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NEWSLETTER
VOL. 1. NUM. 6
GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLiMA
OCTOBER, 1987
riANT MANAGKR'S MESSAAGE
By: J. Anaiid
We arc coming close to the end of tliis fiscal year
and need to look with optimism at the next year. A
question asked by a lot of folks recently lias to do
witl> the short weeks. These were a result of
reduced production at the tire plants, a two week
shutdov,Ti at Bloomington and reduced demand from tlie
Venezuela plant. The requirements from all tliese
plants are projected to be back to normal by
^ November so you can look for a full schedule.
In this edition of tlie newsletter you will also see
our Quality Policy. Remeinber, it will take
everyone's comniitnient to convert this statement
into reality.
Our priorities for the new year are not different
than what tliey have been, namely:
- Improve quality (reduce rework)
- Attain daily production
- Safety & housekeeping
Of course none of this
can be done without all
of us working harder
and smarter towards
tlds common goal—AS A
TEAM.
- SAFETY ims’S
Inc'tdcuiiua
Lost TLne
Incident Rata
If ear to Date:
i.
0
- Month:
5.2
4.8
qjSTO:^ER COtWENTS
By: Jeff Heavner
FIRESTONE riBURS & TCXTILES DIVISION
GASTONIA Pl^\NT
QUAUTY POUCV
•T'
J, ANAND
PtANr MAN*GbB
A trip was inade to South
Eind Central America to
visit tlie tire plants in
Chile, Venezuela, Costa
Rica and Mexico. It was a
very informative trip, but
tliere is a lot of work to
do. Cliile and Costa Rica
Jiad repoi’ted tliat they were
receiving poor quality fabric from Gastonia so ve
did not Icnov what to expect wli«n ve arrived.
However, tiiere were not thai: many complaints with
the Gastonia iriaterial.
'ihi- noi>t rufea ti.u?t nucds is- -
connrjiiicat i ons bct'.i’con Gaston ia and tliest;
plants. Gaj;tonia needs to in'prove tlie woven
headers on the material Chile. During
tlis weaving of 1:h'e he.^der v:e eitlier raiss a pick: or
we are allowing a tliin area to fonn. Co'l^a Rica
had complained about too maJiy .splices in it.s fiPli'2
material. Again, Gastonia is producing to tho
spec, raid if Cost.i Rica no.ecis something pore; then
they must revise tiio spec.
Oriiitcr.ia contis-.ues to I'yceive a largt^ amount or
cliargnback from Okl.aiii'>(!i». Ci? y. The roi'isons for tht?
ch:'rgeb.':cics r-ro tiglit ediio;; anr'. spli!-: t;hc
shell.
It; f.’nallj lon!:5 like we ar« (■•ettin^i sowe of the
projcct.'i coii.pleLod at R' OveK v»-!>ich ir-.vins
busiinoss for th-s l.’cr.t Knd.
Overall Gastionia had a good Sontc'fjiior.
OUR PaJCY IS TO MANLTACTURE PROOUCfS THAT MEET OR SXCErO CUSTOMER
ttQUIREWtNTS AT A COwrCTlTIVE COST. EVEN WHEN CUSTOMER RlQUR£ME>r.S
«cr iM;’KO'.TMFffr in ryjMrrY y/!iL BE SO|JjOT A5 a
ENLl'JO OajECn\'E.
IT 13 RECCCN1ZF.D TriAT OUlt MOST Vi-lWaE ASSET IS "PEOPt.E' AND WE ,\RE
DEDIC-\TED TO rr.OVlDIMG TIie>‘. v^ni rrtH NECESSARY RESOURCES. SLVPORT ANO
TR/'JHII!G IN CRMK TO f'ROOUCf A CUAirfY ?KODUCT AS Si>ECIF!ED BY OCR
CL'STOMCRS.
THROUGH THE EDt'CATiON AND rOO''.-il=ir:ON OF \U. EMPLOYEES WE WIO.
DEVELOP A BErTTH UNDEKSTANDINC, Or OUt! MANUFACTURING PROCESSES ANO
OUR A.IiinY 10 CONTROL lHr.M.
JIIST RFJ^INISCTNG
By: S.'unmy Crawford
February 3, 1950, was my first day to work at our
pliint. I came to work on fJie second shift as a
refreshment clerk or better known as "t'le dope
boy."
In looking back, my tliirty-seven years here have
passed very quickly. Wlien you are working with
wonderful people time does fly. Having tiie
opportunity to be associated v;ith so may fine
employees has been tJie most rewarding aspect of my
employment. No doubt, soma of the best people in
our country are working or lifive worked at our
plaint. If, while working, we achieve job
satisfaction and at the same time put bread on the
table, there is very little left to be said. I
liave experienced both—job satisfaction and
provided a living for Eva Nell and myself.
Through the years the Gastonia plcint has been
blessed with good
leadership and loyal,
dedicated euuployees;
otiierwise, we v/ould not
have been here for over
fifty years. In order to
survive these many years,
many changes have taken
place and will continue in
yecirs t:o come. Probably
the uioct significant change
tliat I have experienced
was changing our process
from cotton to syntlietics.
IMPLEMOnATION OF THIS TOLICY MAKES I! ESSENllAI. THAT EACH PERSON BE
COMMITTED TO PRODUCT CONSISTENCY > MANUFACTURING EXCEUENCE
QUALITY IS EVERYBODY'S RF/.l-ONSiL'IU rV.
I am tlianlcful tliat on
February 3, 1950, Firestone
Textiles gave me a job and
that my health has
permitted me to continue to
work. If it were possible
t-o recall tlie past
t±irty-seven years, I would
again step in tJie direction
of Firestone.
i
I want to also take tJiis
opportunity to Umrik each of you for your
friendship euid support through the years. Just
knowing eacli of you has been a highlight of my
life. Please remember tliat friendship doesn't
stop at the gate—the welfare of you and our plant
will always bo a concern of nine.
By Uie way, if you are out on Crowders Creek Road
after January, please stop by for a visit.
SEPTEMBER PRODUCTION
Pounds
per Day
Department*
Rem vi red
Actual
1 Ply Twisting
158,000
151,/.61
» Cable T\visting
158,000
155,038
Sal as Yarn
3,000
3,0.12
Tire Cord Weaving
158,000
155,576
Industrial Weaving
1,000
1,000
Treating
170,000
160,000
Total Pounds Shipped for Month 3.163.311
‘'‘Operating days vary by di»partni'nt.
.Snveni-y-r'ivo percent of tlio strength of a tires
coniHS from tcxtilea.