Vision 110

May 75 No. 110
THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN
They’ve Served Their Time
They have c a s t off their white coats
with the distinctive blue c o l l a r s ; no
longer under the loving care of
Training staff, they have become
permanent members of departments
throughout the Plant, ranging from
Works Laboratory to Industrial
Engineering, f r om Design Engineering
to Quality Assurance.
Before joining a department, many
factors were taken into a c c o u n t— the
requirements of that department, and
the apprentices’ o w n aptitude and
preference all being considered.
Sometimes t h e r e ‘ s an unexpected
change of direction during training —
one engineering student decided late
in h i s t e rm that he really wanted to
become a buyer in Purchase. Some
apprentices leave u s altogether to
become Rank Xerox service engineers
at Bristol or Cardiff.
The chart hanging in Frank E d w a r d s ‘
o f f i c e in Training, s h o w i n g t h e final
location of each y e a r ‘ s intake s i n ce
1966, i s a kind of barometer pointing
to general trends w i t h i n the Plant.
Our apprenticeship s c h e m e i s now
about 25 years old and it i s estimated
that there are between 300 and 400
former apprentices currently working
at Mitcheldean.
Next September history w i l l repeat
i t s e l f when a young man by t h e name
of Steven i s taken on a s an apprentice
— j u s t a s h i s father, Roy Powell, w as
20 y e a r s ago. (See story, pages 2 and 3.)
One of the likely lads — Christopher Dean,
receiving his award from Mr Morfee.
L Another likely lad — Gary Sladen.
chairman of the apprentices committee,
proposing a vote of thanks to all concerned
with the event.
It would hardly be surprising if, in the
light of recent events, some of the
younger generation were to ask
themselves ‘Are there fewer
opportunities than there were ? Are
we in the wrong place ?’
A firm ‘no’ to both questions was
given by General Manager Ron
Morfee when he attended the
Students’ Dinner and Presentation in
the Social Centre on April 4.
‘What has happened over the last
year or 18 months is something
absolutely new to Mitcheldean. It
has gone from success to success and
now suddenly there is a pause, and
maybe even a contraction.
‘Since the energy crisis the move has
tended to be downhill. The world
wants less of our machines at the
moment, but this doesn’t mean the
Company is going bankrupt. All our
machines in the field are earning
revenue.
‘Our future is geared to the Xerox
9200, and the programme for this has
been put back, because the Company
is determined that it shall be absolutely
right before it goes on the market.
Therefore, for a year or even longer,
we are likely to be short of production
work in this Plant.
‘But I would not like you apprentices
and trainees to feel that this casts a
big shadow over your future with us.
‘We are a strong company and there
is a great deal of work going on in
the realms of new development and
new technologies — in fact we are
still looking for extra people in PED
and in other parts of the Company.
For example. Rank Xerox South
Africa recently came to comb the
Plant for personnel, mainly technicians,
for their refurbishing centre near
Johannesburg.
‘We need people, qualified people,
to help us build up success in the
future. When I visited the West
Gloucestershire College of Further
Education in Cinderford the other day,
I was very encouraged at what the
Principal said about the quality of
the people who came from Rank
Xerox and their application to their
studies.’
Listing graduates of the apprentice
scheme was to give a roll call of the
technical heart of our business, he
said.
Two key figures on the 9200
programme scene were former
apprentices: John Smith was
heading up our task force out in the
USA, while Roy Powell was acting as
manager in charge of the 9200 and
all other assembly activities.
At a rough estimate there were
between 300 and 400 former
apprentices working in the Plant. All
in their time had probably been told
by Len Hart to clean their shoes and
sit up straight. ‘It hasn’t done them
any harm,’ commented Mr Morfee.
After the presentation of indentures,
certificates and financial awards,
Gary Sladen, chairman of the
apprentices committee, proposed a
vote of thanks to all concerned.
Then it was over to PW Sounds
Discotheque (the PW standing for
Pretty Wild, we guess).
As we went to press we heard that Len
Hart was making a steady recovery from his
recent heart attack. He has our best wishes.
Our Fourth
Queen^s Award
For the fourth time. Rank
Xerox Ltd has won The
Queen’s Award to Industry ;
as on the three previous
occasions, in 1966,1971 and
1972, the Award was made
for export achievement.
Exports for the year ended
June 1975 amounted to
£74 million, an increase in
excess of 11 per cent over
the previous year.
Some of the likely lasses {trainee secretaries) who received financial awards.
2
Making the Grade
APPRENTICES
Indentures
Kim Butcher, Paul Coleman,
Graham Cooper, Graham Cox,
Gary Ellis Brian Fowler, Lloyd Gill,
Terence Hook, Lloyd Hornchurch,
Kenneth Johnson, Robert Johnson,
John Knight, Peter Knight, Robert
Lewis, Keith Marfell, John Murrell,
John Phipps, Alan Robertson,
Peter Ryland, Roger Smith, Gary
Trigg, Colin Turner, John Wood,
Stephen Worgan.
HND
Brian Fowler.
Mechanical Engineering
Technicians Pt II
Richard Baker, David Bowdler, Kim
Butcher, Graham Cox, Rodney Dix,
Dennis Hart, Kenneth Johnson,
Peter Knight, Colin Turner, Glyn
Rudge, Gary Sladen.
ONC
Stephen Austin, Christopher Dean,
David Evans, Colin Overington,
John Phipps, Peter Ryland.
Ordinary T e c h n i c i a n ‘ s Certificate
John Harding, David Hobbs,
Richard Johnson, Stephen Price,
John Smith, John Sluman, David
Tingle.
Certificate of Engineering
Craftsmanship
Paul Coleman, Gary Ellis, Andrew
Frowen, Terence Hook, John Knight,
Robert Lewis, John Murrell, Roger
Smith.
Craft S t u d i es
Andrew Eagles, Terence Hook, Lloyd
Hornchurch, John Knight, Nigel
Knight, Robert Lewis, John Murrell,
Christopher Orris, Mark Savagar,
Roger Smith, Gary Trigg, Keith
Woodward.
G*
Phillip Bowdler, Phillip Davis,
Stephen Gwynne, Kevin James,
David Lewis.
