^ 1993
Page 11
(fijustable Platform
Vlaintenance
guilds Better
Mousetrap’
“Building a better mouse-
p” has long been the pur-
t of many people although
t everyone finds the secret
mula for that “new and
proved” product.
However, the Adams-Mil-
Maintenance Department
s and their “better mouse-
ip” will help boarders to do
sir job more effectively and
mfortably.
Since boarders come in a
riety of heights while board-
g machines are the same
light, various methods have
:en used to elevate the
>arder to a comfortable level
work most effectively. Boxes
'different sizes has been the
ost commonly used method,
owever, each has its own
lortcomings, safety factors
Tiong them.
Now those considerations
m be put aside, thanks to a
;am effort by the Maintenance
department to design and
svelop adjustable platforms
)r boarding work stations.
“Mount Airy bought one
:om someone but it didn’t
io:k very well,” said Gary
'arlow, who spearheaded the
latform project. “We looked
t it and modified it to get
/hat was needed.”
But Farlow was quick to
loint out that the project was
ruly a team effort in the de-
)artment. He cited Jim Jor-
lan, Randy Farlow, Jon Free-
nan, Tom Harrington, Lon-
lie Roller, Richard Perryman,
lerry Smith and Bill Sexton
br their assistance.
“I think everybody in the
department worked on this
project,” he said. “We asked
for input from everybody on
what we could do to make it
work best and everybody made
suggestions. What we have is
a combination of all those
ideas.”
Input for the design also
came from Jerry Goad, head
fixer in the Mount Airy Board
ing Department, Greg Hiatt,
fixer, and from Boarding Su
pervisor Tony Lowe.
The adjustable platforms
(53 x26 inches mounted on a
60 inch wide metal frame)
which are now in use (63 in
Mount Airy and 8 at High Point
Finishing) evolved through a
couple of steps, according to
Farlow.
The original one purchased
in Mount Airy was controlled
by air pressure which left it
unstable as the boarder moved
from side to side. It also had a
tendency to jam as the plat
form was adjusted.
The first one designed by
Maintenance used an electric
motor to raise and lower the
platform. But there were prob
lems with that too, including
cost.
“I think we would have had
overkill with that one,” Far-
low said.
So when the project went
back to the proverbial draw
ing board, a simpler, less costly
unit was the result.
The platform is adjusted up
or down by a wench and the
platform is secured at its de
sired height with metal pins
inserted into the sides of the
Maintenance Department employees pose with some of the adjustable platforms they de
signed and made for Adams-Millis boarding departments. From left are Jim Jordan, Jon
Freeman, Jerry Smith, Richard Perryman, Tom Harrington, Bill Sexton, Lonnie Roller,
Randy Farlow and Gary Farlow.
unit. The manual adjustment
takes 15 to 30 seconds.
“It allows for a 10-inch ad
justment of the platform,”
Farlow explained. “That
should take care of about any
boarder’s height require
ments.”
Goad agreed.
“We’re well pleased with
them,” he said. “They’re re
ally doing a good job. The
boarders really like them.
Several have told me that their
backs don’t hurt since they have
the platforms.”
Boarders in Mount Airy
range in height from approxi
mately five feet to 5-11.
So the “better mousetrap”
that Maintenance devised
solved a long standing prob
lem, making the workplace
safer and more comfortable
for employees which should
result in better productivity.
Platforms also are to be
added at Kernersville Finish
ing but the design will have to
be modified slightly because
of the space available in the
boarding department there.
“We plan to used the same
system but we’ll need to ad-
Employees Evaluate Displays
Some Adams-Millis em
ployees are being encouraged
to look at socks - while they
are away from work.
Kernersville Finishing Plant
Manager Robert Gates said a
survey form is being given to
employees at plant Roundtable
sessions to evaluate how re
tailers such as K mart, Wal-
Mart, Sam’s and others dis
play Hanes socks in their stores
in comparison to other brands.
“The retailer is our cus
tomer,” Gates said. “If our
socks sell, there will be reor
ders and continued business.
If we ignore what happens in
the retailer, the repeat busi
ness may not come.”
just the width of the platform,”
Farlow explained.
Retirees
Barbara D. Lane
Kernersville Finishing
Edward Markushewski
Corporate Office
L.H. Efird
Corporate Office
Geraldine Bailey
Corporate Office
Ella Jones
Mount Airy Knitting &
Finishing
Rosa L. Brooker
Kernersville Finishing
Mildred J. Hayes
Silver Knit
In Memoriam
Howard Young
Retired
Clyde Berrier
Dependent of Hassie Berrier
Mount Airy Finishing
Joe Allred
Retired
Howard Robbins
Dependent of Ella Robbins
High Point Finishing
Billy Norman
Dependent of Janell Norman
Drexel Knitting
Faye Lail
Retired
Virginia Thompson
Retired
Eula Garner
Retired
Hermal Hall, Jr.
Dependent of Dusky L. Hall
Mount Airy Finishing
Pauline McCarter
Retired
Nellie Patterson
Retired
V
' *
f
Teamwalk
Piedmont
Adams-Millis
employees participated in
the annual Team Walk
Piedmont and other events
to raise funds for the March
of Dimes and to help pre
vent birth defects. A full
report will appear in the
next issue of the Amco
News. In 1992 Adams-
Millis employees raised
some $23,000 in the annual
walk for the March Of
Dimes. “Our employees
have been very helpful in
making this event a tremen
dous success for the past
couple of years,” said Linda
Leach, w ho has coordinated
the event within Adams-
Millis.