Part 9

M. W. 27½c per hour J. S. $3.50 per day L. B. Not stated

M. H. M. T. 35c per hour A. S. $21 per week I. G. H. M.

30c per hour

Taking an eight-weeks’ course of intensive training fitting them to take places in a general machine shop. This course carries them much farther than machine operators.]

DETROIT STEEL PRODUCTS CO.

Detroit, Michigan

Some time ago it became necessary to increase the number of skilled mechanics in the steel spring business and a company in Detroit segregated a group of handymen under a skilled mechanic to see if they could acquire the necessary skill in a period less than three years which was then the admitted necessary time for complete apprenticeship. The plan had the assistance of a man trained in teaching methods but without large knowledge of the special business in hand. After four weeks’ training an operator was put on production work who equalled the average mechanic in this line of work and who in three months was leading the production of the shop. This initial success led to the establishment of schooling as the proper method of securing skilled help in this factory.

The elements most desirable in industrial training are:

1. Separation of the training department from production so as to avoid interference with production and also interference with the operators in training.

2. Supplying a full knowledge of the special business or trade through an instructor fully trained.

3. Supplying a full knowledge of teaching methods through an instructor who can act as a vehicle for the transfer of trade information in simple language to the new operators.

4. Application of the students’ time to learning one simple operation, preferably on a subdivided operation.

5. Application of the student’s time to learning the free operation of the tool together with opportunity to try its operation on some personally chosen work.

6. Satisfactory high scale of wage, but one which can be exceeded in actual production.

7. Encouragement to the operators and then more encouragement.

8. Selection of suitable operators.

Of all these the ones most overlooked are numbers 1, 3 and 6.

Many managers think that good instruction can be given right in the producing departments, whereas this has been proven to be a great interference with both production and schooling.

Most attempts to use skilled mechanics as instructors has failed because they lacked the ability to properly convey to others the knowledge they possessed. The assistance of a trained teacher has made the work of many mechanical instructors a real success.

The opinion that the company is doing a disinterested thing in training new operators has led some to believe that the wage scale for learners could be made very low. One way to help a man to act like a gentleman is to dress him as such and treat him as far as possible as such. The same holds true with operators in training. The fact that they are rated well and trained by the best of mechanics, on the best of tools, in a shop with good surroundings, means much in the final success of industrial training.

(Signed) R. S. DRUMMOND, Formerly Vice-President and General Manager.

SCOVILL MANUFACTURING CO.

Waterbury, Conn.

The training room of the Scovill Manufacturing Company started April 1, 1918.

We train beginners on hand screw machines and engine lathes on plain turning. The training for experienced workers is to teach toolsetters with some experience to be experts along special lines and otherwise developed in their work. Also workmen with some general experience in machine room work are taught to run engine lathes. Further developments in general machine room work is to be taken up later.

Our best instructors are picked from those engaged in actual production or from promising pupils in the training school.

Skill, patience and teaching ability are the requirements of the teachers.

The best trainees are those recruited from other lines of work in the factory, especially at this time, and those impelled with the real sense of duty. Requirements: Average strength, intelligence and a desire to learn.