Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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J Quality In A Global Market Should Be A Given W. JAMES RALEIGH PRESIDENT Ointon Mills Sales Company ■ In today’s global marketplace our customers and prospects ex pect to be quoted a competitive price on quality fabrics. Cur rently, the majority of the fabrics that we produce are sold and finished in the United States. However, we are com peting in the marketplace with domestic mills as well as with imported fabrics from around the world; i.e., China, Thai land, Colombia, South America, etc., so we must produce good quality fabrics We in sales and marketing, are very pleased that our company has in itiated Quality First. This will assure our customers and prospects that we are making every effort to continue to produce superior qua ity fabrics at competitive prices. And ty doing so we will continue our leadership position in a very competitive world marketplace. The importance of quality to our customers cannot be overemphasized. It is often necessary forthemto purchase goods before they actually know what their needs will be. Purchasing the best quality goods available allows them the security of knowing that if they do not use the goods for their product, they can sell these good in the secondhand market. For our customers, owning top quality goods, such as Clinton’s, is an asset because the retail market demands the highest quality products. Clinton’s ability to modernize our plants and purchase wider equipment is also an asset. It enables us, in the sales and marketing area, to style and sell fabrics to the home furnishings, apparel and industrial markets in widths and constructions that will satisfy their needs. Accomplishing this for our customers requires everyone’s participation. This effort is also bound to make our new “Quality First” program a success. THOMAS E. DAVENPORT VICE PRESIDENT Manufacturing ■ We at Clinton can be right fully proud of our well earned reputation in our industry and the marketplace as a quality producer. In 1990, recognizing that a company cannot survive in tomorrow’s markets on its past reputation, your company made the commitment to set the standard and maintain our quality leadership position in to the future. In June of last year, safety and quality were designated as “goals of the 90s.” We requested that you share with us your ideas and input on quality and safety. Your management has reviewed each of these excellent sug gestions. From these we learned that you do recognize your vital role and responsibilities in moving us along the journey of continuous improvement. Beaufort Bolt, Bailey Plant, said “we can improve quality by taking pride in ourselves, our company and our work,” a thought shared by Jim my Carroll, Lydia Plant, Thomas Motes, Bailey Plant, and many others. Bill Prather! Clinton No. 1, said “Take pride in our work and work together as a team." Betty Samples, Qinton No. 2, believes quality is improved by accepting our own responsibility and working harmoniously together as a team. Our Corporate Steering Committee, chaired by President and CEO Thad Williams, decided to communicate more clearly our commitment to quali ty, and the name Quality First was selected for our quality process. Our Quality Mission Statement was written to clearly express the philosophy of Clinton Mills. All of our management team is fully committed to these principles. I hope you will read again our Mission Statement in its entirety. It is posted in your department and in other areas throughout each of our loca tions. In summary, the mission of Clinton is to be the preferred supplier in all of our markets. We will accomplish this goal together by providing the highest quality and most economical products and services through continuous improvement. By each of us committing ourselves to quality, our customers will benefit and so will we through stable, secure employ ment. In all of our activities, we recognize our employees as our most valuable asset and we are dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy work ing environment with a spirit of openness, involvement and cooperation. This new journey has started with the work of our Quality First Action (QFA) teams and safety teams. Many of you are already involved in for mal team participation and the results have been outstanding. But, QFA teams are not the only way to improve. We can each do our part by mak ing quality our No. 1 focus in everything we do. Carl Holloway, Geneva Plant, says “we can improve quality by making everything so we would buy it ourselves.” James Blevins, Geneva Plant, says “we can be successful by working together to make a quality product which we can sell at a profit at a com petitive price.” If we all join together as one team, dedicated to the principles of our Quality First Mission Statement, then our customers will start thinking like Sandy Seay of our Geneva Plant. She says, “when you think of quality, think of Clinton.” BARON JOINS EFA WEST COAST OFFICE Fred Baron recently was appointed to co-represent Elastic Fabrics of America on the west coast for its warp and circular knit elastic products. Baron, doing business as I- Tex of California, will work with EFAs Chuck Fedalen. Baron also will represent EFA lace at a future date. Baron has years of textile related selling experience and a working knowledge of the west coast marketplace. Fedalen continues as EFAs Senior West Coast Sales Representative. In his 20 years with EFA, he has distin guished himself and established a level of customer satisfac tion that is unequaled by competitors. Fred Baron Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Fedalen FIRST AID TRAINING A LIFE SAVER For Brenda Harrelson, a creeler in the Circular Knit Department, First Aid and CPR training saved a life. On a recent Sunday, Harrelson was visiting her daughter, grandson, and granddaughter. While her daughter was out side grilling steaks, her grandson, Steven, was playing. Suddenly, Steven started to choke on a Life Saver. Bren da ran to the door and called for her daughter. As she re turned to Steven, her first aid training quickly came to mind. She picked Steven up, and, after a quick press to his stomach, the Life Saver fell out on the floor. Thanks to Brenda’s First Aid and CPR training, she was able to save her grandson from a life threatening situation. Brenda Harrelson and Grandson Steven TEXTILE WEEK The 15th annual Textile Week will be held October 20-26. This year’s theme is “Textiles Keep America Working.” TRAINING IS THE KEY TO QUALITY In today’s competitive market, training means quality. Clinton Mills directs most of its formal training efforts to weavers, loom technicians, and loom filling supplying, while other training is done in the respective departments. In the Clinton (South Carolina) weaving plants, instruc tors often are shift employees who demonstrate an interest and ability in tackling training responsibilities. Trainees and trainers work together under the supervision of Train ing Director Sonny King. When the instructor feels the trainee has reached the target level of performance, the person is released to return to the department to assume a designated job. “Some trainees do not perform as they should,” says Son ny King. “Additional training is sometimes needed to enable an employee to perform at our expected levels.” The training program stresses the basics of job performance. “Production, quality, efficiency, and safety are viewed equally,” King said. “Our goal is to build the employee’s self-confidence by providing him with the skills to perform a job to our expectations.” A training room located in the Education Center is equip ped with fly-shuttle looms, so technicians can demonstrate proper machine settings, parts replacement, and safe start ing and stopping procedures. The machines are production equipped, so operators can become fully acquainted with the correct ways to fill bat teries, draw in ends, and perform other job functions. “We have made every effort to create an environment con ducive to the best training possible,” King said. The center is located away from the production area so basic fundamentals can be mastered in a work area free of distractions. “It provides an atmosphere that fosters proper com munication between the trainee and instructor which in turn maximizes the training effort,” he said. UNITED WAY In a few days, each Clinton employee in South Carolina will have an opportunity to contribute to the United Way. The Company wants every employee to know that United Way spends the money improving the quality of life in its communities. Clinton Mills has an excellent reputation for caring about the communities where its plants operate and its employees live. The Company supports the United Way and believes it has an excellent approach to fulfilling the social, economic, health related, and emergency needs of most deserving citizens. The program operates in the plants with the assistance of employee volunteers. Employees who give their fair share to the United Way support the organizations which are vital to providing services where they are needed most. EDITOR: Toby Chaffin ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Mack Parsons Kim Doss REPORTERS ON STAFF: Shirley Weeks, EFA Bob Dettmar, Clinton Mills (Geneva) Russell Vance, Clinton Mills Sales Co.