The Defence Contractor

Abstract

The final assembly hall in the General Dynamics Convair Division plant at San Diego is a brilliantly-lit, air-conditioned hall. Blue signs hang from the roof, indicating different assembly stations. In each of these lies a partially-assembled missile, painted bright yellow. The missiles are slung in wheeled conveyors, on which they can be moved along the highly-polished floor. One technician attends each missile. Dressed in white or grey coats, with open-necked shirts, they peer at the equipment tightly packed in cylindrical sections. Making small adjustments, they bring the sections together.