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Soulé News
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 7 AUGUST, 1964
Growing and Changing # Production Department Evolution
Soulé's Production Department directs the rolling mill at Dominguez, California, as well as servicing its two large plants in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
This diversified role is the result of changes through the years designed to meet the needs of a growing corporation.
Production departments generally pass through many transition periods as manufacturing companies expand. Ours is no exception.
The company itself evolved from a basic fabricator to a mill producer and fabricator. When the present divisional structure was adopted, the specialized divisions absorbed the fabricating functions related to their own processes.
During World War II, when Soulé was making landing craft, the superintendent of the San Francisco plant was Lee Soulé, now president of the company. After the war he became General Production Manager in charge of the complete manufacturing operation.
When Lee moved up to Vice President and General Manager in 1950, he was succeeded by C. C. Williamson, the head of the company's Industrial Engineering Department. In the 1961 reorganization, Bud Williamson became Vice President of Manufacturing and took responsibility for the rolling mill division and the production service departments in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Some key men under Bud are Bob Pearson, Supervisor of the Plant Engineering Department, Frank Bowman, Plant Manager of the Rolling Mill Division, Al Schurner, District Service Manager in San Francisco, Jack Dressen, District Service Manager in Los Angeles, Guy Haskins, Supervisor of the Rolling Mill Plant Engineering, Jack Van Matre, Supervisor of Scrap Purchasing, and others.
Al Schurner and one of his right-hand men, Die Shop Superintendent Gene Maier, both came to this country from Germany and have been with Soulé for 34 and 35 years respectively.
Also under Al in San Francisco are Noah Bennight, Supervisor of the Maintenance Department, and Val Normile, who runs the Traffic Department. Val is a relative newcomer. He's only been with the company 25 years.
Key Los Angeles men on Jack Dressen's team are Tom Kellum, Supervisor of the Die Shop, and Fred Frankle, a 40-year veteran with Soulé, and Cliff Mayo, Supervisor of the Traffic Department, who is celebrating his 35th year with Soulé.
(See photos on page 3)
*Photo: Pouring Steel at Dominguez*
*Photo: Williamson*
*Photo: Bowman*
*Photo: Schurner*
Mill Five Years Old
*Soulé News* is particularly pleased to say "Happy Birthday" to the Dominguez Mill.
The company moved into a completely new field when ground was broken for the mill in January of 1959, but the wisdom of the decision has been amply demonstrated.
From metal fabrication and field installation we reached out and began producing the materials themselves — namely, reinforcing bars in the Summer of 1959.
As with any new operation, the beginning months contained their share of problems. However, we are proud to say that we still have our entire supervisory staff and a large number of our shop personnel who have all contributed to the successful operation. But in the past five years continuous improvement has been made in techniques, equipment and procedures.
Because of this teamwork, the problems have decreased and production has increased substantially.
Meanwhile, the improvements are continuing with the installation of the new continuous casting equipment for the Melting Department and the development of the metal fence post project in the Rolling Department.
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From the President
We ALL Can Be Salesmen
Over the years the company has found very good reasons to be proud of its products and its employees. It is very important that each employee, no matter what his job, has this same feeling of pride of his company and the company products.
Employees are always a reflection of the company they represent. This is true whether an employee meets the public directly or indirectly. The public image of our company is the responsibility of every one of us. By working toward a "good" image, we are helping to sell our company and its products. A good motto to remember is "Business profits do not come from making things but from SELLING the things that business makes."
Another way to show your pride in your company and its products is to be alert to possible jobs and customers that you may know of that are coming up and bring these to the attention of the appropriate people within the company. In the past many jobs have been brought to the company's attention by employees other than salesmen.
Take time to know Soulé's products so that you are able to promote the company's products to people outside the company. You may be able to bring to the attention of members of your outside clubs and organizations the quality of Soulé products as well as the pride you feel for the company.
Remember, although we have salesmen to sell the company and its products, company teamwork is the key to successful selling, and through real pride for our company and its products "we *all* can be salesmen."
Edward Lee Soulé, Jr.
Helping Ourselves by Serving Our Industry
Soulé Steel Company's membership in the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers is made meaningful through the efforts of the General Manager of the Architectural Products Division, Kenneth W. Archer.
Ken served as Treasurer and President of the Western Architectural Metal Manufacturers before it merged with the national association. He was the first chairman of NAAMM-West after the merger.
Ian Miller, Chief Design Engineer in the Architectural Products Division, also is active in the NAAMM-West, serving as Chairman of the Technical Committee.
NAAMM represents the architectural, engineering and ornamental metal industry and has members throughout the United States and Canada.
