May 75 No. 110

THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN

They've Served Their Time They have c a s t off the i r w h i t e c o a t s w i th the d i s t i n c t i v e blue c o l l a r s ; no longer under the loving c a r e of Training s ta f f , they have b e c o m e permanent m e m b e r s of d e p a r t m e n t s throughout the P lant , ranging f r o m W o r k s Laboratory to Indus t r i a l Engineer ing, f r o m D e s i g n E n g i n e e r i n g to Quali ty A s s u r a n c e .

Before joining a depar tment , many fac tors w e r e t a k e n into a c c o u n t — the requi rements of tha t d e p a r t m e n t , a n d the appren t ices ' o w n apt i tude and

p r e f e r e n c e all be ing c o n s i d e r e d .

S o m e t i m e s t h e r e ' s an u n e x p e c t e d c h a n g e of d i rec t ion dur ing t ra in ing — one eng ineer ing s t u d e n t d e c i d e d late in h i s t e r m tha t he real ly w a n t e d to b e c o m e a buyer in P u r c h a s e . S o m e a p p r e n t i c e s leave u s a l toge ther t o b e c o m e R a n k X e r o x s e r v i c e e n g i n e e r s a t B r i s t o l o r C a r d i f f .

T h e c h a r t h a n g i n g in F r a n k E d w a r d s ' o f f i c e in T r a i n i n g , s h o w i n g t h e f ina l loca t ion of e a c h y e a r ' s i n t a k e s i n c e

1966, i s a k ind of b a r o m e t e r po int ing t o genera l t r e n d s w i t h i n the P lan t .

O u r a p p r e n t i c e s h i p s c h e m e i s n o w a b o u t 25 y e a r s old a n d it i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e r e a re b e t w e e n 300 a n d 400 f o r m e r a p p r e n t i c e s cur ren t ly w o r k i n g a t M i t c h e l d e a n .

Next S e p t e m b e r h i s t o r y w i l l repeat i t s e l f w h e n a y o u n g m a n by t h e name o f S t e v e n i s t a k e n on a s an a p p r e n t i c e — j u s t a s h i s f a the r , R o y P o w e l l , w a s 20 y e a r s a g o . ( S e e s t o r y , p a g e s 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 occas ions , in 1966,1971 and 1972, the Award w a s made for export achievement. Exports for the year ended J u n e 1975 amounted to £74 million, an increase in e x c e s s of 11 per cent over the previous year.

Some of the likely lasses {trainee secretaries) who received financial awards.

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Making the Grade APPRENTICES I nden tu res 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.

Mechan ica l E n g i n e e r i n g T e c h n i c i a n s Pt II

Richard Baker, David Bowdler, Kim Butcher, Graham Cox, Rodney Dix, Dennis Hart, Kenneth Johnson, Peter Knight, Colin Turner, Glyn Rudge, Gary Sladen.

O N C Stephen Austin, Christopher Dean, David Evans, Colin Overington, John Phipps, Peter Ryland.

Ordinary T e c h n i c i a n ' s C e r t i f i c a t e John Harding, David Hobbs, Richard Johnson, Stephen Price, John Smith, John Sluman, David Tingle.

Cer t i f i ca te of E n g i n e e r i n g C r a f t s m a n s h i p Paul Coleman, Gary Ellis, Andrew Frowen, Terence Hook, John Knight, Robert Lewis, John Murrell, Roger Smith.

Craf t S t u d i e s 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 F i r s t Y e a r T r a i n i n g Cer t i f i ca te 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 Eng l i sh Carol Carpenter.

S h o r t h a n d / T y p i n g 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 Apri l ; 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.

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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 l i

This is the f irst of a ser ies of articles by Metrication Officer J a c k T imms aimed at keeping us in touch wi th 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.

Q u o t e of the M o n t h

'I reckon metric measurement will be more accurate because there's a lot more of those minimetres to the inch.'

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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 i m T immis . He used to run his own building concern in Birmingham before moving to Huntley to help with his brother-in-law'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 p l a c e 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.' R i g h t : It's

heads down in Invoice Clearance, the section

supervised by Harcourt Davies (seen standing in

the background).

In p r e v i o u s i s s u e s w e have dea l t w i t h t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s i d e of F i n a n c e & A d m i n i s t r a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t ; t h i s m o n t h w e fea tu re m o s t o f t h e F i n a n c e s i d e , loca ted on t h e f i r s t f loor o f Bu i ld ing 23. U n d e r t h e m a n a g e m e n t of Reg M a l s o m , F i n a n c i a l A c c o u n t i n g i s d iv ided into f o u r ma in s e c t i o n s w h i c h p r o c e s s and repor t on a v a s t v o l u m e of t r a n s a c t i o n s , w i t h t h e a id of a part ly c o m p u t e r i s e d a c c o u n t i n g 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 fol low-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 f low 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

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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.

B e l o w : Reviewing standard costs in the 'quiet room'. 'You've got to get away from interruptions for this job,' says accountant

Gordon Cruicl<shanl< (standing). R i g h t : 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. B e l o w le f t : 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. B e l o w r igh t : 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. R i g h t : 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.

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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

W o r k i n g a l o n g s i d e F i n a n c i a l A c c o u n t i n g a re F i n a n c i a l P l a n n i n g , headed up by M a n a g e r K e n T a y l o r . G u i d e d by c o r p o r a t e o b j e c t i v e s a n d l i a is ing w i t h budget c o n t r o l l e r s in the P lan t , they p r o d u c e m e d i u m a n d s h o r t range opera t ing p l a n s for M i t c h e l d e a n .

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.

R e s i d e n t ' s R o m a n c e — 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 N i g h t

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 e d

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.

W i n t e r L e a g u e S k i t t l e s 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

T o p : The Crusaders, worthy winners of the trophy by 5—2. A b o v e : The runners-up. Turf Accountants — financial types from Manufacturing Group and Mitcheldean Plant.

T o p : Dick Frazier presents the trophy to the Crusader's captain, Tony Tovey. A b o v e : The Cinderford slope is notorious I

T o u r n a m e n t T e a m s 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. T h a n k s t o : The local clubs, especially Cinderford Town A F C , for their facilities; all who took part in the tournament; and two non-committee members of the Sports & Social Club — R o n 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 w h o ? 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.

I an C a m p b e l l

Sports reporter Ian chats with [from left) linesman Ivan Jones referee Barrie Head and linesman Jim Spiers.

11

HOME MARKET

YVONNE W A L K S 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 weight-watchers 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'.

E n g a g e m e n t s Pat Bennett to David Barnard (both of Financial Accounting) on March 29.

Susan Timms (Machine Shop office) to Terry Knight on May 25.

W e d d i n g s 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.

S i l ve r W e d d i n g Congratulations to Peggy (Quality Assurance) and Cyril Kear who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on May 13.

B i r t h s 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.

R e t i r e m e n t s 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.

C l a n g e r s 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.

W h e n s e n d i n g i n i t e m s p lease g i v e y o u r e x t e n s i o n n u m b e r a n d / o r d e p a r t m e n t t o e n s u r e i n c l u s i o n .

F o r S a l e 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.

F o r 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.

W a n t e d 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.