Issue 96 March 31, 2016

March 2016

Tyler Pipe will hold it’s Sixth Annual Graduate’s Brunch on Saturday, April the 23rd at Lanes Chapel United Methodist Church. If you have a child or grandchild graduating from High School or College this year, please come by the Human Resources department from now until April the 11th and sign up to attend. Each graduate may bring two guests with them to the brunch. We honor those who are graduating with a meal and a gift to let them know how proud we are of them for this major milestone in their lives.

And speaking of our Graduates; the May issue of the newsletter will highlight our Grads of 2016 so bring their graduation picture to Human Resources no later than April 20th for inclusion in that article. We would LOVE to show off their accomplishment. (All photographs will be returned)

Thanks, Dan Nelson

What has happened so far and what do we have to look forward to. January was a pretty good month in the plant, scrap rate was 3.1% and good tons per hour came in at 33.7 tons. 3.1% scrap is slightly below our goal of 3.2% which is acceptable but we can always do better, on a good note 33.7 good tons per hour is almost 1 ton better than 2015 year ending total of 32.9, “But” there is always a but isn’t there, 33.7 good tons is well below our record month, December 2015 at 35.9 good tons, so you see we can do better. February was a different story, a month I would like to forget but Greg will not let me. We struggled with scrap on both pipe and fittings; it seemed every-thing we tried turned from bad to worse. It was like when we tried to make orange Kool-Aid it turned out to be grape, we thought grape was not too bad so we decided on grape and the next pitcher turned out wild berry. It’s time to get our scrap rate back on track; we all sat down, put our heads together and came up with another recipe. The original orange flavor with a small tweak and things started to get better, so the point is, stick with the basic things you know how to do well and it will turn out the flavor you wanted.

Let’s turn the page and talk about safety, so far this year we have had 1 recordable incident and 3 first aid cases, not too bad but when your target is zero it shows we have a ways to go to get where we need to be. I recently read an article that stated (3) misconceptions about safety. Misconception #1. YOU CAN NOT CREATE A HAZARD FREE WORKPLACE. Misconcep-tion #2. BEING SAFE TAKES TOO MUCH TIME AND MONEY. Misconception #3. ACCIDENTS JUST HAPPEN. There was a time when I believed most of these to be true, but years of training and incident investigations have proven me wrong. Accidents in the workplace can be prevented if you put the effort into recognizing and correcting hazards, correcting unsafe work practices, wearing your proper PPE, and use your training to do your job the right way all the time.

Moving forward we have several good projects in the works for 2016. The following is a partial list. #1. Fittings mill room upgrade: Includes a device to clean fittings and improve the coating on the casting. #2. Replace #5 sand silo: Project will improve the core sand quality by reducing the distance we transport the sand and reduce the amount of moisture that contacts the sand from the existing silo. #3. Replace Sulair compressor: Replace existing Sulair compressor with new 2000cfm compressor which will improve air quality and conserve energy. #4. Replace Akers and Wheel hydraulics cooling tower: Existing tower is beyond repair; also new tower will be sized properly for better cooling and efficiency. #5. Fabricate and install new stainless steel cabinets on the west and center stationery pipe machines. #6. Enlarge and remodel safety training room. There are several more projects currently in work or in the preliminary design stage; the list goes on and on. One last item, I would like to thank all the hard working team members here at Tyler Pipe, you are the ones that make us successful.

Issue 96 March 31, 2016

There are so many stories of ladies and gentlemen that started at Tyler Pipe when they were young and have made a won-derful career here. To many of us, it is unfathomable to think of an employment tenure that lasts twenty years much less thirty or forty. In February, Tyler Pipe said goodbye to another long time Team Member, Joseph Phillips or Jody as most folks called him. Jody started working at Tyler Pipe back in April of 1973. At the tender age of 19, Jody was brought in to (interview) for a mail room position. I know it is hard to believe but Tyler Pipe use to take a more direct approach to interviewing when hiring. Jody was placed in the mail room with another gentleman. There were post office boxes to the left and to the right. Two fel-lows brought in a couple bags of mail and asked for them to separate the mail and place it in the corresponding box and whoever completed the task the quickest, would receive the job. Jody said that other fellow took off like a shot and was throwing letters in first on then another box and cleaned his bag out before Jody was even half done with his. Jody knew for sure that he was not going to get the job. The boss came in and said that Jody’s competitor had sorted the mail in half the time that most people took to complete the task. Jody’s competition replied, “I bet I can even get it in the right box when I learn to read!” Needless to say, Jody received the job.

