October 23, 191U 



HARDWOODRECORD 



25 



stiles, rails were uniform in the three woods used — birch, oak and ma- 

 hogany. No matter what the combination — letter file, document file, 

 drawers for legal blanks, card index drawers — as many dimensions as 



PERPETUAL INVENTORY CARD USED BY BROWN-MORSE COMPANY. 



THREE COLORS USED— WHITE CARD FOR OAK. BUFF FOR 



BIRCH. BLUE FOR MAHOGANY'. (ACTUAL 



SIZE CARD 5x8.) 



possible were reduced to a common standard. The result, like Ford's, 

 was a saving in cost, an increased efficiency and a better and more 

 flexible file. 



Filing cabinets had always been made as a whole. Orders for a 



iiUOWN-MORSE RECORD CARD INDICATING NUMBER OF DIFFERENT 



SECTIONS IN WHICH THIS ONE PART I&' COMMON. (ACTUAL 



SIZE OF CARD 4X6.) 



certain quantity of a certain style or number would be started through 

 the machine room. When the requisite number of panels, tops, drawer 

 slides, pilasters, cleats, etc., were accumulated ou trucks, they were 

 taken to the assembling room, and then another style cabinet would 

 be started through. A certain amount of congestion — which means 

 loss of time and increased cost — on the floor and in the machine room 

 was bound to accompany this method. Then, too, a completed cabinet 

 occupies more than four times the space that it would if "knocked ■ 

 down." 



Why wasn't it feasible to manufacture ahead and carry in stock 

 at all times the various wood parts that went to make up this office 

 equipment? Why couldn't these hundreds of part's, all cut, sanded, 

 ready to be put together as needed, be carried in stock the same as 

 the raw material (lumber) was carried? 



Having, by this time, outgrown its first home and taken up new 

 quarters in a large, modernly equipped factory, the Browne-Morse 

 Company proceeded to put this other efficiency idea into effect — the 

 second part of the plan. A white parts stock room was installed, 

 equipped with racks and bins, which would accommodate the required 

 number of each particular wood part (see photographs). As each 

 part carried an arbitrary number, its particular bin was correspond- 

 ingly numbered; and in addition, at the end of each bin-section an 

 index of that section, showing the bin numbers, of what wood the 

 part is made, and the capacity in pieces of the bin. The machine 

 room manufactured for stock only, and orders were issued on the whije 

 parts for the cabinet room. 



The successful working out of this stock room plan has been due 

 in part to the simple yet complete record system used. But, as 

 the Browne-Morse Company has been able to install card index sys- 

 tems for others, it was able to do the same thing for itself. The 

 perpetual inventory, showing exactly the number and kind of the 

 various parts carried in the stock room, is kept by the woodworking 

 superintendent, duplicate cards of which are carried in the front 

 office. This inventory, as can be seen from the accompanying cut, 

 shows what the section is, its number, bin number, the number of 

 pieces and dates when put in stock, together with the shop order 

 numbers, disbursements and i:he amount on hand. Each section or 

 part has its own card, different colors being used for the different 

 woods — buff for birch, white for oak and blue for mahogany. There 

 is also shown on the card the ' ' low limit ' ' — the number of pieces 

 below which the stock is not allowed to run. When this is reached 

 new cutting bills are issued and the bin is then kept automatically 

 replenished. 



In addition to the inventory record is what might be called the 

 standardization record. Each particular part is again given a card, 

 indexed under its same arbitrary number, showing the pieces and 

 section number to whicli this one part is common (see cut at bot- 

 tom of opposite column). 



In cutting the rough lumber for stock it has been found that a 

 saring has been effected in the raw material, the waste being less 

 than under the old method. Edgings and trimmings, too small for 

 the cutting bill in question, are sent back to the lumber storage, 

 sorted, and later worked up for other items. 



The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Eesults in cold dollars 

 and cents are what we are all looking for these days. That the 

 white parts room — cutting for stock — has made for efficiency, is 

 proved by the fact that the Browne-Morse Company has been able to 

 double its output at a saving of twenty-five per cent. And not only 

 that, but operating under the old method it would be forced to carry 

 a stock of finished goods fully fifty per cent greater than it does. 

 Carrying in the white, parts for every cabinet and cabinet com- 

 bination enables it to be ready at any time for such rush orders 

 as may come its way. 



The twin-six motor delivers almost constant power, with a maxi- 

 mum of flexibility and the least tendency to stall and choke. The 

 Browne-Morse Company has developed this same twin-six efficiency — 

 a woodworking plant that is truly flexible, delivering quality goods 

 iu the greatest volume, at the lowest cost'.' 



Work — Nerve — Plan — a combination that is hard to beat. 



