CHEM-TEXTS
Page 2 | Vol. 5, No. 1
FROM THE FACTORY MANAGER
DEAR FELLOW EMPLOYEE:
I’m sure that each of us with a home and family is well aware of how increasingly difficult it is to maintain the standard of living to which we are accustomed, in light of higher overall costs of products and services.
Each month we are faced with regular bills for rent or mortgage, food, fuel, telephone, electricity, gasoline, as well as emergency ones for the doctor, dentist, or automobile repairs. As these costs rise, we do our best to control them by avoiding wasteful use of electricity and water and, in general, by the careful spending of our dollars.
We, at the plant, are faced with similar problems. This year our fuel bill will increase over $600,000; our water bill will increase $35,000; and the cost of electricity will increase $83,000.
We will also have a bill, similar to an emergency one for the doctor, of approximately $3,000,000 for the waste water pretreatment plant.
It will take the fullest cooperation of all employees in order to control and reduce these costs. We must strive to operate in a more efficient manner; prevent accidents and serious injuries; obtain more and higher quality production; avoid waste and off-specification material; and to make suggestions to improve the plant’s overall efficiency.
If each of us uses our time, knowledge, skills and ideas to our fullest capabilities, I’m sure that we will be able to maintain and improve the position of our plant in terms of employment and income.
[Signature: Paul Lyson]
NOW Students Tour Lab.
Dr. Byron Hunter entrances NOW group as he answers question on chemistry. From left are Hunter, Ron Anthony, Ralph Neubig, director, Mike Pittman, Dale Saunders, Mike Davis, Clayt Parker, Trent Saunders, and Nathan Herbert. (M. Makoski photo.)
Young high school students from the North End Opportunity Center in Waterbury saw chemistry in action during a tour of the Research facilities in Bldg. 81 as part of a Boy Scout project to earn their Chemistry Merit Badge. With awed attention and enthusiasm the young chemists watched Dr. Byron Hunter perform miracles with chemical reactions that expanded rubber to twice its normal size. “They asked some sharp questions,” Dr. Hunter commented after the visit.
In the Analytical Control Lab., Anna Radowich demonstrated the methods and techniques used to analyze products manufactured in the plant for quality before being shipped to the customer.
This is the third tour for the NOW group, having visited TSSC and the Agricultural Chemical Research Center previously. According to Ralph Neubig, “informative tours like this interest the students in different careers and pursuing higher education.”
Joe Trangle of the Materials Department transported the group from Waterbury to the plant and returned them home in the plant station wagon.
Six Take Drawing Course
Reviewing an engineering drawing upon completion of the course are from left Dan Cleary, Walt Nystrom, Odell Hines, Ed Bates, Bill Scott, Jim Shea and Bob Smith, instructor for the course.
by Bob Smith
“Reading Engineering Drawings” is much easier for six Chemical Mechanical employees who completed a 21-week course on surfaces and views; dimensions and sectional views; tolerances and finishes; and piping arrangements.
Besides the theory of the textbook, the course was supplemented by drawings of plant buildings, machinery, and processing facilities providing a practical application to the course. Job problems were taken to the classroom for discussion, blackboard work and usually solved.
As a result of the course, greater knowledge of the job brings a fuller sense of satisfaction, individual achievement, and personal responsibility. And usually makes the job easier.
The course was conducted in Bldg. 81 conference room on Wednesday mornings and is the third time it has been given to mechanical department personnel.
$8,900 Awarded
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employees during a one year period. Under the new plan which eliminates obvious suggestions and the $15 award for three suggestions, the amount attests the quality of the Ideas made during the year.
1,000 Ideas Processed
1,000 Ideas were evaluated, processed and answered during the year by Bernie Daily, Mitch Mazur, and the department coordinators. The delays and red tape of prior years have been eliminated. Ideas are now answered within a week and are held up only for extra evaluation to determine a fair award for them.
Iannuzzi, Idea Man of Year
Idea Man for 1970 was Carmine Iannuzzi, of the Mechanical department who submitted 52 Ideas for which he received $195. Dom Polzella turned in 8 Ideas worth $325. The highest award for the year, $849, went to Ann Mannion, widow of Earl Mannion, for his cost saving uniform valve system.
“Team” Wins $545
Putting their heads together, Bill Krayeski and Walt Tabaka earned $545 for the 38 Ideas they submitted as a “team” during the year. As mechanics, they utilized the experience and skill of their jobs and turned in several high winning Ideas on mechanical improvements in the plant. Another high award team is J. Butkus and John A. Painter who recently received $175.
Other Idea Men
Other employees whose ideas contributed to the more efficient operation of the plant were: L. Clark, $177; T. Lee, $100; J. Enamait, $100; K. Ferreira, $95; F. Henriques, $75; F. Surmanek, $75; J. Ferguson, $75; and J. Gallucci, $75. Robert Lestage, W. Anderson, N. Tiscione, E. Cheney, A. Molnar, D. Bedard, J. Shumak, S. Kropcho, J. Sickola, R. Harrison and (con’t on page 4)
Lost Time
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men’s Compensation amounted to $101,293.
But even more costly is the pain, suffering and financial burden endured by the individual and his family.
The loss in pay to the employees amounted to more than $20,000 during the year. Each accident costs the individual 20% of his earnings.
Affects All Employees
These are the obvious costs to the plant, but the hidden costs create greater problems. An experienced skilled person is replaced by one with less experience and knowledge of the job. Production, yields, and quality are hurt and the cost of making the product increased. As a result a department’s efficiency is reduced and the job security of fellow employees affected.
DEPARTMENT BREAKDOWN—1970
| Department | Lost Time Accidents | Serious Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Prod. | 3 | 13 |
| Reclaim Prod. | 1 | 21 |
| Synthetic Prod. | 0 | 7 |
| Materials | 1 | 1 |
| Mechanical | 1 | 18 |
| Res. & Develop. | 0 | 6 |
Anna Radowich shows group a sample of liquid latex. (M. Makoski photo.)
Walt Tabaka left and Bill Krayeski received $545 for 38 Ideas. The “Idea Team” in the Synthetic Mechanical department discuss an Idea prior to submitting it.