Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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5 Chatham’s Business Outlook Is Improving TONY RAFFO President Chatham Manufacturing, Inc. Chatham’s business conditions have improved during the second quarter and we feel this trend will continue through the third quarter of 1992. All our production departments have been operating on a six day schedule and some areas have run seven days. During the Chatham vaca tion week we operated with volunteers. The response by our Associates was outstanding. Our Bedding Division is entering the height of the blanket season and our performance this year will determine how well we do next year. The Blanket Plant has improved quality significantly and this has resulted in a much im proved perception of our products in the market place. We have also seen a significant improvement in the quality of our furniture fabric. Thanks to everyone on our manufacturing team for their efforts in this achievement. Also, two new fabric designers have been hired to help us improve our new product offerings in furniture for next year. Congratulations to everyone in our Transportation Fabrics Division for being named a “Preferred Supplier” to Chrysler. This is the result of a recent audit done at Chatham by a Chrysler team of auditors. This is a very significant accomplishment and I am very proud of our team. Phil Altemueller Altemueller Retires Phil Altemueller retired August 31,1992. Phil has been a leader at Chatham for the last 36 years and for the past eight years he has been Executive Vice President of Chatham. His contributions have been many and very significant over the years. Tony Raffo, President and Chief Operating Officer of Chatham announced that Phil has agreed to continue his association with Chatham as consultant. Chatham Establishes Weekly Performance Meetings To help keep Chatham Associates informed and enlist their help with Company opera tions, Chatham has established weekly Thursday performance meetings for each Depart ment. The Department Managers and Area Plant Managers meet with Associates dur ing each shift to assess quality, efficiency and safety from a Company and individual stand point. Department Managers recap past and present performance by the use of charts to show each operation and its role in overall Company performance. At the conclusion of the meeting, the floor is open for a question and answer session to obtain input from Associates on the information presented. These meetings have been very beneficial for the Company and the Associates. Everyone has developed a heightened awareness of where we are as a Company and where we need to be. Quality, efficiency and safety improvements are steadily on the increase. Danny Stanley, Department Manager, recapped the performance for the third shift Associates in the Wet Finish Department; Steve Cream er, Executive Vice President of Operations, addressed the group. Leon Couch Chatham Associate Named North Carolina Textile Citizen of the Year Finalist Chatham Associate, Leon Couch, was selected as a finalist in the 1992 North Carolina Textile Citizen of the Year program. Leon and his supervisor attended an awards ceremony and luncheon in Raleigh on August 12th at which the 1992 North Carolina winner was announced. Leon has been with Chatham for 24 years. Currently, he is a mechanic in the Weave Depart ment. He is an Associate who has been a tremen dous asset to the Company. Two years ago, he and a fellow Associate developed a cutting tool with a screw feed to cut a new hole to be sleeved for a bearing replacement on a Kaiser head. This has been a very useful tool which has saved replacing the heads. Leon is also a person who is very concerned about and involved in his com munity. He has 20 years of service with Pleasant Hill Baptist Church bus ministry including driving, maintenance and visitation. This past year he also served as a church usher. His 23 years with the Pleasant Hill Fire Department, where he presently holds the position of Lieutenant, have included teaching fire schools and many hours of helping with fund raising chicken dinners. For the past four years he has been a member of the Benham Ruritan Club. He has been a Cer tified First Responder for two years. Of this Associate, his supervisor said, “Leon is an Associate who does all asked of him and does it well. He is a quiet person who goes about his work in a meaningful manner and his community service is handled likewise. His many years of service in various capacities has meant much to the Pleasant Hill Church and community, as well as Chatham Manufacturing, Inc ” Chatham is very proud of Leon and all his accomplishments. Alan Kennedy Joins Chatham Team Alan Kennedy has been named Vice President of the Blanket Division of Chatham Manufacturing, Inc. Alan was formerly Vice President of Marketing for the Blanket Division. Alan and his wife Chris have two children, Caitlin and Dean. We wish Alan great success in his new responsibilities. Alan Kennedy Bill Andrews Announces Retirement And Derrill Rice Joins Chatham Team Bill Andrews has announced his retirement effective December 31,1992. Bill has been a valued member of the Chatham team for the last 37 years. For the last five years he has been the Vice President of Furniture Fabrics Divi sion. Bill’s contributions have been invaluable to the Company and he will be missed. Bill has agreed to continue his association as a consultant. Derrill Rice will replace Bill as Vice Bill Andrews President Furniture Fabrics Division. Derrill was formerly a Business Manager with Milliken and Com pany in their Automotive Fabrics Division. Derrill arriv ed at Chatham on the 29th of June. We welcome him to the Chatham team and wish him every success. Derrill Rice