L/3-^ ■2A15'/ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ' FRANCES PERKINS, Secretary WOMEN'S BUREAU MARY ANDERSON, Dirbctob MEMORANDUM ON THE PRACTICABILITY OF SETTING MAXIMUM STANDARDS OF WORK IN COTTON MILLS OPERATING UNDER THE STRETCH-OUT SYSTEM By ETHEL L. BEST UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1933 ^'ttaii?^^^*^! MEMORANDUM ON THE PRACTICABILITY OF SETTING MAXIMUM STANDARDS OF WORK IN COTTON MILLS OPERATING UNDER THE STRETCH-OUT SYSTEM The following information was obtained from statements of 2 engineers, 1 research organization, 1 textile labor leader, and 1 cotton- mUl owner, together with facts obtained by the Women's Bureau. „ WEAVING Summary The authorities mentioned above agree that because of the tre- mendous variations within a mill in the several elements of the job it is very difficult to set by law any general limit as to the number of looms that a weaver can operate in a cotton mill. The variations in work, lay-out, machinery, and divisions of jobs differ in each plant. With the same number of looms the task set might be fair in some mills and far too heavy in others. In order to determine a fair number of looms per weaver, a scientific measurement should be made of the work to be done by the weavers in the individual nulls on the several fabrics they make, taking into consideration all the elements that influence the job. A definitely set maximum number of looms might be perfectly fair where all the previous steps had been properly taken and the same number far too many without prepara- tory planning. A code might be drawn up by experienced textile engineers that would set the proper standard of looms per weaver for the majority of cloth constructions, but such a code should specify also standards of machines and of upkeep, as well as conditions and equipment in departments preliminary to weaving. It is suggested that under the National Recovery Administration in plants where the stretch-out has been introduced and where such system is considered by the workers to be unfair or to entail very heavy work, a complaint can be made directly to the Administrator, who may then order an investigation by competent engineers. The investi- gation may be asked for through an organization- of ,;^orkers or by a group in a single mill. "*'**^ SOME FACTORS INVOLVED IN DETERMINT'l^'6'^'^^fe^UM^ER OF LOOMS TO A WEAVER ^^i^%. 1. The work 3. T^he job (weave roo'rii/*'^ a. Grade of cotton. ,* a. Average number of loom b. Type of finished goods de- ^ stops per hour. sired. b. Weaving system. - c. Quality of finished goods ^ c. Responsibility regardi:ng; up- desired. ';. keep, cleaning, inspection of d. Variability of the manage- "i. goods coming and gqing, etc. ment's orders.- X d. Method of patrol. ,* ^_ e. Skill involved. >* %/. Motivation.. ,i 2. The machine (in all departments) g Physique. / ■ a. Type. h. Health. /''' b. Condition. , „. . . ,. . c. Operating. 4. Workmg conditions d. Organization of draft, speed, a. Lighting. and twist (carding and 6. Floor, spinning). c. Air conditions. 6606°— 33 1 STANDARDS OF WORK UNDER THE STRETCH-OUT SYSTEM WORK OF A WEAVER Piecing ends (including starting looms) . Walking. Taking off cloth. Filling batteries (sometimes done by a battery hand) . 5. Cleaning (generally done by cleaners) . 6. Rest time. 7. Miscellaneous. CAUSES OF WORK VARIATION IN THE WEAVE ROOM 1. Piecing ends. Number of loom stoppages is determined by — a. Conditions in the picking, carding, and spinning de- partments. b. The cloth requirements, such as strength, elasticity, pat- tern (plain, fancy, colored) . c. Weaving imperfections. d. Character of yarn. e. Atmospheric conditions. 2. Walking. The amount is deter- mined by — a. The system of weaving. b. The length of the cycle or patrol. c. The average time allowed for piecing ends, taking off cloth, and other duties. d. The rest time allowed. 3. Taking off cloth. Time varies with — a. The character of the cloth. h. The size of the piece. Filling batteries a. Whether the operation is per- formed by the weaver or a battery hand. b. Time the filling lasts in the shuttle. c. Arrangement of filling in box. d. Method of filling battery. e. Type of loom. Cleaning a. Cleaning is usually done by cleaners. b. If cleaning is done by weav- ers, the time depends on the character of the cloth being woven. Rest time Generally 10 to 12 minutes per hour should be allowed. Miscellaneous a. If no special hands, pick-out work. b. Examining cloth. c. Extras. SPINNING Summary Tlie problem of establishing a standard of the number of sides a spinner can operate without undue fatigue is similar to that of set- tmg the correct number of looms for a weaver. No definite number of sides can be set that will apply with equal fairness in all mills, because of the multiplicity of factors involved not only in the type of yam manufactured but in the machinery and method of operating in different mills. The amount of piecing, creeling, and cleaning varies between mills and on different numbers of yarn. The yarn breakage is affected not only by the quality of the yarn desired and the condi- tion of the spinning frames but by the type of machines used and the engineering skill exercised in the picldng and carding operations. According to some authorities the greatest obstacle to overcome in order to obtain proper spinning-room operating is the presentation of an even roving of a reasonable twist, and this depends not on the spinning room but on the carding. The extension or stretch-out of the work has been less generally introduced in the