Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Perspective (Con ’r) first half of 1991 are ahead of last year’s record level. In fact, our backlog for woven goods is as high as it has been since the middle of 1988. Despite the improved market demand, recessionary conditions have kept sales prices relatively depressed. Consequently, overall profit levels have not improved. However, we are encouraged both by the Company’s ability to avoid any significant curtailments during this na tional economic downturn and by recent indications that the reces sion may soon be ending. Finally, I am pleased to announce an upward adjustment of wages effective August 26, 1991. I wish to assure you that consistent with our basic philosophy and prac tice over many years, we will continue to provide full employment at the highest rates of pay which competition and business conditions permit. Also, I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere apprecia tion for your continuing loyalty, cooperation and best efforts to im prove quality, productivity and safety and thereby meet our customers’ needs. Statistical Control Uses Power Of Math JOSH HAMILTON VICE PRESIDENT Operations ■ The most important com ponent of Clinton’s success is improving the quality of our products and service. Our Company is fully com mitted to achieving levels of quality and productivity that are unsurpassed in the textile industry worldwide. That’s why we created the Quality First Program. One of the key elements of Quality First is the use of statistical tools. Statistics is a form of mathematics that can help us increase quality and productivity by more effectively using data. Through statistics, we can better organize and interpret our data, and create tools for measuring quality. Statistical methods enable us to link quality and productivity so that we do not sacrifice one for the other. They also enable us to determine whether quality problems are the result of management, associates, or systems. Responsibility for quality and productivity rests with management, but we cannot meet our goals without help from dedicated associates. All must be part of the Quality First efforts. Statistical control helps all associates do their jobs better. It also helps workers to understand how their processes affect product quality throughout our plants. Statistical control will provide the tools needed by Quality First Teams to solve problems. And it provides the basis for continuous im provement by enabling us to see how results change over time and focus ing our attention on ways to do the job better. We have been doing a lot lately to improve quality and productivity through new technology. But technology is not the answer. Some plants are beginning to achieve higher quality and produc tivity as the result of using statistical techniques, but the real payoff is in the long term. Recent improvements in quality and productivity levels have been achieved using many proven techniques. Now we are working on the statistical tools that will enable us to make additional progress. Safety And Quality Are Challenges Facing EFA JOE GORGA PRESIDENT Elastic Fabrics Of America ■ I have been at EFA for just five months, but already I’ve witnessed a growing commit ment to safety and quality on the part of all associates. Safety and quality are two of the most important chal lenges facing EFA. They will play a significant role in the future growth and success of our Company. World class levels of quality and safety can only be achieved through the total involvement of all of our associates. This involvement applies to non-manufacturing areas such as customer service and marketing in addition to the traditional manufacturing areas. Through this in volvement. I look forward to the day that our Company will achieve a level of customer satisfaction unequaled by our competitors. Again, thank you for your warm welcome into the Company, and I am looking forward to many successful years of working together. McGEE HELPS LAURENS COUNTY STUDENTS MAKE THE GRADE Edna McGee Lydia Cloth Room Quali ty Grader Edna McGee makes a difference in her community by serving as a member of the Laurens County School District 56 Board of Trustees. “Serving on the school board lets me give something back to the Clinton com munity,” she said. “My hus band, daughter, and I have always lived here and attend ed District 56 schools.” McGee has participated in many community activities and is especially committed to improving the quality of education for Laurens County students. She was elected to the school board in 1988 and again in 1991, both times without opposition. “Serving on the school board has helped me gain a bet ter appreciation of school work and what the school system is attempting to achieve,” she said. The 28-year associate of Clinton finds school board meetings both challenging and interesting. “We must carefully consider issues before casting our votes, because our votes affect the current generation as well as those of the future,” she added. A single board meeting may cover a variety of issues, including curriculum, disciplinary