WEST END COMMENTS By: Jeff Heavner The West End continues to meet the challenge of maintaining its current production levels while preparing to move to the new plant at the same time. The volume of business from Reeves International is continuing to increase. Three new higher speed Domier looms will delivered to the new plant in April. The search for new customers is continuous. The preparations for the relocation have not stopped our efforts to improve our current process. Our efforts in recycling are beginning to pay off. The cardboard tubes that our yam arrives on are being sent to the warehouse where it is compacted and shipped to Sunoco. This saves Gastonia the cost of having them hauled away to the Recycling Center. We continue to recycle our used parts, as well as find alternative sources for as many of the new parts as possible. The cost of Domier loom parts is vsry high; therefore, a lot of money can be saved by reworking our loom parts. Personally, I can hardly wait to work on a floor that does not bounce. LEARNING CENTER NEWS By: Walter Dodd On March 22 the Leaming Center began operating on three shifts. We are conducting Team Member (Cell) classes on 1st and 2nd shifts, and an advanced weaving class on 3rd shift. We have also conducted a three day technical skills course for the three Process Coordinator candidates; BECKY LEFIiER, DON PRICE, and KEITH WILSON. The P. C. candidates will return for two additional weeks of technical skills education with the current Team Member prospects and Instructors. Congratulations are in order for our most recent graduates of our Team Member classes. KEITH BLANTON, PEGGY BROOKS, SHEILA CUMMINGS, JOHN EVERETTE, TONY FLOWERS, RACHEL HARTNESS, RODNEY HOPPER, SHIRLEY HUGHES, LEONARD HUSKEY, OSCAR KEE, LAURA MOOD, JERRY PARKER, BESSIE RHODES, JERRY SMITH, NOAH STANLEY, and SCOTT STEVENS have successfully completed the six week Tesum Member class, and all but four of them have retumed to the plant to work with our other graduates. The four; KEITH BLANTON, JOHN EVERETTE, LEONARD HUSKEY, and NOAH STANLEY, are currently enrolled in our 3rd shift advanced weaving class for two additional weeks of weaving education. TEAMWORK WORKS! Copied from Decatur's Newsletter 2/93 The recycling project developed and implemented by our Dept. 122-C team. Probe Uno, continues to be replicated throughout BFS. In fact, our friends at America OTR are entering into the recycling project as well. MARTY DUCKWORTH, Cost Analyst at Gastonia has been instrumental in all aspects of this project. In a letter to SHERRELL PERRY and SHEILA TOHILL of our Accounting Department, MARTY commented, "Again, I wish to thank all of you at Decatur for being the "Leader" tire plant in the recycle meadboard program. Y'all are very kind and thoughtful and I know many customers can't help but think the same way about your tezun and your determination to be nothing but the "very best". STEVE WEATHERFORD, DOUG BORDERS, LESTER DOTY, and WAYNE TIBBS began a revolution in our Company for recycling of materials used in shipping of our fabric that's really caught on, and has benefitted all locations that have adopted it by reducing costs. SHEILA provided the necessary support for the team locally while being the communications link with Gastonia. Without the dedicated effort by all involved parties, this cost savings wouldn't have been possible. Thanks, MARTY! We appreciate your kind words and will continue to work for the benefit of all of us. EDUCATION Our school is still located in the Warehouse area. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. SHERRIE BOST is eager to assist you with math, reading, and GED courses. Please contact her today!