spinning room than in the weaving room. This is probably due to two reasons: First, the wages of a spinner are lower than those of a weaver, so the extension of the work involves less saving in the spinning than in the weaving room ; second, the walking STANDARDS OF WORK UNDER THE STRETCH-OUT SYSTEM 6 is very much increased, and as the spinners generally are women this often causes considerable dissatisfaction, especially among the clean- ers, who walk more and earn less than do the spinners. It is suggested that a spinning code might be drawn up by experi- enced textile engineers giving an approximate number of spindles for a spinner working under different methods on certain counts of yarn and a general outline of duties of the spinner. Any such code would of necessity allow for revision and adjustments. SOME FACTORS INVOLVED IN DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF SIDES PER SPINNER 1. The work a. Grade of cotton. b. Number of yarn desired. , c. Quality of yarn desired. d. Filling or warp yarn. 3. The job — Continued b. Spinning system. c. Responsibility regarding up- keep, cleaning, creeling, et cetera. d. Method of patrol. 2. The machine a. Type. b. Condition. c. Upkeep. d. Organization of draft. e. Speed and twist. e. Motivation. /. Physique. g. Health. h. Rest periods. i. Miscellaneous. /. Size of spindle. 4. Working conditions a. Floor. 3. The job (spinning room) b. Air conditions. a. Average number of end break- c. Lighting. age per side per hour. WORK OF A SPINNER 1. Piecing ends. 2. Creeling. 3. Cleaning (sometimes done by an assistant). 4. Walking. 5. Resting. CAUSES OF WORK VARIATION IN THE SPINNING ROOM d. Piecing ends. Number to be pieced is determined by— a. Quality of cotton. b. Count of yarn. c. Yarn requirements — drafts, speeds, twists. Conditions in the picking and carding rooms. e. Spinning frames, condition and operation. /. Type and specification of machines. g. Build of bobbin. h. Humidity condition. Creeling a. Count of yarn. b. Size of back roving. c. Bobbin-cleaning machine sup- plied. 2. Creeling — Continued d. Whether spinner carries full and empty bobbins to and from the frames. 3. Cleaning a. Quality of cotton. b. Count of yarn. c. Length of draft. d. Division of the work. 4. Walking o. Count of yarn. b. Size of frame. c. Method of patrol. 5. Resting a. Careful planning of work. b. Method of patrol. c. Division of work. 4 STANDARDS OF WOKK UNDER THE STRETCH-OUT SYSTEM OPINIONS EXPRESSED "End breakage is one of the most useful and measurable factors in the determining of any load and would have a part in any locally set standard. It would, however, be impossible on this basis alone to lay down a tabulated requirement as to a machine assignment, be- cause of the many other factors that contribute to the hardship of the work." A few of the many facts that should be known before a task is set are, whether a weaver must fill his own batteries, remove the finished cloth, draw in without help after smashes, and clean the looms; also the method of patrol. For almost all of these there are degrees cf variation, and not merely yes or no. Even though the new system is developed under engineers, the workers should be consulted and informed, as far as possible, of the aim and the methods used to achieve it. One engineer said, "The most important and lasting results come from the development of suitable processes of association and not from imposed rulings. It is more useful and a far better use of human forces to set up standard- setting processes by which those affected get a hand or voice in the findings which are to guide them." RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The job should be laid out as scientifically as possible by com- petent engineers, with a careful measurement made of work to be done in the individual mills, taking into consideration all the elements that infiuence the job. When the stretch-out follows a standard number of looms or spindles set for a certain product, type of machme, and method of work, the operations in preceding departments should follow the procedure outlined by the best engineering practice. 2. The job should be laid out on the basis of time required to do the work; but as it takes time and some experimenting to reach a fair standard, a sliding scale should be laid out until the final standard has been achieved. 3. The type and quality of the management should be considered in the setting of any job standard. The ability to carry on a system after a standard has been set is of vital importance to the success or failure of any plan. 4. As in most cases the engineers are hired by the management and represent it, there should be some machinery set up whereby com- plaints of the workers may be submitted to an outside impartial body having a thorough knowledge of the textile industry. The impor- tance of having the worker understand the change and of obtaining his cooperation cannot be overestimated. 5. The task should be set to allow for a reasonable amount of rest time, probably an average minimum of 12 minutes an hour. This rest time cannot, of course, be taken in a single period, but the work should be planned to allow for at least that amount of free time. This amount of rest time is not final, as further research may establish a different scale in order to prevent undue fatigue. 6. The duties included in the new system should be in writing to minimize misunderstandings and as a basis for future adjustments. o UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA lllllllllilllillili 3 1262 08859 0442