Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-08-03
REPUBLIC BREAKS
GROUNDS FRIDAY
Commences Erection of $42,- =
900 Plant for Half
Truck
BONUS SYSTEM ADOPTED
E. Nj. Orr Explains Advantages
of Plan Over Other Sys-
TENS of Work

L ne hepuDllC MOlOI lIuCh OOiil-
pany will break ground Friday
for the erection of $4,000 plant,
which will be used exclusively for the
building of the half-ton truck recent
ly announced by the company. The
building will be 1000 feet long and
80 feet wide. The total expenditure
on the building and equipment will
reach $4,000. The plant will be erect
ed east of the city on the site be-
tween East Superior street and the
tracks of the Pere Marquette COM
pany. Henry Soule of this city has
the contract and will have the build
Ing completed by the middle of Sep
tember General Manager Ruggles
stated that production will commence
about October 10.
The Republic management recently
purchased the building formerly oc-
cupied by the Miller Saw-Trimmer
Company and will employ it for as
sembl;ng the engine for the new truck
The building is being completely re-
novated and remodeled and will be
ready for occupancy in a few weeks,
The new truck plant is situated dis
tant from the present plant because
it will be a separated plant entirely
as far as factory supervision is con-
cerned. The general management will
be didected by thep resent officials. II
is the plan in separating the plant
buildings give adequate room for ex-
pansion. The ground around the Mil
Ter building will be retained for ex-
pansion of the engine department of
the baby truck. While the new plant
could have been erected east of the
present plant it would crowd things
too much.
The house proposition is still mat
ter OF serious consideration. Man
ager Ruggles states that with the
erection of the new facory already
commenced immediate steps have got
90 be taken to answer the demands.
A two ton truck was sent TO Colum-
bus, New Mexico, this week to be dem
onstraled TO the Federal Government.
Mike Downing is in charge of the
demonstration.
The Republic Motor Truck company,
having in mind greater efficiency in
factory, larger daily wages for the
employees and an increase in produc-
tion, have adopted the bonus system.
At present the system is operating
only in the woodwork department
out it will be established throughout
the factory as soon as conditions are
favorable. The system will effect
only the mechanical departments of
the factory.
E. NJ. Orr, an efficiency expert, has
been secured by the Republic people
and already has the system established
on a working basis. In speaking of the
Donus system and it's peculiar advan-
tages over other methods of fac
tory management Mr.. Orr says:
"The Republic Motor Truck Com
pany has got to increase its produc-
| tion and in order to accomplish this
end the bonus system has been adopt
cd. The system is comparatively a
new thing but in the few years since
it was put forward to answer a
demand it has been adopted by many
of the larger factories and in the end
has always worked out satisfactory
10 the working men and the employ
ers.
"The general idea of the bonus sys-
tenn is that operators are paid bonus
on production over and above the reg
ular wages according to their standard
/ & "a. A "a Z
time is established for each and
every operation and employees are
urged to work towards that standard
with two ends in view, greater effic-
iency and greater wages. Operators
who reach this standard will be rated
100 per cent efficient. The men will
commence receiving a bonus as soon
as they become rs per cent efficient or
are able TO complete one opration in
quarters of the time set by the
standard or unit. The rate of the
bonus for 100 per cent efficient man
is to be 20 per cent of the daily wage.
with the increase of the efficiency of
the employe and, Of course, the in
crease in the amount of his actual
production, comes an increase in the
rate Of the bonus.
"The Republic company will not
place a limit on the amount of work
an employe can do as is the practice
in many piece factories. The Re
public managers appreciate the fact
that the more the men do the greater
the benefit to the factory will be in
larger production. II man can
make $500, $500 or $1,000 a day we
are glad to pay him for his labor.
There is to be no stated limit in the
bonus system here.
when once set the standard or unit
will not be changed for period of one
year providing, of course, there is no
change in the tools or method of the
production. The standard has got to
remain at a stated point before bene-
fits can be derived and the Republic
Continued on page four)