fOTOFAX
BREVARD PLANT
PHOTO PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT
VOL. 15, NO. 3
(ilp)
APRIL-MAY, 1982
FOCUS:
JOB SECURITY AT BREVARD
Last month unemployment in
North Carolina reached 11.9%
and almost 1,000 North Caroli
nians were out of work in Tran
sylvania county alone. I have
never experienced this misfor
tune, but I have no difficulty sens
ing the frustrations and fears of
those who are the victims of the
current recession. Some experts
say the recession is in the pro
cess of “bottoming out.” The
same experts add quickly that
hitting bottom is one thing but
climbing out is another.
I don’t pretend to be an expert
and certainly would not try to
forecast when the U.S. economy
will be considered healthy again.
On the other hand, an analysis of
the current economic situation at
the Brevard plant suggests a few
facts worth calling to your atten
tion.
1. To date the overall demand for
x-ray products has continued
strong. The near-term outlook
continues to look good.
Polyester base demand will
continue lower for the re
mainder of the year. Employ
ment should remain steady,
and for this we should all be
grateful.
2. Job security cannot be
guaranteed. Security of em
ployment depends upon our
ability to market useful pro
ducts with high quality and
competitive prices.
3. Maintaining the status quo is
a threat to job security. Stand
ing stiil is dangerous and pre
sents an open invitation for
our many competitors-to pass
us by. Like Jonathan Seagull,
we need to reach greater
heights. In our case, this
means increased productivity,
higher quality and effective
cost control.
4. Team effort is essential. Job
security is protected only
when Manufacturing,
Marketing, and R&D are
dedicated to achieve common
objectives. We have always
worked together at Brevard,
and this is one reason for our
success.
5. Job security is enhanced
when new and better products
are successfully introduced
into the marketplace. There
are a number of new products
in various stages of scale-up,
and all are aimed at improving
the plant’s competitive posi
tion.
I have mentioned only a fevj of
the things that are important in
our quest for job security. During
the next few months, you will
hear more about our efforts to im
prove plant performance. In the
last Issue of Fotofax, Norm
Alford discussed Product Quality
Management (PQM), an impor
tant step toward improved quality
control.
A quality and productivity
seminar is under development
and will be underway within the
next few months. In addition, ef
forts are continuing to develop
programs that will encourage
greater employee participation in
programs aimed at improving
plant performance.
It is obvious we all share the
responsibility for job security.
Success requires the best from
each of us.
Plant Manager
Junior Achievers
Learn Business
by Luranne Dennis
JA Advisor
This is the I3th year that the
Brevard Plant has sponsored a
Junior Achievement Company in
Transylvania County.
The object of the JA program is
helping high school students to
understand how the free enter
prise system works, by forming
and operating their own com
pany. Students raise capital,
manufacture and sell products,
pay wages to workers and divi
dends to stock holders.
This year’s DuPont sponsored
company chose the name JAMM,
for Junior Achievement Money
Makers.
The company was formed last
September, and was in operation
through March. Members were
from Brevard and Rosman High
Schools.
Working at Pisgah Forest
school every Monday night, they
manufactured several products,
including chocks, candles, hold
ers for wooden stick matches,
and firestarters. They participat
ed in the Annual Trade Fair held
in the Asheville Mall.
The JAMM Company had five
DuPont advisors: Ken Walend,
Kay Stepp, Kim Smith, Al Haney
and Luranne Dennis.
-X^
Address Correction Requested
Bulk Rate
Box 267, Brevard, N.C. 28712
U.S. Postage
PAID
Brevard, N. C.
Permit #66
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ADVISORS Kay Stepp, Luranne Dennis
and Kim Smith are recipients of speciai service awards from JA,
presented by John Goiden. Ai Haney and Ken Waiend missed the
photo session, but were given simiiar awards for their service.