Jody maintained his position in the mail room for a year until he was promoted to the payroll department. He made Senior Payroll Clerk by 1976, Payroll Supervisor by 1979 and in 1995 he was promoted to the Payroll Administrator position which he held until his retirement in February of this year. A hundred or so people crowded into the conference room to say goodbye to Jody. We had current Team Members, friends of the family and employees that worked with Jody for years in the past. Jody said there were people there that he had not seen in years. Barbeque was brought in and the gang got together and had a cake made that looked like Jody’s hunting lease complete with a 1/24th crew cab truck and an RV sitting by a river watching deer drink. My guess is that is Jody’s idea of heaven. The party lasted for a couple of hours with people coming and going and as quickly as it was over, Jody was gone. I guess after 43 years Jody was on his own time clock and he had better things to do. We will all miss Jody and wish him the best in his retirement years.

Saturday, March the 5th marked the third annual FRESH 15 run sponsored by Brookshire's Grocery. This initiative was created to increase the health awareness of our community, provide Tyler with a world class running experience and most importantly raise funds for several deserving charities like the Bethesda Health Clinic here in Tyler as well as Team Red, White and Blue which is a veteran’s organization that connects our service men and women to physical and social activities. This year we had 26 Team Members and guests that participated in the event as runners as well as volunteers. Tyler Pipe was more than happy to pay the enrollment fees for those that were willing to participate. This year’s FRESH 15 was the largest of the three years and continues to expand the participation and giving level. This year there were over 800 more participants (hitting almost 4,000) and instead of hoping to clear $100,000 to donate to charities they topped $160,000.

Congratulations are in order for all of those Tyler Pipe Team Members that participated in this epic run. Participants said that it is a great way to get together with friends away from work and help support their community at the same time. So if you are looking for a way to get involved in our community, stop by HR and we will be happy to assist. Remember, not only will these experiences benefit your health but your participation in this and other community events can help you work towards a couple of seats in the executive suite so you can cheer on the Texas Rangers!

Juana & Ampelio

Galaviz 2016 TEAM TYLER PIPE

David Puckett, Ross Caldwell, Lorenzo Aguirre & Jason Moore

Gloria Tuck & Sandra Smith volun-

teer to help register participants

Issue 96 March 31, 2016

Tyler Pipe 2016 Safety CBT Schedule  

JANUARY   COURSE CODE  START DATE DUE DATE  LEVEL 

Hearing Conserva on   MCW0103  1/1/2016  1/31/2016  LEVEL I 

Heavy Mobile Equipment Classroom   MCW0108  1/1/2016  1/31/2016  LEVEL I 

FEBRUARY  COURSE CODE  START DATE DUE DATE  LEVEL 

Respiratory Protec on Wearers  MCW0187  2/1/2016  2/28/2016  Level II 

2nd Quarter ‐ APRIL ‐ JUNE   COURSE CODE  START DATE DUE DATE  LEVEL 

Hot Work ‐ Weld, Cut and Braze (Permit User)   MCW0115  4/1/2016  6/30/2016  LEVEL II 

Hot Work Welding Equip User (Classroom)  MCW0116  4/1/2016  6/30/2016  LEVEL II 

Overhead Crane & Hoist Classroom (MCW0161)  MCW0161  4/1/2016  6/30/2016  LEVEL I 

Emergency & Disaster Preparedness (MCW0057)  MCW0057  4/1/2016  6/30/2016  LEVEL I 

Powered Industrial Truck Classroom (MCW0080)  MCW0080  4/1/2016  6/30/2016  LEVEL l 

JULY   COURSE CODE  START DATE DUE DATE  LEVEL 

Fire Preven on‐Ex nguishers & Sprinklers Class (MCW0067)  MCW0067  7/1/2016  7/31/2016  LEVEL I 

3RD QUARTER ‐ July ‐ September   COURSE CODE  START DATE DUE DATE  LEVEL 

Rigging Users (MCW0193) (EVERY 2 YEARS)  MCW0193  7/1/2016  9/30/2016  LEVEL II 

4th QUARTER ‐ October ‐ December  COURSE CODE  START DATE DUE DATE  LEVEL 

Electrical Hazards and MFPA 70E** Overview &                                 Introduc on to NFPA 70E 600 Volts or less  MCW0053  10/1/2016  12/1/2016  LEVEL II  

