Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon state employee. (Salem, Oregon.) 1944-195? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1944)
13 New Ideas and Improved Methods FLOYD QUERY, It is the purpose of this column to Ideas, Editor, 161$ Nebraska Avenue, make better known the new ideas and Salem, Oregon. improved methods devised by State A n Im proved Method employees. Industry and government A. M. Burt of Woodburn, a section have found in their employees a fertile crew forman for the State Highway source of new ideas. They have found Department, devised a method for ap too, that by encouraging employees to plying fine crushed rock to icy road make known their ideas, that material surfaces. That was the original purpose savings and improvements can be of the device. Since then it has been made. used for many other purposes. Mr. Employees suggestions adopted by Burt and his Superintendent, F. W. the Northwest Airlines have saved Farrar, took the idea to E. F. Halik, more than $300,000 in two years. Master Mechanic, who turned the mak Nearly 6000 suggestions have been re ing of the device over to John Harns ceived. The Southern Pacific has de berger, Blacksmith Foreman. John add voted considerable advertising space to ed some ideas and refinements with savings and improvements devised by the result that a very satisfactory tail its employees. General Motors has a gate shutoff was made. It will open plan for utilizing and rewarding em and close on either or both sides w ith ployees for good ideas. The huge ship out lowering the truck bed or stop yards in Portland also make good use ping the truck. Operations can be con of ideas and methods submitted by em ducted by one man on a truck at least ployees. Some branches of the federal five times faster than was possible government have had unusual success before. W ith the old method it was with the use of the "Idea Box” for necessary to have two men on each governmental employees. truck, one of whom had to shovel by It has been recognized by all of these hand out of the truck bed. This method agencies that the executive head, com was painfully slow, cold, and oft times petent though he is, cannot think of dangerous. everything. He cannot be expected to Mr. Burt’s idea and its use has saved devise all the details of a project. Here many dollars for the taxpayers, besides is where the door has been opened to providing protection for the traveling admit the ideas of the employee who 'public when it is most needed. Inci works with the details. dentally, the cost to build one of these State employees and department tail-gate arrangements is only $14. heads are invited to send in their ideas for better ways of doing things, or ex All Oregon State Employees are in amples of new methods that have been adopted. We want data from all state vited to join The Oregon State Em departments. Be sure to mention the ployees Association. If you desire more name or names of the persons devising information please write to Forrest V. it; where he or she works; what the ideas or improvement is, and the sav Stewart, Executive Secretary, 141 New ing in time or money possible by its Bligh Building, Salem, Oregon or call use. Mail all suggestions to The New Salem 7998. Patronize Your Advertisers!
