The tile hadronic calorimeter for the ATLAS experiment

Tilecal is the barrel hadron calorimeter of ATLAS. An extensive research and development program was carried out, and three full-size prototype modules were produced and tested from 1996 to 1998. Following ATLAS internal reviews, the construction of the calorimeter started in 1998; about 30% of the modules of the calorimeter are already constructed. We report on the experience of the mass production of the optical components and modules of the tile calorimeter.