XOVEMBER 1. 1919] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



job. the investigator presents his recommcntlations. Naturally 

 he must be prepared to back them up, and in all probability give 

 a practical demonstration of their value before the average man- 

 agement will be convinced that the new method is better than the 

 old. Fortunate indeed is he whose recommendations call for 

 changes in method rather than in machinery. Changes or ad- 

 ditions in machinery involving large expenditure have to run 

 the gauntlet of service criticism. Such authorities as Taylor, 

 Gannt, Emerson, Thompson, Diemer and Lichtner, however, 

 could be induced to give a manufacturing proposition their at- 

 tention on no other basis than that their recommendations be im- 

 mediately carried out. Their attitude toward every proposition 

 is the scientific one. To be scientific a process must be perfected, 

 otherwise making time studies and setting piece-work rates 

 thereon accomplish but one-half, and the less important half, of 

 what should be attained. 



Assuming that the management stands ready to make all 

 changes necessary to secure production according to the high- 

 est standard obtainable, the result will be seen in machines that 

 run at proper speeds, that are properly placed, efficiently served, 

 and can be made to produce at the minimum of cost. Studies 

 then made to determine piece rates, if made by an engineer prop- 

 erly qualified for the task, will be dependable, and the facts thus 

 secured will furnish a proper basis and the only one for "\\'rit- 

 ten Standard Practice." 



INSTRUCTION CARDS. 



Having evolved a "standard," the next step is to put it in 

 writing. Preferably, heavy paper or cardboard should be used 

 and kept in a convenient file for ready reference. In conjunc- 

 tion therewith an instruction card is issued for the guidance of 

 the worker. It should prescribe the tools to be used, the time 

 established as standard for each step in the sequence of product- 

 ion, and the rate of pay. A drawing or photograph of the 

 article, with dimensions, would be a valuable addition, together 

 with all directions necessary to a thorough understanding of 

 the work to be done. In standard practice, instruction cards are 

 issued that they may be conformed to in all particulars, and 

 where the article to be made is new, or the method has been 

 changed, their proper use presupposes the special training of the 

 worker by an instructor. 



THE OBSERVER AND HIS TASK. 



An observer "properly qualified for the task" is vital to the 

 success of any plan for estabUshing a "written standard practice" 

 that is worthy the name. To quote from Gannt's "Work, Wages 

 and Profit," "Stop-watch observations done inefficiently, or with 

 ill-adapted appliances, or by poor methods, are absurd, and serve 

 only to bring into disrepute all work in which the stop-watch is 

 used. Moreover, such use of the stop-watch justly excites the 

 contempt and opposition of the workman." 



First of all, the investigator should be a diplomat. His atti- 

 tude toward the workman should be devoid alike of patronage 

 or servility. He should appreciate fully the dignity and the im- 

 portance of his position. He should seek, first, to secure the good 

 will of all. Naturally he must be capable, through study and 

 training, to make a dependable report of conditions as he finds 

 them, backed by recommendations that will appeal alike to the 

 workers and the management as covering changes or improve- 

 ments that will work out to the distinct advantage of all. 

 SECURING THE COOPERATION OF THE WORKER. 



If workmen have been paid by the hour, and are known to be 

 hostile to the term "piece work," why make use of it? The 

 declaration that the rate per hour for all sorts of work will re- 

 main undisturbed, would at once dispel any latent suspicion that 

 the "time study man" had for his ultimate object the "cutting 

 down" of wages. In short, it is hard to conceive of scientific 

 management in any real sense that has not for its ultimate ob- 



ject the establishing of condition^ that would make it possible 

 for the average worker to increase his earnings, conjointly 

 with an increase in factory output. That is exactly what written 

 standard practice, scientifically, projected, would secure. Given 

 improvements in machinery and process, how then to secure 

 the interest and cooperation of the workers? By the introduc- 

 tion of incentives toward greater individual interest in the job, 

 the department, the shop. Past records show the average daily pro- 

 duction. Pay a substantial premium or bonus in addition to the 

 established daily wage. Create by degrees a class of high-grade 

 workmen, setting aside' a pan of the factory, where practicable, 

 in which they would work together. This would be applicable 

 in shoe making, tire building and other work where a large 

 number of operatives arc engaged in making some one article 

 or performing identical tasks. Place membership in this class 

 on so high a plane that none but the most competent may at- 

 tain to it, and make their reward so large that the average 

 man or woman will be eternally striving for admission to it. 

 Go a step farther; give an additional bonus to all who produce 

 nothing but first-quality goods in a given period. Do not forget 

 the foreman. Give him a bonus for each member in his de- 

 partment who earns one, and a special bonus when all his work- 

 men make a perfect score. 



CHILE DEMANDING AMERICAN TIRES. 



Chile is rapidly becoming a good market for .'Kmcrican auto- 

 mobiles and more especially for American tires. The people 

 have made a great deal of money during the war and the well- 

 to-do are substituting motor cars for their carriages in the cities, 

 10 which automobiles are largely restricted owing to poor roads 

 in Chile, which people of moderate means have discovered the 

 conveniences of certain low-priced American cars. 



The growth of United States exports to Chile has been phenom- 

 enal; in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913, they were 78 cars, 

 valued $109,982, and $2,844 worth of tires; in 1918 the figures 

 were 220 trucks, valued $282,638, with 3,390 passenger cars, 

 valued $3,576,511, and tires worth $725,876, while for the fiscal 

 year 1917-1918, owing to war conditions, the number of cars sank 

 to 152 trucks, valued $223,733. and 1,057 passenger cars, valued 

 $1,606,758 and the value of tires exported rose to $1,130,873. This 

 is due largely to the fact that the bad roads in Chile are very 

 liard on tires. In 1913 the United States had 8 per cent of Chile's 

 automobile trade. In 1917 its share was 95 per cent. 



The largest portion of the imports go to Valparaiso, whence 

 many are sent to Santiago and the interior, but the imports to 

 Talcahuno, to Antofogasta and Iquique in the nitrate region and 

 Punta Arenas at the southern point of the continent are also 

 considerable. 



UNITED STATES PARCEL POST TO DUTCH EAST INDIES AND 

 ZANZIBAR. 



Parcel post service is now in operation between the United 

 States and the islands of the Netherlands liast Indies producing 

 riibber and gutla percha. The list of islands given out by the 

 post office is : Bali, Banca, Billiton, Dutch Borneo. Celebes. Little 

 Sunda, Madura, the Moluccas, Rioce, Sumatra, Dutch Timor 

 and Dutch New Guinea. 



With the outlet of Uganda, also Zanzibar and the neighboring 

 island Pemba, there is now parcel post service, but parcels will 

 be delivered only in the towns nf Zanzibar, Chaki-Chuki, and 

 W'cti, on Poniba island. 



I.MPOKTS OF MANUF.UTURED RUBBER GOODS FOR GrEEI K .\ND THE 



islands of the Archipelago amount to about $200,000 a year. This 

 used to come from Germany, but is now in the hands of French 

 and British dealers, including about $30,000 worth of belting and 

 $40,000 worth of tubing of all kinds; the rest is made up of. 

 waterproof rubber shoes, pneumatic tires and air cushions. 



