Paterson, N. J.
In reference to our method of producing toolroom outfits most
economically and with a large output:
This is chiefly accomplished by anticipating our machine shop
requirements or demands far enough in advance so that the majority of
work passing through the toolroom can be manufactured in quantities
great enough to be produced economically, and also bringing the
toolroom work nearer to an actual manufacturing basis. This also
eliminates a lot of down or lost time, including the unnecessary
losses, such as occur between jobs on work of this nature.
It also decreases the percentage of losses due to spoiled work as
workers become more skilled in performing one kind of work rather
than a number of different classes of work, which is invariably the
case in toolrooms.
We also find this gives us the opportunity to take advantage of
present conditions and hire a man who sometimes is inclined to call
himself a toolmaker, although he is not an all-around man but is
still quite suitable under our conditions of working.
We find, too, that on quantity production in toolroom, we are in
a position to effect some very great savings in time and money,
as it permits standard jigs and fixtures, such as in ordinary
manufacturing; for instance, we at one time machined all our flat
tool bits made of high speed steel before hardening and grinding,
while our present method is to heat bars of steel in gas furnace and
then punch out with die under heavy hammer or press. This method
alone in a couple of hours gives us a supply ahead that would
ordinarily take one machine or more in continuous operation to
produce.
The classes of work in toolroom are also segregated as much as
possible; we have one gang for machine repair and reconstruction
only. Another gang does all the roughing work on tools and gauges so
that the finishing work only on gauges is done by the gauge-makers
who are also practically a separate gang. The grinding of tools is
under one skilled mechanic who is a working gang boss and leader of
men trained to do this work only.
Our tool supply is never permitted to get below the fixed minimum
quantity, and record of this condition is always before the toolroom
foreman and maintained by his clerk. His clerk is advised hourly on
this through the disbursements which he receives from various shop
cribs.
We also make a daily record of these same disbursements as against
operations and production, thereby keeping in close touch with this
situation, obviating any unnecessary tool wastage which very quickly
may become extremely expensive, and which also may cause dangerous
delays in production in shop due to shortages in tool supply.
(Signed) GEORGE DE LAVAL,
_Vice-President and General Manager_.