Detroit, Mich.
The Burroughs Adding Machine Company established in 1907 an
apprentice school (course four years) which from its inception has
proved an unqualified success. Our apprentices have also attended
classes in the Cass Technical High School in Detroit. In the year
1916 we instituted a course along similar lines to our apprentice
course for our service men.
However, the general shortage of skilled male help, the loss of over
800 men through the draft, and the rapid expansion of our business
has obliged us to supplement our force with a considerable amount of
female help in order that the increased demand for our labor-saving
product be met.
Early in the present year, therefore, we established a school for
unskilled female labor in connection with one of our departments
engaged in the simpler operations. As the young women pass through
the Employment Department they are placed in this Training School
under the supervision of a competent instructor and are thoroughly
grounded in the operation performed in that particular department.
While in this school their characteristics are studied and as they
acquire proficiency and their ability develops, they are assigned to
more intricate and important work in the other departments throughout
the factory. The selection for these assignments is determined
by their physical condition and their mechanical development and
aptitude. The instructor explains thoroughly the nature of the new
employment, points out the advantages accruing to the employees
because of their increased earning capacities; introduces them into
the new department, points out in detail the various operations
conducted therein, and painstakingly explains the scope of their new
duties.
The following day they are started at their new operation, and by
frequent observation, instruction and encouragements improve to a
degree where they become expert in the one operation.
In this manner girls are gradually developed from the simpler burring
and filing operations until we now employ them in departments
performing such varied operations as indicated below.
Spring-winding, riveting machines, drill-press and milling machines,
straightening of parts, assembling of special features, assembling
and fitting type, the erection of machines, adjusting and inspecting
machines, assembling and adjusting motors, punch press and hand and
automatic screw machine work.
As the girls graduate from the starting department, or school, they
don the regular shop uniform, consisting of a suit of overalls,
and take their place alongside the men and under the same general
conditions as to hours of labor and rates of pay. This stepping-up
method of training the unskilled females has been a success with us
as far as it goes, and _has enabled us to increase our production 50
per cent. for the current year in spite of the acute skilled labor
situation_.
From April 1, when the training school was established, up to the
present time, 412 young women have been received in Department 35,
and 260 have been trained and transferred to other departments. At
all times there are about forty or fifty young women undergoing
training. Only nine young women have been returned to Department
35 for further training since April 1. After receiving additional
training these nine were again placed and in no case has one failed
for the second time. It is just a matter of finding the right place
for the right young women, and then there is no question about them
making good on the jobs, as they are proving every day.
In conclusion, tribute must be paid to the 1,200 women in our factory
whose earnest desire to help their country in its time of need, and
whose mentality and courage have enabled them to make a success of a
kind of employment entirely foreign to them on the general conception
of their abilities.
(Signed) WM. EARL LEEVER,
_Assistant to General Manager_.