actions, policy changes, contracts, and renovations. In addition to McGee, the District 56 school board in cludes two other current Clinton associates, George Mar shall and Barry Whitman, as well as retired Clinton Per sonnel Director Calvin Cooper. George Marshall Barry Whitman MANUFACTURING SERVICES PUTS NEW IDEAS TO WORK The Manufacturing Ser vices Department is a key component of Clinton’s new Quality First Program. The Department, under the direction of Bob Hooks, provides the data, technical and research support, and ex pertise that enable Clinton to improve the quality, cost, and efficiency of its operations. Manufacturing Services is divided into three depart ments: Process Engineering, Information, and Physical Testing. “...we’re here to assist in making new ideas work...” Raymond Davis The Process Engineering Department, which is managed by Raymond Davis, provides data for costing, work measurement, and fabric cost estimates. It also is involv ed with designing layouts for new machinery. The Engineering Department is responsible for the actual drafting of layouts, but the Process Engineering Depart ment is responsible for fitting machinery into the manufac turing flow. “In a nutshell, we’re here to assist in making new ideas work, or at least give them a fair evaluation,” Davis said. Process Engineers Karl Borgman and Rose Pennington act as catalysts and coordinators for the manufacturing staff who work on continuous quality improvement projects. Another vital part of Manufacturing Services is the Man ufacturing Information Department. This department, managed by Barry Whitman, is the clearing house for all manufacturing data. The department plays a major role in communicating data throughout the Company to improve overall operations. It also handles hourly payroll standards and coordinates fabric costing with the Operations Department and the Cost Ac counting Department. Manufacturing Information maintains an archive of previous fabric runs, costs associated with those runs, and other historical data. At the Physical Testing Department, which is managed by Sam Owens, trained technicians gather fiber, yarn, and fabric samples for quality testing. With the addition of the Quality First Program,* the Manufacturing Services Department will become increas ingly important as a provider of technical and research sup port to Quality First Teams throughout the Company. EFA TURNS NEW FASHION INTO NEW BUSINESS Fashion tuned associates are aware of the tremendous growth in the use of lace in both intimate apparel and outerwear, and this means greater opportunities and more business for EFA. As a result, the Lace Department of EFA is moving quick ly to respond to the everchanging and always challenging fashion industry. Headquartered in New York City, EFA’s Lace Depart ment is managed by Phyllis Napoli. Twice a year, Napoli and the department’s design and sales staff put together a new line of lace products, most of which are elastic. After samples are made, displayed, and, hopefully sold, EFA begins producing the fabric. The EFA Lace Knitting Department in Greensboro is now producing stretch and rigid lace. Over the past two years EFA has been developing pro cedures and color formulations to dye and finish its lace products. Lace is being handled as a special project by Jim Fuller in Dyeing and Nat Wilson in Finishing. We are producing lace on first shift but will add second and third shifts later this year. Our goal is to dye and finish our lace products completely and reduce our dependence on commission sources. LYDIA SPINNING DOFFER KIM MURPHY RETURNS FROM GULF WAR Kim Murphy Concern. Support. Enthu siasm. Relief. These were some of the feelings through out the Lydia Plant as friends and co-workers of Doffer Kim Murphy watched the Persion Gulf War unfold. In Lydia Spinning, yellow ribbons were displayed to show support for Murphy, who was called to active du ty as part of the mobilization of the 371st Chemical Decon- tamination Unit, Army Reserve. “It was a long five months when we left Fort Jackson on November 15,” recalled Murphy, a U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant who serves as a wheel vehicle mechanic. “We were not directly involved in the fighting, but our mission was to keep equipment operational. The sand in the desert made constant maintenance a necessity,” he said. Murphy praised the support he received from those back home. “There were times when you’d get to feeling low, but something, somehow always brought a bright spot,” he said. Despite his quick deployment, the young soldier hasn’t changed his feelings about the military. “I’m there to stay.” Murphy credits much of the success of the coalition forces to the advance training his unit and others received prior to arrival in the Gulf. “Our unit spent many weeks at Fort Jackson in Colum bia, making sure we were prepared for our mission,” he said. “Although we were well trained, it is hard to describe the nights we spent in bunkers and the hours of sleep that we lost. I’m glad to be away from the intense heat, to be able to see it rain, and especially to see a few trees,” he said.