Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-21
A Daily Bible Thought
WAITING EFFICIENCY
IIENRY FORD is always pictur-

LIENRY FORD is always pictur-
esque, and the public take an
unusual interest in his business
matters. Just now his manufactur-
ing plants are running on a tour
day week basis, and a Detroit dis
patch furnishes us with the follow
ing interesting story:
Except for a relative few, all de-
partment heads at the Ford plant
are now docked for Friday and Sat-
urday while operations are on a
four-day-a-week schedule. Those
high enough UP to escape this regu-
lation perform duties outside their
regular work on days when the
other men are off. A superintend-
ent goes on gate duty at the factory
entrance, while another department
head operates the office reception
room. Such are the methods Of re-
ducing overhead expenses.
Counting office boys and steno-
graphers, more than 500 employees
are affected. Average daily wage
is in the neighborhood of SS day,
department heads Up to the $4,000
a year class being included in the
docking order. At daily saving
of $4,000 day, Ford is ahead $780,
600 a month when the plant works
four days week.
Few girls are employed now.
Male stenographers are gradually
replacing women. Ford's theory is
that his investment, even in tele-
phone operators and stenographers,
should be made in individuals who
can be advanced throughout the
plant, and who can make use of
information about the business
gained in their first jobs.
The entire top floor of the Ford
office building is unoccupied. A
year ago it housed two dozen de-
partments, which were consolidated
and eliminated when Mr.. Ford made
what employees call "the grand
housecleaning." How rigorous this
affair was is indicated by the fact
that all odds and ends in every Of
flee went with the furniture Of the
vacated offices direct to the sal
wage department. Where foreman
had collected a few odd-sized nuts
and bolts and had placed them in
a handy box under his desk for
quick supply, the box went to sal
wage department. A clerk turned
over an extra inkwell, steno-
grapher a surplus calendar. Draw
ers were searched for unnecessary
light bulbs, pens, and other small
equipment. The surplus CLEANED
from those offices not disturbed
by the shake-up will obviate buy
ing many supplies for year. .
Office efficiency has been in
creased. One department head says
his office is now so barren that
there is absolutely nothing to dis
tract attention and that the few
signs and pictures permitted are
suggestive of a Ford automobile
and work. There are no golf ball
paper weights or fancy ash trays.
mo Smoking" signs are not needed
lit isn't done.
An additional contribution to
economy is the marked reduction in
accidents due to strenuous prosecu-
ton of safety methods. Lost time
accidents per 100000 hours work
ed in October consumed 1923 hours
compared with 1882 hours in Sep
tember and 1O1.1O hours in August,
a 1000 reduction compared with
1920 records.
Days lost per 1000 days worked
were 0.5os days in October, 0.626
days in September and O.651 days in
August, 200l6 reduction compar-
ed with 1920. Lost minutes per en-
ploye have followed a similar trend ::
4.9 in October, &c in September,
80 in August. At Sc day rate the
value of hours lost in October was
$2,460 compared with $4,158 in
August.
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