Dowling Flexible Metals
Background of the caseDowling’s team consisted of: Bill DowlingEve Sullivian- Part -time secretary and
payroll clerk.Wally Delton- Shop ForemanSet of part-time moonlightersFull –time machinists
Business Lines Few general purpose metalworking machines“Product” consisted of fabricating dies for
making minor component metal parts for automobiles
Also extended services towards manufacturing firms not connected with the auto industry.
After Expansion..organization structure
Bill DowlingOwner -President
Eve Sullivan Office Manager
Wally DentonShop Foreman
Thomas McNullShop Foreman
Gene JenkinsChief Engineer
JourneymenAnd Apprentices (15)
Journeymen and Apprentices (12)
Junior Engineers(4)
Office Secretary
Opinions of employees about the firmBill Dowling- Owner – PresidentDue to expansion – Problems:• Increase of consultation between Bill and
students right out of engineering schools• Time spent with customers is more than at the
shop.Solutions:• Hiring of Engineering staffHowever..• Lack of smooth functioning between engineers
and the shop floor employees
Bill’s RecommendationsDue to increase in Demand for computerized
tapes - Diversification – through selling of copies of tapes.
Increase of work with deal with combining bonding materials such as plastics,fibreglass and metals.
Wally Denton – Foreman,1st ShiftOpinion:Earlier on a task or a job was handled by sitting
in a group and discussing it.Now,a task is handled between a customer and
the respective engineer.A lot of time is spent with customers by Bill.Recommendations:Need to have another person to share the load
of this expansion.
Thomas McNull,Shop Foreman 2nd shiftRan into job related problems with engineersThis led to bad feeling between shop personnel
and engineersAlso led to extra work for the engineersRan over the deadlines w.r.t to projectsRecommendationsGive the job to the journeymen and then give
the finished product to engineers to draw up.
Charlie Oakes- Journeyman ApprenticeFlexi time policy was followed.However, work wasn’t as challenging as
expected.Job Expectations were not met.
Gene Jenkins- Chief EngineerOpinion• Need for better coordination between
engineers and shop floor employees.• Each job has it’s own importance and needs to
been enough attention.Recommendations• More information from Bill needs to be shared
with engineers• The interaction is more fruitful if engineers of
the company interact with customers to understand the customer needs better
Eve Sullivan- Office ManagerAlthough life is far from being dull at the org.lately due to the increase in work pressure life is
too hectic as a lot of responsibilities are handled by one person.
Our Recommendations• Redesigning a proper work flow • Defining of job roles for every employee.• Increase in recruitment for administration, accounts etc
related activities.• Sharing of information to all employees at all levels who
are involved in a common task- Integrated database.• This will lead to better know how of the status of the job • Ensuring that the job roles are in line with the job
expectations.• Increase in employee engagement • Proper accountability of a task undertaken by an
employee or a team must be ensured• Allowing job relevant respective employees to deal with
customers directly.• This will also save a lot for time.
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