E I T B First Year Training
Certificate
Roger Ball, Phillip Bowdler, John
Bright, Christopher Brown, Phillip
Davis, Andrew Eagles, Richard Ellis,
Stephen Gwynne, Kevin James,
John Jeffs, Royston Jones, Stephen
Jones, Nigel Knight, David Lewis,
Patrick Madley, Armando Nardecchia,
Christopher Orris, Mark Savagar,
Peter Swainson, Colin Webb,
William Whitfield, Stephen WIntle,
Keith Woodward.
TRAINEE SECRETARIES
English
Carol Carpenter.
Shorthand/Typing
Lida Carpenter, Rosemary Davies,
Angela Jones, Jane Murray, Sally
Prosser, Jean Robertson, Jackie
Smith, Kay Thomas, Elizabeth Trigg.
Spring Campaign
You must have noticed the powerful
new television and press campaign
that has been mounted during the
traditional peak purchasing Spring
period, with the theme ‘Rank Xerox
helps you do, what you do, better.’
During April press advertisements
appeared throughout Britain and
Eire in 19 daily newspapers, three
business management magazines and
four trade press magazines.
The television campaign started at
the beginning of April; it comprised
a 45-second commercial entitled
One for Everyone’, showing in an
amusing way three of the range of
RX machines — the 7000, 4000 and
3100 and a shorter 30-second
commercial featuring a ballroom
dancer explaining the benefits and
features of the 3100.
The commercials appeared during
peak viewing hours on the following
TV stations : London, Southern,
Midlands, Lancashire, Yorkshire and
Tyne-Tees, Anglia, Westward,
Wales, Scotland, Border, Ulster, Eire.
This campaign tied in with the launch
of the 4500 in April, and should add
force to the big new ‘push’ on the
4000 machine which all marketing
areas have started.
LETTER
As we went to press, the highlight
of the LSA year — the annual
dinner— had just taken place,
with J. Maldwyn Thomas, Chairman
and Chief Executive of Rank Xerox
Ltd, as guest of honour.
This month sees the retirement of
our longest-serving employee,
Laurence (Max) Miller of Engineering,
who has notched up almost
half a century with us. He has a vast
fund of stories from way back, and his
cartooning talent is well known, so
we won’t be short of material on
his account.
A whole lot more long-serving
friends, who are taking advantage of
the Company’s early retirement/
voluntary redundancy package, are
also leaving us. Early this month we
said goodbye to Jock Cruickshank of
Planning & Support (PCD), George
Weatherley (Machine Shop), Horace
Wintle (Paint Shop), Harry Andrews
(QA), Jack Footitt (Engineering)
and others whom we shall feature
later.
Lime and Coca-Cola
There wouldn’t seem to be any
connection between Coca-Cola and
a lime kiln. But we’ve discovered one.
A competition being run by
Coca-Cola Export Corporation in
association with European
Architectural Heritage Year has
triggered off an independent
contribution to the Year by some of
our apprentices and trainee
secretaries.
The lime kilns in the Forest of Dean
are peculiar to this area, say those
who should know, and the
restoration of one such kiln at
Symonds Yat has been chosen by
the young people as their project for
the competition.
Said ex-apprentice Peter Knight of
PED (Finishing Planning): ‘This
particular kiln is in good condition
except for one or two places where
the stonework is falling apart. We
plan to restore it, clean it up and get
a plaque put up so that visitors
including it in their sightseeing tours
will learn a bit about the industrial
history of the area.’
Apart from this effort to gain a
Heritage Year Youth Award, the
volunteers have another project
planned — the uncovering of a
stretch of Roman road which runs
from Berry Hill to Lydney.
[Ml(P!^/^\PP©0[]lJ^^
Willi Sonneborn has been appointed
Manager Machine Manufacture,
Venray, as from April 7. He reports
directly to Ir L. A. Stierman, Director
of Manufacturing Operations
(Continental), and has overall
responsibility for all machine
manufacture at the Venray Plant.
Mr Sonneborn joined Rank Xerox in
November 1973 as Manager of the
proposed new Manufacturing Plant
at Aachen. He will continue to handle
any matters associated with the
delayed development of this project.
Stanton Lane, formerly Manager
Manufacturing Operations Control
at Xerox Corporation, joined
Manufacturing Group on April 8 as
Manager Accounting Systems.
During his two-year assignment with
us he will report to John Field,
Manager Manufacturing Information
& Control.
This appointment reflects the
emphasis being placed on the
consolidation of sound financial
control mechanisms within the
Manufacturing Group.
3
Mil Mil ||M i||l |||l Mil IIP illlllin M||||||i M|||||l> >H{|||I’ MIIIIJI
0 30
I I I i h h i h l i l i l i I i l i l i h i l i l i l i l i l i l i l i l i l i i h l i l i l i i h l i l i l i i l i l i l i i i l i l i l i l i i l i l i l i l i i i i l i li
This is the first of a series of
articles by Metrication Officer
Jack Timms aimed at keeping us
in touch with developments
during the changeover to the
metric system at Mitcheldean.
It’s not something new. Since 1790,
efforts have been made, internationally
and within our own Parliament, to
persuade the United Kingdom to go
metric.
Little happened between the two
world wars. By the ‘sixties, interest
was aroused once again by a report
of the Federation of British Industries
(now the Confederation of British
Industries).
A letter to the President of the Board
of Trade and the Minister of
Technology in February 1965
indicated that a majority, both in
numbers and total size, favoured the
adoption of the metric system as the
primary system of mensuration for
British industry, and awaited a
general statement of policy from
HM Government.
The Government was impressed with
the case that had been presented,
since countries using that system
were already taking more than half of
our exports, and the total proportion
of world trade conducted in terms of
metric units would continue to
increase.
The Government therefore
considered it desirable that British
industries should adopt metric units,
sector by sector, until that system
could become, in time, the primary
system of weights and measures for
the country as a whole.
We, as an exporting nation, are
looking at a world in which
85 per cent of the world population
use the metric system.
In America, the Metric Conversion
Act of 1975 is still going through
committee procedure and, following
the setting-up of a Metrication Board
similar to our own, it is anticipated
that it will take about ten years to
reach the same level of metrication
as at present exists in the United
Kingdom.
Xerox Corporation plan to adopt the
metric system of measurement for new
products as it becomes economical
and feasible, allowing for a gradual
but persistent change to take place.