Environmental Computer Based Training Schedule Topic Scheduled Due

Stormwater / Pollu on Preven on 1st Week of January March 31 Resource Conserva on / Recovery Act

Part 1 & 2 1st Week of April June 30

Spill Preven on / Control & Countermeasures 1st Week of July September 30 General Environmental Awareness

Part 1, 2, & 3 1st Week of October November 30

Human Resources Computer Based Training Schedule Topic Scheduled Due

Sexual Harassment January November 30 Workplace Harassment January November 30

Ever since I’ve known Ted Cope he has been planning and talking about his retirement. He would come in to pick up his check and I would ask him how much longer he had and he would just smile and say, “Not long now.” Well after 42 years of service Ted has finally made good on his promise to himself and has retired. Ted started working at Tyler Pipe back in June of 1974. That is a while back and to set the

time period for you, the United States was still involved in the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon was the President and Aerosmith had just released their debut album. Spark any memories? Now, 42 years later Ted has decided to call it quits. His buddies at the water treatment facility gathered up a cake and a couple of priz-es and Tyler Pipe provided a good ole fashion catered BBQ with all of the trimmings. Ted was such a good worker that Mr. Johnstone was worried that they would have to hire two fellas to cover Ted’s shift but Byrum said that he had this handled. So long to you Ted, we hope that good fortune continues to smile on you. Tyler Pipe is short a good hand!

By Rod Burrus

Issue 96 March 31, 2016

Did you know that Tyler Pipe has a reimbursement program in place for Team Members that regularly go to the gym? This is the one benefit that most Tyler Pipe Team Members fail to utilize. If you are a member of a gym and you exercise (8) eight times a month, then you qualify for a $30 dollar credit on your paycheck. That’s right! Most individuals say that they can not afford to join a gym because of the monthly membership fee. Well Tyler Pipe will pay up to $30 a month for you to get up off that couch and go exercise. Participants must provide a print out from the establishment showing your participation, you provide that documentation to Jennie Shepard over in Safety, and BOOM! you receive an extra $30 on the last check of the month. See Jennie or HR for more information.

Francisco Ruiz ~ 2

Lucious Wilson ~ 3

Randall Alexander ~ 3

Tommy Stone ~ 3

Robert Johnson ~ 4

Brandon Hall ~ 9

Jimmie Davis ~ 10

Mike Bowen ~ 11

Mark Craze ~ 11

Patricia Patton ~ 12

Jerry Jansen ~ 14

Michael Rooney ~ 15

Dwight Smith ~ 16

Matt Ybarra ~ 16

Chris McKnight ~ 17

Robert Wiley ~ 19

Richard Berry ~ 22

Gary Elder ~ 24

Bobby Ross ~ 25

Jerry Kirtley ~ 26

Burnett Williams ~ 26

Tommy Walker ~ 27

Calvin Seward ~ 28

Danna Pruitt ~ 28

Jay Evans ~ 29

Greg Buckner ~ 29

Tyler Pipe is always looking for ways to show our support in the surrounding communities and what better way than to participate and raise awareness of heart health. In 2004, the American Heart Association faced a challenge. Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an older man’s disease. To dispel these myths and to raise awareness of the number one killer of women, the American Heart Assoc. created “Go Red for Women”. This initiative was de-signed to empower women to take charge of their heart health. On Friday, February 5th Team Members donned their red shirts to help raise awareness and show our sup-port of the American Heart Associations initiative. If you would like to learn more please visit https://www.goredforwomen.org/ for more information.

As everyone knows by now, Easter came early this year because it didn’t come in April as we are all so accustom to. So with that

said, it not only fell early on the calendar but also came early to Tyler Pipe too. On Thursday March 17th, Easter was celebrated by distributing Easter eggs for everyone. Yep, that’s right. The Event planning committee decided the March appreciation event would be Easter eggs filled with candy and a golden coin ($1.00). Over 300 eggs were filled with assorted candy and 150 of them had a gold coin inside. Each and every Team Member, both salary and hourly was given the chance to choose one egg in hopes that it had a golden coin inside. However, it didn’t matter if it had a gold coin in it or not because you still came out a winner with the candy goodies that were hidden inside.

This event is a popular one for our Team Members because it brings out the kid in you. Every Team Member has a chance to re-live their childhood days when you use to hunt for Easter eggs in hopes that you would find the Golden Egg. The only thing missing was the Easter basket and the thrill you got from being the kid that found the most eggs. But that was okay, after all was said and done….it was a fun day.