Nip Impressions logo
Fri, Mar 29, 2024 11:44
Visitor
Home
Click here for Pulp & Paper Radio International
Subscription Central
Must reads for pulp and paper industry professionals
Search
My Profile
Login
Logout
Management Side

Inheriting a mess

Jim:

I thought I sent this to you a month ago, having read your advice. I wish I had had it at the time I needed it.

About 1957 or 8 I was assigned as "assistant to" the Production Manager of our Wisconsin Rapids mill. A training assignment, obviously no authority at all. Boss was a great guy, knew the business. Mid 60's. I had some interesting assignments and experiences, which are another story.

("I've always been lucky")

After a few months, my bosses wife got sick and died. Obviously he spent a lot of time with her.

After she died, he realized hat he was ill. Total time "working" part time close to a year between the two. Nothing I could do. Assistant to..He finally retires and they take a deep breath and give me the job, I'm 31 or 2, only mill experience the above.

Mill is a mess: poor quality and losing money. The only way I could cope was with time. 12-14 hour days. Thanksgiving home for a quick bite with the family.

A major advantage: most of my reports were rooting me on, mentoring me. Only exception the supercalender superintendent. A bitter old guy, graduated from college in 1932 or so, at the depth of the depression.

I would be on the floor 8-10 hours a day. A fun sideline: 2 of my favorites were the Miller brothers. One a machine tender, very pro union. The other a shift superintendent, very anti union. You should have heard them!

Side line: the "tour boss" was my present wife's grandfather.

For some reason, I felt that the priority should be quality. Hours and hours consulting, trying and watching.

Senior management wanted to hire a consultant to guide me, a retired guy from Appleton. My pride forced me to object strongly.

I did draw on all the in house help I could. We had had a papermachine consultant, but he must have retired.

(More later)

Slowly, but surely, things improved. Just hard work. As quality improved, the machines started to run better. Pleasant surprise. Took about a year to get things where they should be. Only 6-10 hour days. Only 5-6 on Sundays and holidays. After about 9-10 months: "We want you to come to the main office." No way, I'm finally enjoying myself. Obviously I lost.

Staff to my main mentor; "Wander around the mills and see what you can do to help!" It was years before I realized that I had replaced the guy I mention above, a real expert.

But that's another story.

George W. Mead

****

Have a comment? Send your email to jthompson@taii.com. Unless you tell us otherwise, we will assume we can use your name if we publish your letter.

Remember, if you please, to let your suppliers know you read Nip Impressions!



 


 Related Articles:


 


Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: