by using electric accounting machines very rapidly and with considerably more accuracy than when done manually.

Let me repeat when we record all of the information concerning a transaction in this card, it then is in a "mobile" form where we can perform one or combination of any of these functions on thousands of transactions-automatically-rapidly-and accurately.

I will show you a few of the records we maintain in our stock-control operations utilizing EAM-or electric accounting machines. The first of these is an operating record known as the stock availability report (chart VI). This shows us what we have, where we have it, what obligations we have on it, the condition it is in, for what intended purpose it is stocked, an indication of what active items are considered to be logical substitutes and the quantities of these substitutes that are available, and an indication of the control level on each standard item.

This is a sample of the EUCOM stock availability report, only one 'page out of our complete availability listing.

Columnar headings are more or less self-explanatory: Stock number, nomenclature, unit of measure, location code, data of activity, condition code (indicating the condition of the item-whether it is new or used but serviceable, etc.), account code indicating the intended purpose for which the item is stocked, and quantities indicating on hand, due in, due out and the requisitioning objective. In considering the first item, we have in the European Command 1,150 established as our requisitioning objective and an indication it is requisitioned every 3 months. The second line tells us that at the Giessen depot we have nothing on hand, 120 due in, 105 obligated as due out. The third line indicates that at Munich we have none on hand, 90 due in and 85 due out. The fourth line indicates we have 900 due in to the European Command. The total line indicates our

stock position for the command-nothing on hand, 1,100 due in, 191 due out, and the requisitioning objective of 1,150. The second item— overcoat, women, with liner. Our level for the European Command is 500 requisitioned quarterly. Second line indicates that we have nothing on hand of the standard item but on a logical substitute-coat, WAC, utility, we have 200 on hand at Giessen. On a second substitute-raincoat, parka type-we have 70 on hand.

You will note that substitute items are grouped with their respective standard items, the latter considered as assets when requisitioning on the States, and positive action is taken to issue them prior to the standard item. The other items on the report can be interpreted in the

same manner.

I would like to emphasize that this report makes available to all Quartermaster stock and supply control personnel-both here in EUCOM and in the OQMG-complete data as to our stock position at all times.

Colonel Flynn has explained the factors bearing on and our method of computing levels-or requisitioning objectives.

Remember the data we have in the availability report is all in the mobile punched cards we mentioned earlier. By automatically and rapidly processing these cards we can now apply a very simple formula in the calculation and preparation of our EUCOM replenishment requisitions on the United States (chart VII).

We have the requisitioning objective established on a standard item. From this we subtract the "on hand" and "due in" (notice we take credit for our logical substitutes) plus our due-out obligations to equal our required quantity.

In making this calculation we prepare a worksheet-or as we call it, the Preliminary Requisition-indicating all factors considered in the computation as well as the final results (chart VIII).

You can see that the same four items indicated in detail on our sample of the stock availability report are now reduced to four lines in this preliminary report. The first item is calculated and indicated as a net debit requirement of 231. The second as a net debit requirement of 10. Notice that this is a small percentage of the requisitioning objective of 500. The machines are set to automatically eliminate small debit quantities such as these. This "9" printing to the right of the stock number indicates this action.

The third item is computed as a net credit or excess of 153. This item will automatically be eliminated by the machines when the final requisition is prepared.

Finally, the fourth item is calculated to a net debit requirement of 483.

This preliminary requisition is manually edited by the supply specialists in the requirements and distribution group for the following types of action:

1. Items in a large "Cr" condition are a flag that a portion of the quantities possibly can be transferred to an excess account.

2. Small debit quantities may be deleted and requisitioned at a later

date.

3. Unrecorded information may be known that items may become available (such as projected returns from a renovation program) or pending reductions in allowances, etc., that make it unwise to requisition at this time from the United States.

4. Recent supply information may indicate some levels should be revised immediately; these are computed manually and inserted on the worksheet.

DUE IN CONTROL

SCHENECTADY

DODOND

PHILADELPHIA
QMD

ESSEN
QMD

NAMBOLLENBACH
QND

MUNICH
OND

After this editing action is completed, the worksheet is returned to the Machine Records Unit where the cards are revised and the final requisition is prepared and forwarded by air to the NYPE (chart IX). [Not reproduced.]

In utilizing this next chart (chart X) we can see that we have positive control over the items requisitioned up to the time they are actually on hand.

In Colonel Flynn's explanation of the requisitioning objective, he showed that 120 days of the supplies in the pipeline were allocated to the order-and-shipping time. This is made up of the time it takes to calculate and prepare the requisition here in Giessen, air-mail the requisition to New York where the items are extracted to various filler depots in the ZI, the shipping by train to the New York port, loading aboard ship, and forwarding to Bremerhaven.

Simultaneous with the forwarding of requisitions to New York, cards are automatically prepared to establish the required quantities