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DECEMBER 18, 1926
The Music Trade Review
11
Group of Simplex Employes Before the Factory
Foremen's Meetings One of Big Assets
in Successful Organization of Simplex
Daily Meetings of Executive Department Heads and Foremen in the Plant of the Simplex Player
Action Co. Prove Their Worth in Developing Real Organization
such a thing as industrial democracy
T HAT
is possible in a big manufacturing plant
when established and conducted along sane,
sensible lines, is proven in the case of the Sim-
plex Player Action Co., of Worcester, Mass.,
tor in this plant the foremen and heads of each
department keep in close touch with the factory
executives through daily meetings, have a part
in the management of the plant so far as it
concerns increasing efficiency and are encour-
aged to, and in fact do, take a distinctly active
interest in seeing that both the products and
methods of production are maintained at a high
standard.
It was some ten or twelve years ago, when
there was considerable labor unrest throughout
the country, that Theodore P. Brown, president
of the Simplex Player Action Co., gave his at-
tention to the possibilities of industrial democ-
racy in the plant of the company, and put a
system into effect to promote closer co-opera-
tion between officials of the company, depart-
ment heads and employes. The move aroused
great interest among manufacturers many of
whom visited or sent representatives to the
Simplex plant to study the system.
After a year or two of experience it was
found that while the idea was sound, in the
main, various changes and alterations in the
plan were advisable. These changes were made
and since that time the spirit of co-operation
between the plant executives and the workers
has been maintained steadily and at high pitch.
During the past ten years there has been a
foremen's meeting every morning at the Sim-
plex Player Action plant, where the department
heads discuss the problems of the hour, make
suggestions and otherwise co-operate to pro-
mote greater efficiency.
It is significant that during these same ten
years there has been absolutely no change in
the personnel of the foremen. The accompany-
ing photographs show a gathering of the fore-
men in company with R. W. Olmsted, superin-
tendent of the plant, and G. A. Swanson, assist-
ant superintendent.
Daily meetings, as provided in the Simplex
plan of factory operation, accomplished the fol-
lowing results:
1. The meeting is held the very first thing in
the morning.
2. The superintendent is in daily contact with
the heads of each department all at a given time.
3. The superintendent's investigations of a de-
partment are carried out in the open, with all
the other department heads present.
4. If a department head is lacking in efficiency,
he cannot blame it on a brother foreman, who
night not be present.
5. The foremen's meeting makes all investiga-
.ions the common knowledge of all.
6. Misunderstandings never get beyond the
door of the superintendent's office.
7. Petty jealousies are eliminated, because all
meet on an equal footing and all transactions
are open and aboveboard in the presence of
all.
8. The affair of one becomes the affair of all.
9. The house cannot possibly become divided
against itself.
10. The various productions and shipping
schedules can be laid out, checked and the inter-
department relations co-ordinated immediately.
11. The spirit of "all for one and one for all"
has to prevail, and it has prevailed because there
are no favorites played.
12. It is true that this group of foremen, with
needed to the action these are readily made
by the average competent tuner.
Mr. Brown ascribes the success of his com-
pany and its product, in chief measure, to the
observance of the* simple yet basic principles
of common humanity in his dealings with the
workers and the industrial democracy which
exists at the factory is the outstanding indica-
tion of the manner in which his ideas work out.
Articles on the Piano
in National Magazines
Important Series of Articles Treating of the
Piano in Its Various Stages Now in Course
of Preparation—Much Expected of Them
It has been announced by Edward C. Boy-
kin, executive secretary of the promotional com-
mittee of the National Piano Manufacturers As-
A Foremen's Meeting in the Simplex Plant
R. W. Olmsted, Superintendent; Gustaf Swanson, Assist. Superintendent; Enos Baker, Eric Philblade, Gustaf Aron-
son, Carl Gustaf son, Miss Ruby Weir, Frank Corcoran, Edward A. Anderson, Edward Olmsted, Charles Austin, Carl
Swanson, Joseph Kavanaugh, Scotto Morse, John TV Girard
the superintendent, wields a power in the or-
ganization that is and must be a powerful factor
in shaping the policies of the factory organiza-
tion, but experience has proved that there is no
need to fear this power, because the spirit of
fairness, a square deal and co-operation start-
ing with the head of the house, Mr. Theodore
P. Brown, down through the superintendent, the
assistant superintendent, to the employes, be-
comes an influence for good, which could not be
acquired, held and disseminated in any other
way.
The interest of the Simplex Co. employes in
the production of actions that are honestly built
and assembled is indicated by the fact that al-
though nearly 300,000 player actions bearing the
Simplex name are in service, it is found un-
necessary to keep servicemen working out of
the factory steadily. In short, it is stated that
in practically every case where adjustments are
sociation, that at least six of the national maga-
zines selected by that committee to carry the
full-page advertisements in the interests of the
piano during the coming year will also feature
special articles by competent writers. Among
the titles of the articles to be run are: "The
Piano's Importance in Musical Education of the
Rising Generation," "How the Player-Piano and
the Reproducing Piano Have Widened the In-
fluence of the Piano," "The Proper Care and
Tuning of the Piano" and "The Supremacy of
the Piano in the Realm of Music." Other sub-
jects will also be treated in the series, and
it is believed that the influence of these articles
will be widespread and distinctly beneficial to
the trade.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.