November 1957 page 5

[photograph of diesels]
FOR A MAJOR OVERHAUL diesels are stripped
to their barest essentials and moving parts are
carefully checked and renewed by mechanics.
When this one returns to duty it'll be like new.

expert himself. His son, J. Louis Rhodes,
is master mechanic at the Greenville
shops and is in day-to-day charge of the
endless work accomplished by his team
of 15 men. Sam P. Kistler heads the N. C.
Division Shops at Pinoca.

The P & N shops in Greenville and
Pinoca may not be places of beauty but
they make up for it in utility and a
knack for making big, complicated jobs
look easy. Through efficiency, teamwork,
and versatility they contribute im-
measurably to the success of the rail-
road.

A Study Pays Off

Several years ago the traffic manager
of a large manufacturing industry made
a thoroughgoing study of freight car
loading and unloading operations at one
of its Eastern plants. As a result of that
study, the company adopted a program
of improved scheduling not only of cars,
but of purchasing, production and distri-
bution as well. What has occurred since
then has made shipping history.

As a result of better methods of load-
ing, unloading and storage, more than
60,000 freight cars have been handled
by the company's Eastern plants without
payment of a single demurrage charge!

"The entire plant has benefited from
the improved scheduling that has come
from our original effort to eliminate
demurrage," said one official. "We now
realize that there is little reason for
paying for delaying freight cars at our
plants when with a little effort we can
prevent it."

Improved scheduling has resulted in
closer coordination among the purchas-
ing, production and sales departments.
Now when a salesman telephones in a
large order, everything moves by pre-
arranged plan. Raw materials are im-
mediately checked and made ready, pro-
duction sets up a schedule and prepares
to move the order to destination.

Efficient car handling not only elimi-
nates demurrage charges, but in these
days of tight car supply, it permits fuller
utilization of available equipment. This
case study dramatically illustrates the
proverb: "Take care of the little things,
and the big things will take care of
themselves."

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