Here at home the initial step was
decimalisation of currency.
Now we are at the stage of ordering
carpets, fabrics and timber to metric
standards, and later this year
washing and cleaning powders will
be introduced in metric packs. Most
schools and colleges are now
teaching the metric system as
standard in their curriculum.
The United Kingdom programme
envisaged that 75 per cent of the
engineering industry would be metric
by the end of 1975. It now looks as
if this point will be reached by 1978.
We are indebted to Horace Beclier of
Xerox Corporation for a novel idea which
will help us to ‘think metric’. Using the
model numbers of our machines, he
worked out the following approximate
equation which is easy to memorise when
used in conjunction with the model
shown above: 914 millimetres=36 inches;
660 mm =26 in.; 813 mm =32 in.
So much for the general picture.
What about our Company in
particular?
The first multinational model (which
will be completely metric) is currently
being designed by Rank Xerox.
Here at Mitcheldean we are already
beginning to feel the pressures
mounting as suppliers become more
metric than we are.
In the case of raw materials,
consumables, tools and fasteners
(nuts, screws, etc.), metrication is
starting to make its mark. The
indications are that there will be a
long transitional period with all the
problems associated with
simultaneous metric/imperial
working.
This will affect us a\\, and it will be
necessary to carry out continual
studies in critical areas so that we
can take steps to minimise the effect
that metrication could have on our
operation (which is likely to be
imperial for some years).
Some retrospective action on
existing models will almost certainly
be necessary as imperial supplies
become more difficult, and more
costly, to obtain.
Of course, a lot has been done by our
Multinational Task Forces in
producing suitable standards for
future models. Our Standards and
Metrication committees in Engineering
and Production Engineering have
already produced standards covering
sheet metal and wire which are
being implemented on current
models.
Standard Tooling and consumables
will be ordered to metric standards in
the near future. Packaging has
already gone metric and, in the case
of spares packaging, retrospective
action on old specifications will
ensure complete metrication in this
field.
As from last August, all tooling is
being designed to metric standards
and in the Plant areas (Works
Engineering), most aspects of their
work could become metric within a
fairly short time.
To summarise, whilst Xerox has a
declared policy of going metric, we
in Rank Xerox must adapt ourselves
and our practices to changing
standards with the emphasis on
‘metric’, while still using the imperial
system for our current models and
our spares requirements for machines
already in the field.
We shall all require education in
metrication. At home we get it
through newspapers, shopping
expeditions, etc.; at work, over the
next two years, much more emphasis
will be placed on thinking metric.
For specific tasks, the necessary
training will be carried out, as it
already has been for Tool Design,
Small Batch and Tool Room.
The next phase of the programme for
metrication in Mitcheldean Plant is
an extension of the present activity
in Manufacturing Engineering through
to Works Engineering.
Quote of the Month
‘I reckon metric measurement
will be more accurate because there’s
a lot more of those minimetres to the
inch.’
4
tiace meeting p i a c e meeting p l a c e »«. > place t r – i – e e t i i , p L « ; = t : ; e m&e’-
neeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e meeting plEice m e e t i n g piac«
lace meeting p l a c e meeting p l a c e m e e t i n g place meeting p l a c e mee
Secretary Janet Ruck used to work
in the office area which hovers
between floors 1 and 2 in Building 40
and looks down on the 9900
Department, where they are making
our newest product, the 9200. (No,
we haven’t made a mistake, the
numbers just happened that way I)
But now she has moved up to the
permanency of floor 2 together with
her boss, Roy Powell, who recently
assumed an overall Co-ordinating
Management responsibility for all of
our six assembly areas, following the
temporary assignment of Frank
Whinyates to the Solar Project.
‘She’s my right hand,’ says Roy. ‘I
depend on her to plan my week
for me’.
Janet, who also works for Brian
Mould, 9900 Assistant Manager, has
been with us for nearly seven years;
she started in Work Study before
moving over to the production side.
Born in the Forest, she became
engaged last August, and she and her
fiance are saving up hard for a home.
‘I’m not outstandingly domesticated,’
she insisted, but we guess she’s
pretty practical.
Having lived alongside the new
‘machine’ for a number of years and
become familiar with its appearance
inside and out, she recently ‘made
friends with it’ by having some
comprehensive training in operating
the 9200 system.
Whether a concern is small or large
scale, costs have to be watched
closely and no one is more aware of
that than J im Timmis. He used to
run his own building concern in
Birmingham before moving to
Huntley to help with his brother-inlaw’s
garage business.
Five and a half years ago he joined
our Cost Office in Financial
Accounting where he is primarily
responsible for the master cost file.
This records the cost of all the parts
that we make or purchase, the
information being extracted from
purchase orders, process records, etc.
Jim comes to work in a Ford banger’.
‘There was a genuine 96,000 miles
on the clock when I bought it for £20
almost two years ago. I gave it a
few transplants and now it starts like
clockwork every time.’
A former trials competitor, he became
interested in this difficult motor sport
after watching a TV programme. He
built a car to the required RAC
specification and took part in
contests up and down the country.
Within a year he had become a
member of the Midlands team which
won the B.B.C. Television trophy.
It was in this contest at Tring, Herts.,
that he was interviewed by Raymond
Baxter, who was doing a commentary
on the event.
His sport today is less rigorous; he
plays golf at Coleford and is a
member of our Golf Society.
He’s also a painter in oils — in fact, he
won third prize in our first ‘Sell a
Picture’ competition in 1970 with his
impressionist work ‘Summertime in
Huntley’ which was subsequently
bought by the Company.
‘I’ve always been frightened of
figures,’ admitted Rosemary Minns,
so it came as a surprise to find her
newly installed in an accountancy
atmosphere. Formerly in Engineering,
she is now secretary to Peter Vince,
Manager, Finance & Administration.
Rosemary joined us nearly seven
years ago when the tragic death of
her husband obliged her to earn her
own living. She placed her three
daughters in a Church of England
Society home at Leamington Spa —
‘I felt I could do more for them that
way. They come home for holidays
and I visit them regularly. The
eldest is now at college studying
hotel management.’
Those who have been married at
Lydney Register Office will recognise
in Rosemary the Deputy Registrar
who prepares the marriage
certificates and register. She became
housekeeper for the Registrar of the
Forest of Dean and his invalid wife
nine years ago and she helps out in a
voluntary capacity to enable the staff
to have a half day off.
