We put the new employee into a department and assign him or her to
a machine in charge of a skilled operator. The new employee becomes
at once an observer and a helper, and in a little while takes charge
of the machine and the skilled operator stands by and gives special
instructions.
We have detail instruction cards or process sheets for all
operations, and one of these cards in the hands of the new operator
will serve as a guide for turning out the work properly after the
instructor leaves the new employee to himself or herself.
In addition to this we have certain selected engineers from the Time
Study Department, who are attached to both the day and night shifts,
and devote their entire time to coaching the new operators, and see
to it that they learn to acquire the desired degree of skill and
proficiency.
We find that the women who are selected for this sort of work just
about equal the men. They show considerable enthusiasm for the work,
as is indicated by a less degree of lateness and absenteeism than
that of the men, but we have not had enough experience as yet to say
anything definite in this regard.
It is also perhaps true that we are taking greater pains instructing
the women than we would in the ordinary course take in instructing
green men.
(Signed) CHARLES S. GINGRICH.