The ability and capacity to assemble armored vehicles does NOT mean that the upstream suppliers also have the capacity to produce more Ceramic armor plating. I agree -- there probably is no shortage of assembly capacity of vehicles -- whatever the configuration.But I do believe there is a shortage of ceramic armor production capacity (Ceradyne is opening a new plant -- I understand there was over an 18 mo lead time to manufacture and deliver the furnaces needed for the production -- and they are not sourced in the US).
The MSM will mislead by discussing the assembly of vehicles -- but that is not where the bottleneck is...I had the opportunity to talk to some of the people at Ceradyne -- from what was related during the visit, the bonus potential and contracts are set up to run capacity at 100% 24/7. I just do not buy that if capacity existed along the entire supply chain -- we would be artificially limiting production.
LOL! And that just adds another dimension to the procurement problem.
Just because it's "ceramic" doesn't mean that you can get the stuff from any manufacturer that normally makes pottery or fine china.
And it gets even worse with some of the sophisticated composite armors that layer different types of steel and ceramics and who knows what other exotic materials together into some kind of bonded "sandwich". With "secret recipes" like that, you're gonna almost always be stuck dealing with a lone, single vendor who has the expertise to make the stuff.
from what was related during the visit, the bonus potential and contracts are set up to run capacity at 100% 24/7.
Only a total moron (like the one we have in the WH) plans production at maximum "ideal" capacity utilization. It's a sure-fire way to shoot yourself in the foot when Murphy's Law intervenes. Excess capacity may be financially "inefficient", but it is what enables industry to quickly and smoothly respond to normal fluctuations in the marketplace (including routine "emergencies"). It doesn't matter whether we're discussing ceramic armor production, steel or electricity. The financial bozos dictating GOP policies are overly enamored with shedding "excess" production capacity, then try to pin the blame on somebody else when we get clobbered with shortages (be it ceramic armor or brownouts on the electrical grid.) Same darn situation is gonna happen with our food supply if the blasted free-traitors get their way on CAFTA and FTAA.
Idiots.