Bill,
Now that you reminded me of that statement, I remember it. This is also probably why they didn't do the previously announced passenger sets. This is why outsourcing and JIT production and inventory control are not always the best system for "Short run" production, as most of the AF line is.
Not to preach, but "in the old days" ACG would run a mold and have lots of shells on hand to store. If, say, you want to make 300 sets of ABC railroad passenger cars, they would set up the paint & finishing lines and produce them using shells on hand. In some ways this is more efficient than the JIT production system. Usually the cost of storage is offset by the reduction in per-piece molding costs. However this assumes the product is being made "In house" and planning and stock-on-hand information is readily available. This is also why shared trucks were used, truck production might be this week, body production next week, etc. etc. This is also why ACG used the same pieces to build different items (motors, for example). Nowadays we have to wait our turn in the production line and then the plant is making THAT item. Afterwards, only the tooling is stored (if it isn't destroyed).
Of course, I may be all wrong; what do I know??
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