With such a busy life, Rosemary used
to find it difficult to relax, until she
started attending yoga classes at
Cinderford. ‘We do exercises first,
then lie down and float on Cloud
no. 7. It’s wonderful.’
Her advice to readers is, if you find
yourself standing on your head
(figuratively) at the end of the day,
the best thing you can do is stand on
your head (literally) when you get
home, provided your heart is OK.
Pen-and-ink drawings and flower
arranging are other activities which
Rosemary enjoys, from the creative
as well as the relaxing point of view.
1
m e e t r n c f place m e e t r r i e^
Now in Ills 22nd year with
us, Reg IVIalsom, Manager,
Financial Accounting, says:
‘Our aim is to record and
report expenditure so as to
provide a sound basis for
financial planning, and we
look forward to further
computerisation to help us
in this task.’ Right: It’s
heads down in Invoice
Clearance, the section
supervised by Harcourt
Davies (seen standing in
the background).
In previous i s s u e s w e have dealt w i t h the Administration side of Finance &
Administration Department; t h i s month w e feature most of the Finance side,
located on the f i r s t floor of Building 23. Under the management of Reg Malsom,
Financial Accounting i s divided into four main s e c t i o n s w h i c h process and report
on a vast volume of t r a n s a c t i o n s , w i t h the aid of a partly computerised
accounting s y s t e m.
ACCOUNTING FOR PAST ACTIVITIE
Let’s get the bills settled first.
As a manufacturing unit, we incur
a vast number for goods purchased
or services carried out and these have
to be checked before they can be
settled.
A total of approximately 2,000
invoices a week coming in from both
UK and overaess (including Customs
duties, etc.) is enough to put
anybody’s nerves in need of a re-tool.
But — ‘We pride ourselves on
payment being made within 30 days
of the commercial agreement,’ says
Harcourt Davies, Invoice Clearance
Supervisor. ‘That’s if everything is
straightforward. Our problem arises
when things go wrong.’
The invoices are married up with
the relevant notifying document
(in the case of goods coming in,
it’s the goods received slip) and
they are checked for price and
quantity, as originally specified in
the purchase order.
It may be that the delivery is, for
some reason, under or over
the amount specified, or the price
quoted is at variance with the
price charged. This is where
initiative, and knowledge of the
commodities concerned, comes into
play and the job ceases to be as
routine as might at first appear.
Having been sorted and checked,
the invoices are given a supplier’s
account number and listed
according to the registration number
(everything is done by numbers to
suit the computer’s digestion).
‘Before VAT we didn’t register
invoices,’ said Harcourt Davies, ‘but
we have to keep an up-to-date
record of this tax so we can recover
it as quickly as possible, and this is
included on the coding slip for
computer input.’
Masses of paper— in all shapes,
sizes and colours — pass through
the area. Even with cutbacks in
production, the paperwork doesn’t
seem to decrease; it is there in the
same variety, no matter what I
A natural follow-on after Invoice
Clearance have processed the
suppliers’ invoices is the Trade
Ledgers section.
All our sales of machines and spares
are made by the UK Company, but
a manually-operated Sales Ledger
is maintained for small sales such as
scrap metal, old pallets, obsolete
machinery and other items disposed
of by the Company.
Very different from the Bell & Howell
days when sales of cameras and
projectors were made direct from
Mitcheldean. Reg Malsom recalls
one occasion when ‘Derek Hopes,
who was Export Manager, showed
me two bags of gold dust which had
been sent in, quite illegally, by some
Arabs as payment, and he wanted
to know if I could convert them into
pounds!’
But back to buying. Each four-week
period many thousands of invoices
reach the Bought Ledger and are
posted to the individual suppliers’
accounts via the computer, their
value running into millions of pounds
per period.
The cash required for each monthly
expenditure having been determined,
Vince Baxter, Trade Ledgers
Supervisor, known by his many
colleagues as ‘Mr Moneybags’, goes
to work with his team of clerks to
settle the accounts of the hundreds
of suppliers.
The payments raised are numerous
and diverse in method, taking the
form of cheques and traders’ credits
for the home market. Where
payment has to be made to overseas
suppliers, this takes the form of bills
of exchange, letters of credit, drafts,
telegraphic transfers, mail transfers —
all of which are negotiated through
the overseas branch of our Bank.
There are payments in many foreign
currencies which have to have the
consent of the Bank of England and
which cover all parts of the world.
In these days of economic crises, it
was not surprising to learn that the
Trade Ledgers section is highly
pressurised to meet its commitments.
The hustle and bustle of Bought
Ledger can be likened to the Stock
Exchange — hundreds of telephone
calls, telex messages, urgent letters,
all requesting payments for home and
abroad are dealt with daily.
Says Vince: ‘We opt for a calm
approach to each individual problem
so that we can deal with suppliers
in an amicable manner.’
Apart from the foregoing, a very
strict control has to be maintained
on the cash flow through the Trade
Ledgers, and to this end the
balancing of millions of pounds to
the penny has to be religiously
maintained each week with the cash
lists.
Every individual suppliers’ account
has to be agreed each month and
their statement reconciled with the
6
ledger accounts. Should there be
any discrepancies, immediate action
has to be taken to come to
agreement.
In the not-too-distant future,
computerisation of a further section
of Trade Ledgers will be carried out
to help ease the pressures of what
has now become known as ‘city
desk’ area.
There are two separate runs on the
computer from the Invoice Clearance
input — one value-wise to Bought
Ledger to authorise payment, the
other production-wise to Cost Office,
broken down into thousands of part
numbers and expense account codes.
This office has to supply a full
costing service to Mitcheldean
Management and provide all costing
data concerning machines and
spares for inclusion in Management
accounts, as well as giving Supply
Group a full spares costing service.
Below: Reviewing standard costs in the
‘quiet room’. ‘You’ve got to get away from
interruptions for this job,’ says accountant
Gordon Cruicl<shanl< (standing). Right:
Tony Allen, Senior Accountant (Costing),
with other members of his Cost Office staff
Tony Allen, Senior Accountant
(Costing), told us: ‘With the
exception of works order expenditure,
we operate a standard costing system.