Because of the wide variety of metal products used by the construction industry, the promotional efforts are specialized in five divisions: Iron and Steel, Metal Curtain Wall, Tablet and Letter, Store Front and Entrance, and Non-Ferrous.
"Architectural Metals" is the official publication of the NAAMM. It is distributed free to more than 12,000 architects and engineers, schools of architecture and libraries. It is also mailed to more than 2500 metal fabricators and suppliers to the industry.
The purpose of the magazine is to put the news and "how to" information concerning the fabrication of metals into the hands of important buying factors in the construction industry.
Among the other NAAMM activities are labor relations, safety, liaison with other influential groups, research and development and a bid information service.
There is active competition among the various types of construction suppliers.
Our membership in the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers allows us to join forces with others in our own field in competing successfully with such organizations as Portland Cement Association, Architectural Woodwork Institute, Structural Clay Products Institute, and others.
Photo: *Archer*
Photo: *Tomeo, Grable, Ragone*
Straight "A" Students
Three employees at the steel mill in Los Angeles have just completed a course in Introductory Metallurgy, Non-Ferrous Metallurgy and Metallography.
Lab Supervisor Don Tomeo, Shift Melter Don Grable and Lab Technician Alex Ragone attended a three-hour session three nights a week for the past year and a half. All three were straight "A" students.
But rather than wearing them out, this educational experience has helped them realize that they must continue to grow and learn. Next semester they will take a course in Heat Treating.
Nice going fellows. You have the right idea.
Soulé News
Published monthly by the Soulé Steel Co.
Howard Soulé, Editor
Associate Editors
Andree George — Salt Lake
Esther Longnecker — San Diego
Sally Kelsay — San Francisco
Mike Mickel — San Francisco
Dee Henderson — Seattle
Frank Kleman — Dominguez
Jo Davis — Fresno
Don Garner — Los Angeles
Rod Newton — Phoenix
Dolores Bedgood — Portland
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CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
On the afternoon of May 4, a man was seriously injured when his car went through an anchor fence at the top of a high bluff overlooking the San Francisco plant.
The vehicle landed at the bottom of the bluff directly behind the Lath and Stud Warehouse and the driver was thrown to the ground unconscious.
*Sanders*
Working Foreman Andy Fabbri was the first person to arrive at the scene, with Plant Manager Al Schurner close behind.
Schurner instructed Fabbri to call for an ambulance and the fire department. He had the car's ruptured gasoline tank sprayed with dry chemical from a hand fire extinguisher to lessen the danger of fire and alerted the Plant Nurse, Nancy Sanders, and Safety Manager Mike Mickel.
While Miss Sanders administered first aid to the victim, Schurner kept the area clear of spectators. The plunging vehicle had loosened the sharp rocks on the cliff.
Schurner and Mickel stood by prepared to move the victim and the nurse in case of a rockslide. The ambulance arrived and moved the victim shortly before some rocks did give way.
For her outstanding performance under extremely difficult conditions, Nancy Sanders received high praise from the chairman of the Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco, the employer of the injured man.
Chairman Joseph P. Mazzola's letter said in part: "Witnesses at the scene of the accident told of your immediate response to assist one so seriously injured as to be on the brink of death, and that at the risk of your own personal safety brought aid and comfort to the victim.
"The entire Commission, Officers and Staff of the San Francisco Housing Authority are extremely grateful for your split-second response that obviously saved a precious life."
The Executive Director of the Housing Authority said in a letter to President Lee Soulé, "It must indeed be gratifying to you to have people of her quality in your organization."
People in the News
Bob Secker has been appointed Regional Sales Manager, Northwest Region, for the Architectural Products Division.
Bob has been with Soulé since 1957 and has extensive experience promoting aluminum products.
*Ted Lusk*
Ted Lusk, a former personnel man with Aerojet-General Corporation, has been appointed Personnel Manager for the San Francisco area. At Aerojet-General in Sacramento he has served in a variety of personnel positions for the past seven years.
*Luck*
Al McConnell has been named Cost Accounting Supervisor in San Francisco. Al was with Joseph Buchwald & Sons, Inc., a San Francisco wholesale foods firm, for three years.
Tom Fisher has finished the estimating and detailing phase of his sales training program in the Steel Structures Division.
Now he is working on inside sales. Tom joined Soulé 11 months ago after working for nearly six years in the Midwest.
