Too hot to work? Then cool it!
ell, who
doesn’t like to work in a clean and cool environment?
When we talk about our industry, we have to include our
day-to-day working conditions. It’s hot, and with humid
conditions that can exhaust the best of workers. Most
important, there seems to be little the average plant can do
about it — or at least anything affordable! What is
affordable? What is absolutely clear, “We can’t
afford not to make the change to a cooler plant!”
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We can achieve this total plant air
cooling with individually cooler work stations. It becomes a
case of investigating before you invest. How many square feet
are you considering to cool? How hot is your present
temperature? How high is your ceiling? What exhaust fans do you
presently have installed? Are you eliminating hot air, or just
moving it?
Each section can be customized, from a
production department to a private office for management and
bookkeeping, to a customer-comfortable cool call office.
When starting a project like this,
it’s wise to see where your source of heat is coming
from. Sound simple? But don’t overlook the importance of
insulating all steam lines, including the return steam line and
that malfunctioning steam trap. A easy test is a melting crayon
that can be used before and after the trap.
Next you need a very effective head buck
cover that is totally insulated. This creates a vast
improvement in operator comfort.
How about the unseen long-term benefits?
The obvious higher production is one of the immediate benefits,
but now with a dependable team, anxious to report to work each
morning, gone are the problems of absenteeism, and the chore of
training good new help with the loss of key people.
There is another important benefit and is
the sparkling, sharp improvement in quality. Because the
humidity is now absent all the garments are dry.
There is a simple test to make before air
cooling is made. Just inspect any order that’s been in
the plant a week or more and check for that rippled pocket flap
or lapel, especially when it has been stored in a plastic bag,
on a high floor-to-ceiling conveyor. The hot humid air rises
and is trapped in the plastic bag, especially when pressers
cheat on the vacuum drying time. This is exacerbated with a pad
that has long since lost it’s resilience, or a vacuum
that’s not up to its efficiency. Write for my guide,
“Pressed for Perfection,” which covers in detail
production and secrets in final inspection.
Review these simple, inexpensive
procedures that add to a smooth running, cool plant.
• All press heads should have an
insulated cover that reduces or eliminates the constant heat
directly to the operator’s station.
• All steam lines should be
insulated, including the return lines.
Not only will your plant be cooler, but
also you should see savings in energy and efficiency in reduced
boiler costs. Are your fuel bills up lately? The start-up time
in firing a cold boiler is easily cut in half alone, with these
practices, and the unwanted heat will never be missed.
What else? Fluorescent lights should
always be kept dust free. Production and quality always
increase when an operator can clearly see his or her work. A
“fatigue comfort floor mat,” adds to the picture
— and to the new production figures. It’s like
buying everyone a free lunch!
It takes but a moment to watch a pressing
station improve. It’s time to observe and take notes for
a lesson in “motion study.” Where is the work
located? How many steps? How far a constant and repetitious
reach is made for each garment? Where is the hand-iron located?
Hangers? Feed rails? The water gun? Whisk broom? Pleating
block? Pins and skirt clips? Add the seconds and multiply that
by the number of finishers and your hourly rate and
you’ll soon know where the money goes!
Be assured when management goes out of its
way to make workers more comfortable in their environment, the
results become incalculable. The “quality” suddenly
becomes everybody’s concern, and small, everyday
improvements become the “team’s” effort for
all employees!
Where everyone shares in the success of
the team, everyone always benefits!
Ray Colucci, a consultant to the fabric
care industry, has revised and made available three timely
pamphlets: “Up Front Is Where It Counts” for
counter training; “Pressed for Perfection” for
finishing techniques; the popular “Route to Success To
the Home of Office” for complete route training. The
pamphlets are $20 each or all three for $50. Immediate delivery
with all postage paid is promised. Send requests and payment to
to R. Colucci, 410 Warren Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543.
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