This basically entails the establishment
of a predetermined standard, which
one could call our target of
performance, on all piece parts and
assemblies for a selected period ; we
report the difference between
standard and actual cost in detail.’
Once a year the standard costs are
reviewed — a task involving about
50,000 part numbers.
The most important tool in the Cost
Office is the master cost file. It gives
the complete cost (standard and
current) of both purchased and
manufactured production parts,
including labour costs.
The costs are obtained from various
sources — process records, purchase
orders, the Bill of Materials (for
sub-assemblies), and dollar costing of
parts from Xerox which have to be
converted into sterling.
That print-out of production invoices
concerning stock items we referred to
earlier is matched against the MCF
L e f t : Vince Baxter, Trade Ledgers
Supervisor (otherwise known as ‘Mr
Moneybags’), with his team of clerks.
Below left: Calculating girls — these
comptometer operators analyse, check
balances, do currency conversions and
general calculations. Together with Ellen
Baldwin and Irene Meek, they provide a full
facility for the financial people. Below
right: Diana Bowden of Invoice Clearance
takes a reading of microfilmed invoices.
With documentation having to be kept for
at least five years, microfilming provides an
answer to storage problems.
Photos: Dean Forest Studios
and the details are counter-checked
prior to its being ‘posted’ in the
nominal ledgers.
The Cost Office records and accounts
for all main model machines
produced in the Plant and ‘sold’
to Supply Centre.
Refurbished, remodelled or
reconditioned items and spares and
miscellaneous items sold to the
Supply Centre are also charged and
put through the books.
Other aspects of production costs
dealt with concern requisitions and
returns (raw materials, wire and
non-standard, the latter resulting
mainly from Engineering orders),
works orders which cover anything
from research and development of a
new model to a one-off job in Small
Batch; stock disposal orders; work
in progress; Autos section; scrap
reports; even pallets and packing
materials used for every machine
which leaves the Plant.
In short, all costing data relating to
direct materials and labour is
validated before being included in
the statutory books of account.
‘We’re down in the engine room;
they’re up on the deck.’ cracked
Tony Allen, looking over the line of
screens which separate Roger
Dickinson’s section. Management
Accounting, from the rest of Financial
Accounting Department.
Although coming under Reg
Malsom’s jurisdiction, Roger’s
section works closely with Ken
Taylor’s Financial Planning people,
being part of the planning, reporting
Continued on page 8
Members of the Financial Planning team with Co-ordinators Colin Fursman (Financial
Analysis) and Andre Morgan (Plans and Outlooks) in the centre foreground. Right: Ken
Taylor, Manager of Financial Planning, has been with us for 16 years. ‘We depend on a
good relationship with managers and their co-operation in providing speedy inputs to plans.’
and forecasting set-up, unofficially
referred to as ‘the higher stratum
think tank’!
Here reports are produced each
month measuring performance
against the current year’s Operating
Plan. There is a constant appraisal
and feedback of information in order
that forecasts and plans can be
revised where necessary by the
Planning section.
In a nutshell, the section accounts
for all Mitcheldean’s activities.
Members of the section have specific
tasks: Bill Fennell and Alan Williams,
for example, have a major
responsibility for the maintenance
of the Company’s books, now
computerised. The ledgers are still
there, but the books are evident only
as piles of computer print-outs.
Skip Carpenter and Norman Ball are
mainly responsible for the reporting
of overhead expenditure — everything
from salaries and wages to rent and
rates.
Russ Lewis and Andrew Whitehouse
are concerned with production costs
(labour, materials and that portion of
overheads which is applicable to
production), while David Barnard is
mainly responsible for intangible
asset reporting (Development tooling
and start-up) and VAT.
Ellen Baldwin and Joy Rhoades
respectively provide the necessary
calculating and typing assistance.
Each month they are required to
produce to a strict timetable a
financial report which will enable
Manufacturing Group staff to prepare
a consolidated review of the Group’s
activities. The report is also used as
a basis for the production of
Management Accounts prepared for
the benefit of Mitcheldean
Management.
The financial report includes narratives
covering any major movements from
the Plan or Outlook (forecast).
A section of Financial Accounting,
Management Accounting work closely with
the Financial Planners in the ‘higher stratum
think tank’ area. In the centre foreground is
Co-ordinator Roger Dickinson.
8
Apart from the recording, classifying
and summarising of transactions,
provision has to be made for
commitments which have not yet
been recorded in the accounting
system in order that the accounts
reflect as true a picture as possible
of the month’s activities.
In fact, the bulk of the time taken
in producing the monthly accounts
is after the books have been made up.
One other member of the Financial
Accounting department must be
mentioned — Gill Sandford, Reg
Malsom’s secretary.
She says: ‘It is a very busy office
but personally I like it that way.’
It is Gill who types the cheques,
monthly financial report, etc.,
and generally ‘accounts’ for the staff
of the department.
‘I’m good at figures,’ she says, that is,
when I have an adding machine!’
Figuring
out the
Future Working alongside Financial
Accounting are Financial Planning,
headed up by Manager Ken Taylor.
Guided by corporate objectives and
liaising w i t h budget controllers in the
Plant, they produce medium and short
range operating plans for Mitcheldean.
Mr Morfee once compared the
management of Mitcheldean to the
command of a big ship. It is the
responsibility of the Financial
Planning section to plot the course
(the Operating Plan) and prepare
monthly forecasts (Outlooks) for
Management.
In May, the section starts to produce
the Plan for the next two years —
1976/77.
This covers every aspect of our
business at Mitcheldean : what we
are going to make and how much it
is going to cost us to produce it,
and how that cost is made up in
manpower, overheads, capital
requirements, stocks, WIP, fixed
capital and so on.
The planners are not the remote
figureheads out of touch with reality
which planners as a breed are often
accused of being. In fact, ours are in
an ideal position to obtain a complete
picture of what is going on at the
Plant.
When preparing the Plan, a task
which goes on for about eight
weeks, they have constant liaison
with the budget controllers. ‘Not as
much as we would like,’ said Ken
Taylor. ‘Our main problem is always
time. Information is wanted
extremely quickly and because of
this we depend on a good
relationship with managers.’
Initially, Manufacturing Group
provide financial guidelines and
advise as to the proposed production
programmes; these have to be
interpreted and passed on as
guidelines to managers as regards
their input.