Production Department Photos
*Photo: Plant Engineering Department, seated (l to r) Doug Darcy, Bob Pearson, John Stratton; standing, Hans Kirchner, Trevor Shakesby, George Scott, Ernie Veroda.*
*Photo: S. F. Maintenance Shop personnel (l to r) Mario Mottini, Eric Frank, Don West, Henry Cesena, Hank Kramer, Clarence Moniot, Noah Benight, Walter Larson, John Reyna, William Norton.*
*Photo: Steel Mill office personnel (l to r) Lou Brand, Frank Bowman, Edna Ullom, Guy Huskins, Jackie Oleski, Don Watkins, Don Van Matre, George Thomas, Jim Peek, Ray Moses, Lennert Anderson, and Frank Karpishek.*
*Photo: Trankle and Mayo with machine shop leadman Tom Kellam and steel structures shop supervisor Holly Palmer.*
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SAFETY SCOREBOARD (Through June 1964)
PLANT STANDINGS
| | Doctor Cases Last Month | Doctor Cases To Date | Lost Time Cases Last Month | Lost Time Cases To Date | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1st Seattle | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 2nd Phoenix | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | | 3rd Fresno | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | | 4th L.A. Mill | 7 | 69 | 0 | 5 | | 5th L.A. Rebar | 7 | 68 | 0 | 4 | | 6th San Diego | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 7th L.A. Plant | 3 | 32 | 0 | 2 | | 8th Portland | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | | 9th San Francisco | 10 | 63 | 3 | 16 |
FIELD STANDNGS
| | Doctor Cases Last Month | Doctor Cases To Date | Lost Time Cases Last Month | Lost Time Cases To Date | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1st Phoenix | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | | 2nd No. Calif. | 5 | 48 | 1 | 15 | | 3rd Portland | 1 | 10 | 0 | 7 | | 4th Seattle | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | | 5th So. Calif. | 17 | 155 | 2 | 26 |
*Photo: The central and northwest dealer-erectors in front of mock-up of the new "Mainstreeteer" at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf*
*"The Mainstreeteer"*
Third New Structure in Year
At two recent meetings in San Francisco and Los Angeles, dealer-erectors for the Steel Structures Division were introduced to the latest additions to the product line — the "Mainstreeteer" building.
The "Mainstreeteer" is the third model to be introduced by Steel Structures in less than a year. Like the previous models, it is built with pre-engineered structural members and Shadowline steel wall panels with factory-applied colors.
The "Mainstreeteer" is designed for industrial and commercial operations such as offices, warehouses, retail stores and showrooms.
The primary difference is that the "Mainstreeteer" incorporates a new framing design which provides a flush wall and ceiling interior surface, allowing more efficient stacking of materials and installation of shelving. It also makes interior finishing easier.
Some of the gentlemen responsible for developing this flexible, attractive, economical building are pictured here with a model of the "Mainstreeteer" support structure. They are fellows in the Product Development Department, headed by Paul O Brian: Robert Morris, Ed Campbell, Daniel Chu, Herbert Arceo, John Kaskavaloyian and Charles Alvord, Jr.
*Photo: Alvord, Jr., Campbell, Chu, Arceo, Kaskavaloyian, Morris*
Division Manager Charles Alvord, Sr., feels the "Mainstreeteer" will help Soulé keep its position as the West's leading manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings.
The West's share of the national steel building market has jumped 100 percent in the last five years, from 11.4 to 21.5 percent.
Alvord says one of the reasons for this is the development and marketing of product lines such as the "Mainstreeteer" so that customers have a wider choice
Dealer Appointments
Soulé News takes great pleasure in announcing the following new dealer-erectors on the Steel Structures Division team:
Borah Construction Co., American Falls, Idaho. This is the first steel structure dealer in Idaho.
Ron Mitchell Corporation, Tacoma, Washington.
Strategos Company, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Protect Your Eyes
*by Mike Mickel* *Safety Editor*
Did you know that about 80 percent of the things you know come to your brain through your eyes? You read the newspaper, watch television, observe the people around you.
Obviously, protecting your eyes is tremendously important. And you can do it easily by wearing eye protection whenever an eye hazard exists.
This may not be a big thing with most people, but in our business there are many hazards to the human eye.
You should wear goggles when you are in the danger area of a particular job — whether or not you are actually working on it.
A piece of flying metal doesn't pick out its target. If you are in the danger area you are just as vulnerable as the worker.
Of course, eye protection is a bother, but when you need it, you need it 100 percent.
I like to compare it to an insurance policy. Instead of paying a monthly premium, we take the trouble to protect our precious eyesight.
This trouble — this policy — pays off when a piece of metal bounces off the protective glasses.
You take the trouble to use the glasses. You may not think about it much now, but if you lost an eye you would think about it all the time.