Kalshnikov designed a better tach while a tank comander, the design was accepted and he was transfered to the tank factory to improve production of theT34. They were engineers, mechanics, he a Commander who wore a pistol, production increased dramatically. He did not want a lot of design change, Red Army tanks had a short life, the only way they could match the Leopards and Tigers of the Germans was with numbers, charging in such waves that some would get through, and get the rear shot that worked.
Americans had the same problem, out ranged, and under gunned, a hit to the front or side bounced off, as the Germans were taking them out. The Russians used frontal assult, and flanking, so someone would be in shooting position, one hit to the rear took out the engine, which killed the tank, and it was a long walk home.
Klashnikov was an early form of systems analyst, starting by doing a final check before sending the tank to the front, they were working when shipped, then he worked his way back the line solving assembly and parts supply problems, he was persuasive, and all the lines flowed smoothly. Soon the factory ran much better, for failure could be met with an order to drive the tank to the front, or as Stalin's hand picked Commander, who had seen thousands of good men die, he was empowered to shoot anyone on the spot.
He learned every job, was the best friend of good workers, and when he asked to have a part made, they turned out their quota, and made what he wanted. The factory made it's numbers, and more, and it all paid off at Stalingrad. It was not put in service till two years after the war, 1947.
The factory made other weapons, he was in charge, kept production rolling, but saw the flaws in the designs. It was no time for change, but he had a special gift, he humored designers, went to the workers, and said, the designer has clean hands, book knowledge, his words mean little to me, you are men of machines, please tell me, how do we best make this? They told him, and loudly before everyone, he later ordered them to do what they had told him, or else. Every level of production improved, push from the bottom, beats pull from the top.
Was this thread about cats, I once saw a cat, it had fur, but it looked me in the eye, so I left.