The various inputs are reviewed and
combined so that a complete picture
of our intended operations in the
next two years is obtained.
This is reviewed by Mr Morfee, by
Manufacturing Group, by the Board
of Rank Xerox Ltd and finally by
Xerox Corporation. When they
finally agree, it is signed off as the
official Operating Plan.
But, although the course is fixed,
it is obviously affected from time to
time by the vagaries of the economic
weather (Force 9 winds of change
can shift a lot of planning).
‘So, when the plan has been
accepted,’ explained Ken, ‘the next
financial year (1976) will be phased
into accounting periods and we use
that as a control plan to report
against. We pick up the actuals,
look at what has happened and
forecast what is likely to happen.
‘These Outlooks, or mini plans, are
produced every month so
Management can take steps to get
us back on course.’
Andre Morgan is Co-ordinator of
Plans and Outlooks; reporting to
him is Senior Accountant Philip
Ballinger, responsible for manpower
and overheads.
Senior Accountant Roger Gregory
is in charge of the Manufacturing
accounting side, dealing with direct
labour and direct material costs and
manufacturing variances.
Colin Fursman, as Co-ordinator,
Financial Analysis, heads up a team
of financial analysts whose main
function is to develop accounting
systems, validate input, interpret
actual figures and compare with Plans
and Outlooks, write reports and
prepare material for presentations to
Senior Management.
Resident’s Romance — A new link with
America was forged on March 29 when
RX Engineering resident Geoffrey Williams
was married to an American nurse, Mary
Hall. Geoff met Mary while ski-ing and
discovered the coincidence that her sister,
Jan, was secretary to John Smith, team
leader of our 9200 task force at Webster
Geoff’s parents visited America last summer
to meet Mary and her family, and in the
^ ^ ” ^ ‘ ^ ^ -sir
u s Anti-trust Charges Settled
The Federal Trade Commission of the
USA has tentatively accepted a
renegotiated consent order against
Xerox Corporation in settlement of
the agency’s anti-trust charges
against the Company.
Earlier this year the FTC rejected a
previously accepted consent
agreement after Xerox competitors
complained the initial order didn’t go
far enough in the area of patent
licensing and restrictions on Xerox
pricing systems. The newly
negotiated agreement tightens the
patent provisions of the earlier order.
Under the new order, Xerox will have
to grant royalty-free licences on up
to three patents. It may then charge
a royalty of up to 0-5 per cent per
patent on the next three patents
with a maximum of 1 -5 per cent
per office copier.
A statement from Xerox Corporation
from its Stamford, Connecticut,
headquarters said : ‘We believe this
revised agreement will be in the best
interests of Xerox Corporation and
its shareholders. With the consent
order now being made available by
the FTC for public examination and
comment, we do not feel it is
appropriate for Xerox to say anything
further at this time.’
autumn, Geoff brought Mary over to England
for a glimpse of her future home ground.
His family were present at the wedding, and
so were a sizeable number of the English
resident community, as you can see from
the photograph below. Pictured with the
bride and groom are Keith and Hilary
Bradley, Mike and Sylvia Ward, John and
Sally Smith, Dennis and Mary Emm, Roger
and Pat Phillips, Tony and Valerie
Inventor makes a Century
Robert Gundlach is a name which
may become as familiar to us as that
of Chester Carlson. Considered to be
the foremost inventor at Xerox,
Bob Gundlach was recently presented
with his 100th US patent at a dinner
held in his honour.
This patent, which he shares with
scientist Lloyd Bean, is for a
variation on the xerographic process
that enhances the reproduction of
photographs and other continuous
tone material.
Since joining Xerox (then Haloid) in
1952, Bob Gundlach has been a
leading contributor to the development
of the xerographic process. His
work on a cloth web for cleaning
small, photoconductive drums made
possible the development of the 813,
the first Xerox desk-top copier, in
1963.
His tangential drum development
system helped to overcome the speed
barrier to xerography and made
possible the era of fast copiers and
duplicators that began in 1965.
Though sole inventor on 62 of his
100 patents. Bob Gundlach has
been quick to acknowledge the
collaboration of his fellow
workers.
Goldsmith, Bob and Linda Greenman. and
Brian and Janice Reeves, together with
Mary Critikos, Rank Xerox Administration
Manager The church ceremony and
reception over, the couple departed for a
Hawaiian honeymoon the following day,
Easter Sunday, in a flurry of snow. Geoff’s
assignment is due to end in October after
what must be the most eventful two years
of his life.
9
SP®RTS & SmCIAL CLUB
P h o t o g r a p h i c C l u b F e s t i v a l Night
Despite the suspicion that it was the
13th annual Prize Night to be held
by the Amateur Photographic Club,
no great disasters spoiled the
evening’s programme on March 9 in
the Social Centre.
The prizes were for the slide and cine
competition winners only. For the
first time, as far as we can recall,
there was no ‘still’ competition to
judge — for the simple reason that
there were no entries.
But the excellent slide show more
than made up for this lack, including
as it did not only the ‘Ten Best’ from
the club competitions, but also the
50 entries (25 from either side of the
Atlantic) in the Rank Xerox v. Xerox
Photographic Club contest.
Speed, waterways and woodland
scenes were the set subjects of the
club slide competitions, won
respectively by Robin Berks, Bob
Dixon and Bill Hobbs, with Bill the
overall winner.
Of the six members’ films shown,
four were of the carnival/festival
variety, with the subject doing most
of the moving and the camera
staying put.
All with a foreign flavour, they ranged
from a ‘Disney Parade in Florida’ and
the ‘Fuengirola Fiesta in Spain’ to the
‘Spalding Bulb Festival’ in England’s
Little Holland where the splendid
floats were made entirely from
flowerheads.
Doing an admirable bit of instant
judging, Sara Bowers, chairman of
the Royal Forest of Dean Film
Society, put Arthur Mason’s Fiesta
film first, a decision which might have
been influenced by the little
senoritas in flounced skirts who
played to the camera.
Second was ‘The Wedding’ of the
last Miss Rank Xerox to be elected
at Mitcheldean — Estelle Davies — to
John Cash. Covering the event
from a ‘do’ at the office to a dance
at the wedding breakfast, it was
taken by David Payne.
