metallurgical workers
constituted a highly instructive beginning in this direction.
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However, to promote the development of the Stakhanovite movement and the
campaign for continuous strengthening of the new attitude toward work _nd toward
communal property, it is necessary that the shortcomings which still persist in
production be liquidated.
A serious shortcoming, which led to a curbing of mass enthusiasm in compe-
tition, is the failure to respect plan discipline. For example, at the Steagul
Rosu Works, the plan was fulfilled with respect to tonnage, and far ahead of
schedule. However, certain categories of great importance, such as petroleum
machinery, were neglected and delayed. This situation is also found at the Re-
zistenta Motor Factory, where four sections fulfilled the plan, but because of
lack of planning in the loading of the machinery, two categories were far be-
hind schedule. Failure to follow plan discipline manifested itself in som-' en-
terprises through overeagerness. For example, at the Metrom Works in Stalin,
there was a break in production at the beginning of October because of faulty
planning, and as a result, many hours of overtime were put in toward the end of
the month, thus overloading the machines.
The technical staff failed to give its first attention to the creation of
technical and organizational conditions which make for proper development of
the production process and for a continuous rhythm.
Some enterprises failed to take measures to help the workers fulfill the
pledges taken in socialist competition. In the Moinesti and Utilaj Petrolifer
petroleum enterprises, for example, work on the October quota did not begin un-
til 10 October, and thus, the workers were late in taking their socialist com-
petition pledges.
Formalism in competition still persists in many enterprises. Neither the
trade unions nor the administrative bodies in these enterprises have given suf-
ficient consideration to the liquidation of this harmful bureaucratic holdover.
A conclusive example of this is the Strungul Plant at Stalin, where the fore-
men worked out the details of socialist competition in the office, without the
workers even knowing what these were.
A serious shortcoming appeared in certain trade-union groups, such as
those at Otelul Posu in Severin and Filimon Sarbu in Galati. This was the fail-
ure to draw technicians into socialist competition.
Also, the problem of keeping records or, the fulfillment of the pledges in
the competition has been and still is in large measure neglected. For example,
at Ochiuri, at the Turda Cement Factory, at the Comanesti lumber mill, and at
Fusul in Galati, the problem of keeping records has not received adequate at-
tention from the management, and, therefore, the workers engaged in competition
are not able to follow their progress in the fulfillment of their pledges.
This lack of records attracted more attention at the recent production con-
ferences, where the first Stakhanovites and front-line workers were confirmed.
In some enterprises, because of the lack of records, the titles of Stakhanovite
and front-line worker were granted on the basis of regular attendance at work,
honesty, or long-time service, as happened at the Brezoiu lumber mill, and the
Bistrita Terracotta Factory, while at other enterprises such as Dinamo in Bu-
charest, and the Zarnesti Cellulose Plant, workers were regarded as Stakhano-
vites solely on the basis of having exceeded their quotas.
Some of the trade-union groups such as those at the 23 August Plant, the
Industria Sarmii at Campia Turzii, and Infratirea at Oradea made no efforts to
publicize the front-line workers and the Stakhanovites, or to spread their
methods, thereby depriving the workers of strong support, within the framework
of socialist competition.
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STAT
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The important tasks confronting the working masses in the fulfillment of
the Five-Year Plan ahead of schedule make it necessary for the trade unions and
administrative bodies to liquidate the shortcomings and give their undivided
attention to the development of socialist competition and of the Stakhanovite
movement.
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