Page 31 - MetalForming December 2011

E..J. Ajax and Sons\Workforce Development
ered program and became a Class A journey person punch-press operator in 2008, prior to being promoted to shift supervisor in late 2008. During that time his earnings have doubled. As director of employee safety, Yang recently led the company’s recertifi- cation efforts with the MNSharp (Minnesota Safety and Health Achievement Recognition) program.
“We’ve carried the certification for 10 yr.,” says Ajax, “important since it exempts us from random OSHA inspections.”
Process Innovations Aplenty from the Esprit de Corps
We asked numerous employees about the Ajax esprit de corps, and its effectiveness based on the company’s commitment to workforce develop- ment and safety. Across the board, they note fewer mistakes on the plant
floor, a higher level of professional- ism and pride, and increased self respect that leads to a commitment to one another and the company. Among significant achievements noted, directly tied to continuous training:
• Production of the firm’s key product increased from 4000 parts/hr. to more than 10,000 parts/hr.
• Setup times for progressive stamping dies have been reduced from an average of 2 hr. to less than 30 min.; and
• Quality of parts shipped has improved from 98.1 to 99.99 percent. You can’t beat the perspective of company president and co-owner Kent Djubek, who Erick Ajax hired in 1990 as a temporary punch press oper- ator on second shift, earning $6.50/hr. Promoted to fabrication team leader in 1993, first shift supervisor in 1996 and plant manager in 2001, Djubek’s
Helping to carry forth the company’s safety vision out on the shop floor is director of employee safety and sec- ond-shift supervisor Neng Yang, one of the firm’s several a Dale Carnegie grad- uates. Hired in 2005 as an entry level Class C punch press operator, Yang underwent rigorous training through the M-Powered program and became a Class A journey person punch-press operator in 2008, prior to being pro- moted to shift supervisor late in 2008.
earnings grew five-fold. In 2005 he became president and in 2007 became the first non-family stock holder, and is on track to purchase the company from Erick Ajax and his brother Tom in the next few years.
“My growth here is due complete- ly to the company’s commitment to workforce development and training,” says Djubek, citing specifically course- work in leadership development and human resources. “Also key, believe it or not, was my Dale Carnegie training. These classes (to the tune of $1800 per employee) have helped me and others not only work better with each other but also with customers. Com- munication skills are greatly enhanced, helping build that A-team Erick talks about, the esprit de corps built on camaraderie and cooperation.”
Among Djubek’s responsibilities is managing the firm’s CI process. “We divide the ideas into three cate- gories—productivity/lean, quality and safety,” says Djubek, “and assign them to project teams. There are no monetary awards or other recogni- tion needed to inspire creativity from our frontline, just the prestige and pride they all take in being profes- sional metalformers out on the shop
From South America to the Plant Floor
Meet Althea DrePaul, Class B apprentice machine operator and 2008 graduate of the Twin Cities’ M-Powered manufacturing career-devel- opment program. “Through M-Powered and Hired, I now have a skill set I never thought I’d have,” says DrePaul. I’ve been given all of the skills I need to be successful—the opportunities are there, I just have to grab them.”
DrePaul emigrated from Guyana in 2001 and worked in the home healthcare industry for sev- eral years before being laid off in 2006. As a machine operator at E.J. Ajax, she earns twice what she earned in home healthcare, and also boasts about the company’s benefits program,
including 100-percent tuition reimbursement as well as a 401k plan, life insurance and a generous contribution to her health-savings account.
In addition to DrePaul’s responsibilities on the plant floor, where she partnered with another operator to earn Ajax’s 2011 5-S project of the year recognition, DrePaul also acts as vice chair of the safety leadership team. As such, she played a vital role during the company’s recertification efforts with the MNSharp (Minnesota Safety and Health Achievement Recognition) program, supporting the firm’s director of employee safety Neng Yang.
“Serving on the safety leadership team and working with Neng on recertifica- tion brought a lot of pride and joy in my work,” says DrePaul. “My colleagues respect me, and I respect them. We look to each other for advice, to make the workplace a better place for all of us. It’s an honor to work here and to be involved in the development of our safety culture.”
As he does with several other employees, Erick Ajax sees a bright future for DrePaul, and she can’t wait for the opportunity to live up to his expectations.
“They (Erick Ajax, Kent Djubek and the rest of the management team) see something in me I had not seen in myself, until now,” says DrePaul. “I’ll continue to put my best out there, and wherever they want me to grow and develop, I’ll do it.
“Lately, I’ve been taking computer classes, so maybe I’ll be moving into the office soon. Just another wonderful opportunity.”
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