David also gained third place with
his ‘Hot Air Balloon Races’ at
Cirencester which showed some of
the 100 colourful balloons taking off,
and left us ‘in the air’ wanting more.
Having already collected one prize,
David stepped down in favour of the
next on the list— Dorine Berks whose
bulb festival film tied with Robbie
Robinson’s ‘Disney Parade in Florida.’
To complete the evening’s
entertainment, there was a feature
film, ‘Futtock’s End’, projected by
Bill Austin. Featuring Ronnie Barker
and Michael Hordern, this
masterpiece-minus-dialogue had ’em
rolling in the aisles— including even
those who had already viewed it
twice on television.
£250 f o r H a n d i c a p p ed
The mentally handicapped youngsters
of the Forest of Dean are benefiting
to the tune of £250 through events
organised by the Variety Club
recently.
The Pete Winslow dance on April 26
provided an opportunity for the
various cheques to be handed over.
One for £200, the proceeds of the
Country & Western Show, presented
by the club in association with the
Boots & Saddle Club, Cinderford, on
March 14, was handed over by
Personnel Officer Royston Charles
to Mr Lewis, chairman of the Society
for the Mentally Handicapped, for
their welfare fund.
Two further cheques of £25 each
were presented by Sports & Social
Club chairman Tony Haynes; one
to Mr Lewis for the Society’s benefit
fund, and the other to Mr Beddis
representing the Friends of Valley
Road, who provide outings and other
treats for the youngsters.
One event arranged in March by the
Variety Club was a concert by the
Lydcroft Singers whose splendid
performance merited a larger
audience. Says John Earl: ‘We’re
hoping to invite them again soon.’
Tony Haynes presents a cheque to Mr Lewis.
Winter League
S k i t t l es
After an inconsistent start to the
Ross Winter League, Division 1, the
Rank Xerox ‘A’ team had a
successful run of consecutive wins
(10 games) to finish in third position
with 36 points (the league was won
with 38 points).
The team won the Turland Cup,
competing against the Legionaires in
the final held at the Horse & Jockey,
Ross-on-Wye. Our men scored
68 pins last leg to win by 2 pins.
The ‘B’ team, also in Division 1, had
a disappointing season, but team
spirit was such that they managed
to avoid relegation to second
division by finishing in third from
bottom position in the league.
10
Top: The Crusaders, worthy winners of the trophy by 5—2. Above: The runners-up. Turf
Accountants — financial types from Manufacturing Group and Mitcheldean Plant.
Top: Dick Frazier presents the trophy to the
Crusader’s captain, Tony Tovey. Above: The
Cinderford slope is notorious I
Tournament Teams
Cz-usac/ez-s; Tony Tovey (capl.), Darrell
Brooks, Mike Churchward, Steve
Davis, Dennis Duke, Ken Ellway, Pete
Hughes, Winston Jenkins, Kenny
Johnson, Richard Johnson, Rob
Johnson, Keith Marfell, John
Robinson, Derek Trigg, John Weyman.
Turf Accountants: David Kotas (capt.).
Bob Askin, Eddie Carpenter, Gordon
Cruickshank, Dick Glanville, John
Hendy, John Hughes, John
Mannering, Bill Robinson Mike
Stone, Paul Tucker, Mike Ward,
Andrew Whitehouse, Alan Williams,
Mike Wright. Manager: Rogei
Dickinson.
Thanks t o : The local clubs,
especially Cinderford Town AFC, for
their facilities; all who took part in the
tournament; and two non-committee
members of the Sports & Social
Club —Ron Caldicutt and Dave
Markey who, together with Dick
Frazier, Pat Jordan and Tony Haynes,
won through on the organising side.
It was a real Cup Final weekend. There were
the English and Scottish FA Cup Finals on
the Saturday, and our own Interdepartmental
Football Final at the Causeway Ground,
Cinderford, on Sunday, May 4.
With fine weather, ideal conditions and a fair
sprinkling of fans, the scene was set for what
was expected to be a great tussle between
PED’s Crusaders and the Turf Accountants
(no odds were being offered against their
winning, let alone lasting the full 90 minutes).
The match started with the Crusaders
playing down the notorious Cinderford
slope and in the early stages the Turf
Accountants (like their professional
namesakes) were giving nothing away.
The deadlock was finally broken after 15
minutes when D. Duke, for the Crusaders,
latched onto a loose ball and from about
25 yards crashed a spectacular shot into
the roof of the net.
At this stage K. Ellway (Crusaders)
decided that, for reasons best known to
himself, he had had enough and came off
the field. He was replaced by the PED
ageing star, W. ‘Sniffer’ Jenkins.
The Accountants were finding difficulty in
penetrating the Crusaders’ back four
stalwarts and the slope didn’t help. By this
time ‘Sniffer’ was beginning to get adjusted
to the pace and began to show some delicate
touches. After missing an open goal he
made the second goal for the Crusaders’
T. Tovey who placed a low shot from just
Inside the box into the corner of the net.
The Crusaders were now in full control and
the opposition’s inability to deal with high
crosses was fully exploited. Soon goal
number three came along when D. Duke
met a high cross with his head and he
scored easily.
A late first half rally by the Accountants
saw A. Williams take a mis-hit pass from
his centre-forward to score a well-taken goal.
PED Crusaders
Slam
The Bookies
Within three minutes of the re-start,
D. Duke hit the Bookies with his third
goal, making it a glorious treble for the
Crusaders. This setback seemed to inspire
the Accountants to better things, and they
produced their best football of the match,
but their left winger, who looked as if he
could make some contribution, was starved
of the necessary support.
Midway through the second half, W.
Jenkins, causing panic in the defence, had
a cross well saved by the centre-half (it
qualified for the save of the game). The
resultant penalty was converted by — guess
who? D. Duke, making it a personal
four-timer (a black day for the Bookmakers
Association).
As in the first half, the Accountants staged
a late rally and their most consistent
‘runner’, D. Kotas, scored a well-taken
consolation goal.
Alas, the rally was too late and the final
whistle blew with the Crusaders having the
ball in the net for a sixth time, just failing
to beat the whistle.
Crusaders ran out worthy winners of the
trophy by five to two (which is good odds
in anybody’s language — even Scottish).
