Detroit, Mich.
In the spring of 1914 labor conditions were somewhat disturbed in
Detroit. We lost a good many of our expert varnish rubbers, and we
could not get skilled men to replace them, and we tried to break in
men on the varnish rubbing deck, but found that too much work was
spoiled by the green men, and the experienced men did not have time
or inclination to properly instruct those who were unskilled. This
led to the establishment of a school for training varnish rubbers
and was the beginning of our efforts to train unskilled workers. The
result of this experience was so highly successful that we carried it
to all of the other branches of body manufacture, and _a school for
training unskilled help became a permanent part of our institution_.
We were able to teach women how to trim automobile bodies, and they
learned in an average of less than ninety days. Their work was of
a very high order, and we were very much gratified with what they
accomplished. Very often we found that we were able to train men to
an exceedingly high degree of skill in less than sixty days. All men
were not so apt. Some of them could not be placed in the skilled
class even after three months of training.
As the war activities took workers we turned our school into training
quarters for mechanics. For instructors we aim to use the best
workers in a particular class that we have, providing that they have
the natural ability to instruct others. Some men lack the ability to
impart their knowledge to others. This type of man does not make a
good instructor. A man should not only be an expert in his trade, but
he should have the natural ability to impart his knowledge in order
to become a good instructor.
In teaching some of the women we find that some women pick up very
quickly some particular trade and when they become experts we in turn
make them instructors. We have not yet developed any toolmakers. We
have developed men to tool room work, such as turning, grinding,
etc., but this is not really toolmaking.
We believe that it is possible to turn out good toolmakers and we are
turning our energies to this end.
(Signed) F. F. BEALL,
_Vice-President of Manufacturing_.