Newspapers / Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.) / May 1, 1965, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Warp and Filling OF THE PASSING SCENE An April story in the Pasca goula, Miss., Chronicle supplies a good example of how Fire stone people involve themselves in community responsibility wherever they work and live. The story and picture on page 1 of the newspaper announced election of James B. Baber as president of the Pascagoula Chamber of Commerce. Baber, manager of the Fire stone Stores in Pascagoula and associated with the company since 1951, is a native of Vir ginia and a graduate of the Uni versity of Alabama. His contri butions to community life also include work with the Lions Club, The American Legion, and as a finance-commission mem ber of his church. The story was sent to Fire stone News by a staff member of the Old Spanish Fort and Museum in Pascagoula. I ‘Kewanee’ Gone; Big Steamer In Among the latest modern equipment at the plant is a giant steam generator, and those with a tear for the past will note that it replaces “Old Kewanee” which was in service here for many years. The giant steam-maker was manufactured in Erie City, Pa., shipped by train from there to the Firestone track inside Gate 3. The 50,000-pound freight load was transferred to a heavy-duty flat truck and moved in through the shop gate. The combination natural-gas and oil unit works up steam for production processing — mainly slashing and nylon-unit opera tion—and furnishes comfort heat throughout the plant and ware houses. It can be switched from Horace Hughes, whose pipe- fitting crew did the plumbing on the new steam generator, looked over the dials and gauges and noted a job well done on the color-coding of pipes. one to the other of the two types of fuel, in case one source fails. A second steam unit, in ser vice here for several years and recently rebuilt, is a standby for the new equipment. ☆ COMPANY PROGRAM Best Is Getting Better All The Time Firestone is taking a giant step toward production per fection in its U.S. and Cana dian tire plants. The program known as ‘Zero Defects’ is a challenge to set the highest goals of error-free work and then to maintain these goals, explains H. H. Weidenmann, vice president of tire produc tion. The “Zero Defects” idea is a campaign for craftsmanship and pride in performance. Objective is the elimination of defects through preventive measures. “All phases of the broad pro gram are aimed at inspiring people to prevent mistakes by developing a continuous and conscious desire to do any work right the first time,” Mr. Weid enmann said. The ‘Zero Defects’ concept originated in the missile pro duction industry where the smallest error is too much, and where such error endangers the success of the total project, or jeopardizes the life of the astro naut in manned space flights. " 'ZERO DEFECTS' is a mat ter of attitudes rather than in spection methods,” he said. “It is an individual project in which quality workmanship and error less performance are recognized and rewarded. It is a conscious acknowledgment that we can eliminate defects, mistakes and waste.” Firestone is the first tire man ufacturing company to adopt the basic principles of the ‘Zero De fects’ idea. Details for putting the program into effect have been worked out for adoption in all Firestone tire plants in the United States and Canada. “ ‘Zero Defects’ is not a new quality-control program. It is over and beyond our present programs. This program be comes a way of life, where em ployer, employee and customer all benefit,” said Mr. Weiden mann. The program, geared primar ily to the tire plants, of neces sity involves all others of the company’s plants producing any materials that are built into tires. This means that textile plants such as the one at Gas tonia are vitally concerned with ‘Zero Defect’ in fabric. “We at Gastonia owe it to our fellow workers in the tire-build ing plants to uphold the highest standards,” noted general man ager Harold Mercer. “If we fail our tire plants, we penalize them and ourselves as well.” Aunt Sadie once told the par son: "It's a wise man who be lieves only half of what he hears, and a wiser one still when he knows whicii half to believe." Favorite stopping place for soda-pop or for swapping an amusing story is a sandwich shop - newsstand on Franklin Ave. near the Vance St. corner. Of the entertainment oft en gaged in there, this is a sample recalled by Roland Huss, second- shift elevator operator. “Pretty stormy last evening— wind nearly took the gate off the hinges,” said one man be tween potato-chip nibbles. “Sure was,” added another. “Blowed my old washpot across the yard so fast the lightning struck at it three times and never did hit it!” Grant Heads Methods And Time Study Thomas A. Grant, employed here for 22 years, the past 12 of which he was in methods and time study, has been promoted to manager of that department. He had been acting manager since E. S. Fullington moved to Texas early this year. Active in church and civic life> Grant is a neighborhood com missioner of Piedmont Council, Boy Scouts of America, and a committeeman of Firestone Ex plorer Post 328. He is a member of the board of directors of the Optimist Club of Firestone and a charter member. Choirmaster at Gaston Avenue Church of God, he is composer of one re ligious song which has been published by a Tennessee music firm. Grant is president of the Sou thern Textile Methods & Stan dards Association, having been elected at the organization s semi-annual meeting at Clem- son, S.C. recently. He had served as treasurer for two years and aS vice president for the 1964-65 year. He is author of a chapter Time Study Manual for the Tex tile Industry, one of two major publications which STMSA ha^ issued since its organization 1951. May, 1965 Page Four Repeater Students Earned GCIMC Credits At an April presentation, it wasn't the first time that Roy Davis, Leroy Posey, James Burr and Cramer Little had received certificates upon completion of courses offered through Gaston County Industrial Management Club. The Firestone men (from left, front row) and their latest courses completed: Posey, com munications; Little, effective speaking; Burr, time - motio^^ study; and Davis, applied chology. With them at presei^' tation were F. B. Harrison left), chief accountant; and E* Mechem, comptroller. Hudy N. Webb A memorial program for Hudy N. Webb at L o r a y Baptist Church preceded burial April 19 in Gastonia’s Hollywood Ceme tery, with full military honors at the graveside. Webb was a Firestone veteran of almost 26 years. Had he been able to continue work, he would have marked his 30th employ ment anniversary in April. He was a member of Loray Baptist Church and Gaston American Legion Post 23. A neighbor, speaking of him as a WWI veteran, said “Ever since 1918, Hudy reverently observed Armistice Day (now Veterans Day).” Surviving are his widow, Hes ter Anderson Webb, 2 daughters, a son; a sister and 3 brothers. FIRESTONE / Postoffice Box 1278 TEXTILES I Gastonia, N. C. 28053 RETURN REQUESTED BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE PAID at Gastonia, N. C. PERMIT NUMBER 29 THE LIBRARY OF UNO CHAPEL HILL» N. C.
Firestone News (Gastonia, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 1, 1965, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75