Both teams gave the spectators a sporting
and enjoyable Sunday morning’s
entertainment. A special mention must be
made of the official in charge, B. Head,
who controlled the game expertly and in a
manner that would do justice to the, degree
required for an FA Cup Final.
Ian Campbell
Sports reporter Ian chats with [from left)
linesman Ivan Jones referee Barrie Head and
linesman Jim Spiers.
11
HOME MARKET
YVONNE WALKS WITH A PURPOSE
Rhid Goddard gives Yvonne Sosna a
helping hand up the slope as she trains
for her next, and more ambitious,
sponsored walk.
Joy and Brian Rhoades
Peggy and John Ryland
Yvonne Sosna of Central Records walks
for three good reasons; she likes it; she finds
it helps her lose unwanted inches; and it
gives her an opportunity to raise funds for
a deserving cause.
By getting people at the Plant to sponsor
her walk to work on April 8 she raised, with
donations, some £35 for spina bifida
sufferers. She set out from her home at
The Pludds, Ruardean, at 7 a.m.,
accompanied by Rhidian Goddard (PED) as
her witness, and together they braved spring
snowstorms throughout the five mile
journey.
For Rhid it meant getting up at 5.30 a.m. to
travel from Brockworth but ‘I’m sold on
early mornings anyway’, he says.
Yvonne is also one of the group of weightwatchers
in the Plant, featured in our
November issue, who raise pounds for good
causes while losing their own surplus
pounds.
She reports that she is now down from
13 stone 9|lb to 8 stone, and is all geared
up to do another sponsored walk. ‘Only this
time I’ll make it longer’.
Engagements
Pat Bennett to David Barnard (both of
Financial Accounting) on March 29.
Susan Timms (Machine Shop office) to
Terry Knight on May 25.
Weddings
Peggy Matthews (PED) to John Ryland
(Reliability) at Ross Register Office on
March 1.
Julian Gwilliam (RX Lydney) to Valerie
Dodman at Lydney Register Office on
March 22.
Joy Scrivens (Financial Accounting) to
Brian Rhoades (Remodelling) at
St Michael’s & All Angels, Mitcheldean, on
April 5.
Silver Wedding
Congratulations to Peggy (Quality
Assurance) and Cyril Kear who celebrated
their 25th wedding anniversary on May 13.
B i r t hs
Louise, a daughter for Jane Murrell
(formerly Comps, Financial Accounting) and
Keith Murrell (PED), on April 16.
Matthew James, a son for Tony Wood
(Machine Shop) and his wife Margaret, on
April 28.
Retirements
Our best wishes to Tom Brammer (Auto
Plating) who retired in April. Tom, who has
been on the sick list for some while, joined
us l O i years ago.
Clangers
We regret that we were innocently responsible
for getting Helen Tuffley (Production
Control) married off in our April issue to
one Michael Jones. She is, she assures us,
really the wife of Michael Conneely.
An apology is due also to Brian Baldwin
whose name inexplicably became Rawlings
in a picture illustrating an article on the
Mail Room in our March issue.
When sending i n i t e m s please give your
extension number a n d / o r department t o ensure
i n c l u s i o n .
For Sale
Three-piece suite, couch converts to bed,
tidy condition. Offers. Drybrook 542838
after 5 pm.
1963 Morris 1100, MOT failure — engine,
gearbox and other spares available.
G. Davis, ext. 1191.
12ft x 9ft Wilton square, heavy domestic
80% wool and 20% nylon, maroon and
beige, brand new, £85. 9ft x 9ft Axminster
square, med. domestic, wool and nylon,
brown with orange, yellow and olive green
leaves, brand new, £50. G. P. Martin,
D.O., ext. 534.
1971 Ford Escort, 11,000, recon. crossflow
engine, 11 months’ test, £565 o.n.o. HP
terms available. John Bluett, Goods
Inwards.
1968/69 Bedford van, reconditioned engine
(petrol), £200 o.n.o. 20 Churchill Way,
Mitcheldean. Drybrook 542925.
Cassette radio, as new, offers. K. Ellway,
PED, ext. 846.
Two storage heaters, 3 Kw, £10 each.
J . Sologub, ext. 887.
C.Z. 175cc Trails model, M registration,
economical, good condition, £170 o.n.o.
Lynne Hooton, ext. 526.
Moped in excellent condition, one owner,
1 year old, taxed. Call evenings. K. White,
1 Uplands Close, Hilldene, Cinderford.
Autovox car radio-stereo cassette player
with speakers and installation kit, £40.
Graham Hughes, ext. 360 or Ross 3118.
42-inch sink unit top, white enamel, RH
drainer and two tall taps, £10. Also Singer
Touch-and-Sew sewing machine, condition
as new, complete with attachments and
table, £180 o.v.n.o. W. Wylde, ext. 836.
Pedigree American cocker spaniels, sire
American and British champion, ready end
of May. Can be trained as gun dogs.
Lynn French, ext. 731 or Cinderford 23466.
Large cabinet freezer, 1 year old, as new ,
9.1 cu.ft. Cost £74, will sell for £60. Also
brand new Morphy Richards toaster
(unwanted gift), cost £10, will sell for £7.
Mrs G. A. Nevell, 96 Eastern Avenue,
Mitcheldean.
Cinderford — 3-bedroom modern semidetached
house, bathroom, lounge,
kitchen/diner, large storage space in partly
floored attic. Partial central heating, many
extras, near to schools and shops, £8,700
o.n.o. Mike Wilding, ext. 455 or Cinderford
22723.
Black Dyke Mills Band, Lydney Town Hall,
June 8 at 3 p.m. For tickets contact
B. Nelmes, ext. 997, or D. Haines, ext. 865.
For Hire
Seven-berth caravan at Barmouth Bay,
vacant June and July. A. C. Ellis, ext. 709.
A few weeks left for your caravan holiday,
in the delightful grounds of Amroth Castle.
Caravan is 8-berth; site includes heated
swimming pool, club house, shops, etc.;
sea safe for children. Stroud 2024.
Trailer, carries light-weight competition and
road cars. T. Kavanagh, ext. 532 or
Churchdown 855351 evgs.
Wanted
Child’s Wendy House. G. E. Davies, ext. 725.
Light-weight trailer (Mini wheels preferred).
V. M. Holbrook, ext. 672.
12 Printed in England by Taylor, Young (Printers) Ltd.