Shop and foundry management

Preface

FOR the most part this volume consists of articles written for The Iron Age, Mr. Dean's purpose being to present everyday shop and foundry methods that have resulted in lower cost and greater output. As superintendent of the Dean Brothers Steam Pump Works, Indianapolis, Ind., in the past thirteen years, the author has constantly aimed at four things: Reduction in cost of production; increase in plant capacity through greater efficiency ; quick deliveries, and a perfect product.

Mr. Dean, who is nephew of the proprietors, was put in charge of the Indianapolis plant thirteen years ago at the age of 25. The product is pumps ranging from 24 to 50,000 pounds, some of them designed by the author, who also designed and built a number of special machines to turn out the work. Among these is a 6-foot boring and milling machine having a 48-inch milling cutter head. Mr. Dean worked in every department of the Indianapolis plant. He had a common school and high school education. Working in the shop in vacations from an early age, before he was out of school he had learned the machinist's trade. At eighteen he quit school and went to work in the foundry, learning this trade. He was specially instructed in all branches of operation, with the idea of eventually taking charge.

In setting out to record some of the results of his experience Mr. Dean planned to set forth in compact form what may be called the economics of shop operation ; to indicate on what lines he had succeeded in increasing

4 PREFACE

output in all departments and in reducing overhead expenses. The plant in which he has done his work employs about 200 men and is of the right size to enable the man in charge to learn all the practical details. It is no theory, therefore, that he presents, and extended discussion has been avoided, the purpose being to point out how and where money can be saved and the efficiency of the whole productive machine increased.

The Publisher