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.