Part 11

Their training period will probably extend from four or five days to as many weeks, depending on the adaptability of the student and the difficulty of the machine for which they are being trained.

Women have not yet been introduced on the heavier machines but it is intended to do so within the near future.

COURSE FOR LATHE OPERATOR

Names of parts of machine. Names of cutting tools and their uses. How to set tool properly and why. Measuring instruments, uses and how to read. Reading blue-prints. Tools used about and in conjunction with lathe. Files and filing. Starting and stopping machine. Changing spindle speed, back gear, etc. Starting and stopping various feeds. Changing feeds. Centering round shafting. Plain turning operations. Face plate work, how set and centered. Grinding cutting tools, clearance, rake, etc., and reasons therefor. Cutting speeds and feed for various metals. Lubricants and coolants, use and benefits. Care and upkeep of machine. Kinks and pointers.

(Signed) E. M. PIERCE, Supervisor of School.

BURROUGHS ADDING MACHINE COMPANY

Detroit, Mich.

The Burroughs Adding Machine Company established in 1907 an apprentice school (course four years) which from its inception has proved an unqualified success. Our apprentices have also attended classes in the Cass Technical High School in Detroit. In the year 1916 we instituted a course along similar lines to our apprentice course for our service men.

However, the general shortage of skilled male help, the loss of over 800 men through the draft, and the rapid expansion of our business has obliged us to supplement our force with a considerable amount of female help in order that the increased demand for our labor-saving product be met.

Early in the present year, therefore, we established a school for unskilled female labor in connection with one of our departments engaged in the simpler operations. As the young women pass through the Employment Department they are placed in this Training School under the supervision of a competent instructor and are thoroughly grounded in the operation performed in that particular department. While in this school their characteristics are studied and as they acquire proficiency and their ability develops, they are assigned to more intricate and important work in the other departments throughout the factory. The selection for these assignments is determined by their physical condition and their mechanical development and aptitude. The instructor explains thoroughly the nature of the new employment, points out the advantages accruing to the employees because of their increased earning capacities; introduces them into the new department, points out in detail the various operations conducted therein, and painstakingly explains the scope of their new duties.

The following day they are started at their new operation, and by frequent observation, instruction and encouragements improve to a degree where they become expert in the one operation.

In this manner girls are gradually developed from the simpler burring and filing operations until we now employ them in departments performing such varied operations as indicated below.

Spring-winding, riveting machines, drill-press and milling machines, straightening of parts, assembling of special features, assembling and fitting type, the erection of machines, adjusting and inspecting machines, assembling and adjusting motors, punch press and hand and automatic screw machine work.

As the girls graduate from the starting department, or school, they don the regular shop uniform, consisting of a suit of overalls, and take their place alongside the men and under the same general conditions as to hours of labor and rates of pay. This stepping-up method of training the unskilled females has been a success with us as far as it goes, and has enabled us to increase our production 50 per cent. for the current year in spite of the acute skilled labor situation.

From April 1, when the training school was established, up to the present time, 412 young women have been received in Department 35, and 260 have been trained and transferred to other departments. At all times there are about forty or fifty young women undergoing training. Only nine young women have been returned to Department 35 for further training since April 1. After receiving additional training these nine were again placed and in no case has one failed for the second time. It is just a matter of finding the right place for the right young women, and then there is no question about them making good on the jobs, as they are proving every day.

In conclusion, tribute must be paid to the 1,200 women in our factory whose earnest desire to help their country in its time of need, and whose mentality and courage have enabled them to make a success of a kind of employment entirely foreign to them on the general conception of their abilities.

(Signed) WM. EARL LEEVER, Assistant to General Manager.

UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER CO., INC.

Hartford, Conn.

The Underwood Typewriter Co., Hartford, Conn., has undertaken the employment of women on a part-time basis, such as will permit them to attend to their household cares to a reasonable extent. Further, they are offering employment to women having small children between two and one-half and nine years of age, having given over a space in their plant for the care of such children throughout the work day, practicing the kindergarten plan. They have found many who are willing to engage with them under this plan, and are pleased to report the whole general scheme is working out well. Many of the women of either class have become expert in skilled work with but a limited time for training. Under their method, however, the instructing is done in each of the manufacturing departments where the plan has been introduced, as they have operated under good regulations as to quality and quantity for many years back, rendering it very practicable in their case to not instruct and train in separate spaces, although they appreciate the need for acting otherwise with new work, such as has been brought about by the war, and wherein the tasks at hand are not subject to accurate measurement to start with.

(Signed) C. D. RICE, Manager of Factory.

Photos are herewith shown which illustrate the mothers on part-time work in the factory while the children attend the kindergarten in the plant under expert instruction.

The experience of the Underwood Company indicates conclusively that advanced age is no barrier to productive value.

THE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY

Dayton, Ohio

The Training School for women, of whom over eight hundred have been placed in the various departments, was started in the latter part of March, 1918.

Because of the demand for trained help in the factory, we have not been able to keep them in the Training School as long as we would wish, but even this short experience has been sufficient to take away the fear of the shop, as many of our women have never had any factory experience before.

While in the Training School the students are paid the regular starting rate for women, and after they enter the factory and become more efficient their rate increases until they can do the work that a man previously did both as regards quality and quantity and they receive a man’s wage.