Jim Thompson

Email Jim at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com

There is a 1964 Corvair in our garage. It is a 4-speed convertible, white with red interior. It is kept cleaner than our newer "daily drivers." It has no rust, does not leak oil or anything else. I'll help you out with the math--it is 62 years old.

The point is, age has nothing to do with housekeeping.

No matter what age your paper machine and its ancillary equipment may be, you have no excuse for not keeping it clean and orderly.

Replacing lights with LED's is good, too.

Then we get to my favorite machinery paint color Cornsilk Yellow (HEX #f4c96c). I first saw this color used on machinery in 1977. I painted three paper machines with it in 1987. I also painted all the machines in converting plants with it in 1987. (I'll let you in on a little secret--the converting plant paint job got me promoted to paper mill manager.)

I really like it. It reflects the light in the room. It mixes well with any leaking oil or paper fiber until you can get it wiped down. Unlike machinery gray, or other common colors which soak up the room's light, it makes the machinery pop. White does not look as good, either.

What I am suggesting in this column is that you can clean the machinery and the room to perfection, but if you don't deal with the lighting as well, you have lost half the battle. Use the emitted light and the reflected light to your advantage.

Interior decorators talk about the human mood in a home: cheery, subdued, relaxed, and so forth. Such moods affect where we work, too. Bright and cheery not only affects our mood, it helps us see the facility and notice what is working properly and what is broken.

And another thing--do you clean up for customers or the top brass in your company? Why clean up for them? Why not keep your facility clean all the time? Don't you deserve a clean facility, too? You will run better and have fewer accidents, I am sure.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

For a deeper dive, go here.

Study Guide: Industrial Housekeeping and Aesthetics

This study guide focuses on the principles of industrial maintenance, lighting, and environmental aesthetics within a paper mill context, based on the insights of Jim Thompson. It explores the relationship between cleanliness, machinery age, and workplace safety.

Short-Answer Quiz

1. What does the author use the 1964 Corvair to illustrate regarding industrial maintenance?
2. What is the author's stance on the relationship between the age of machinery and housekeeping standards?
3. What specific upgrade does the author recommend for improving facility lighting?
4. What are the technical and aesthetic reasons the author prefers "Cornsilk Yellow" over machinery gray?
5. How does the author describe the interaction between Cornsilk Yellow and common industrial contaminants?
6. According to the text, what is the professional significance of the author's 1987 painting projects?
7. Why does the author argue that cleaning a room to perfection is only "half the battle"?
8. How does a "bright and cheery" work environment practically benefit the operations of a facility?
9. What critique does the author offer regarding the practice of cleaning specifically for "top brass" or customers?
10. What are the two primary operational benefits the author associates with a consistently clean facility?

Answer Key

1. What does the author use the 1964 Corvair to illustrate regarding industrial maintenance? The Corvair serves as a metaphor to show that a 62-year-old machine can be kept in pristine, leak-free condition through diligent care. It demonstrates that age is not a valid reason for equipment to be dirty or poorly maintained.
2. What is the author's stance on the relationship between the age of machinery and housekeeping standards? The author explicitly states that age has nothing to do with housekeeping. Regardless of how old a paper machine or its ancillary equipment may be, there is no excuse for failing to keep the facility clean and orderly.
3. What specific upgrade does the author recommend for improving facility lighting? The author suggests replacing existing lights with LEDs. This recommendation is part of a broader strategy to use both emitted and reflected light to improve the visibility and atmosphere of the workspace.
4. What are the technical and aesthetic reasons the author prefers "Cornsilk Yellow" over machinery gray? Unlike machinery gray, which "soaks up" the light in a room, Cornsilk Yellow reflects light and makes the machinery "pop." This creates a brighter environment and makes it easier for workers to see the facility clearly.
5. How does the author describe the interaction between Cornsilk Yellow and common industrial contaminants? Cornsilk Yellow is noted for its ability to mix well visually with leaking oil or paper fibers. This quality maintains a better appearance until the machinery can be properly wiped down.
6. According to the text, what is the professional significance of the author's 1987 painting projects? In 1987, the author painted three paper machines and all machines in a converting plant using Cornsilk Yellow. This specific housekeeping and painting initiative in the converting plant resulted in the author being promoted to paper mill manager.
7. Why does the author argue that cleaning a room to perfection is only "half the battle"? The author contends that even a perfectly clean room is insufficient if the lighting is not addressed. One must use both emitted light (fixtures) and reflected light (surface colors) to achieve the full benefits of a clean facility.
8. How does a "bright and cheery" work environment practically benefit the operations of a facility? Beyond improving the mood of the workers, a bright environment helps staff better see the facility. This increased visibility allows them to notice more easily what is working properly and what is broken.
9. What critique does the author offer regarding the practice of cleaning specifically for "top brass" or customers? The author questions why facilities only clean up for visitors rather than maintaining those standards for the employees. He argues that the workers themselves deserve a clean environment every day.
10. What are the primary operational benefits the author associates with a consistently clean facility? The author asserts that a facility kept clean all the time will "run better" in terms of production. Additionally, he expresses certainty that such an environment will result in fewer accidents.

Essay Questions

1. The Psychology of the Workspace: Analyze how the author applies concepts from interior decoration--such as mood and color theory--to a heavy industrial setting. How does he argue these factors influence worker performance?
2. Maintenance as a Professional Standard: Discuss the author's argument that "age has nothing to do with housekeeping." How does this challenge common industrial excuses for deteriorating facilities?
3. The Strategic Use of Color: Evaluate the functional benefits of Cornsilk Yellow (HEX #f4c96c) as described in the text. Compare its utility to traditional "machinery gray" or white in a paper mill environment.
4. Safety and Visibility: Examine the link between lighting, cleanliness, and industrial safety. How does the author's focus on "seeing the facility" translate into accident prevention?
5. Leadership and Housekeeping: Using the author's promotion as a case study, discuss why housekeeping might be considered a key indicator of effective management and leadership within a manufacturing plant.

Glossary of Key Terms

Term Definition

Ancillary Equipment The secondary or support machinery that operates alongside the primary paper machine.

Converting Plant A facility where paper is processed into its final form or secondary products.

Cornsilk Yellow A specific machinery paint color (HEX #f4c96c) favored by the author for its reflective properties and ability to highlight machinery.

Daily Drivers Modern vehicles used for routine transportation, contrasted in the text with the well-maintained 1964 Corvair.

Emitted Light Light produced directly by fixtures, such as the LEDs recommended by the author.

HEX #f4c96c The specific hexadecimal color code for Cornsilk Yellow.

Housekeeping The practice of maintaining cleanliness, order, and functional aesthetics in an industrial facility.

Machinery Gray A common industrial paint color criticized by the author for absorbing light and making rooms appear duller.

Paper Machine The primary large-scale industrial machinery used for the production of paper.

Reflected Light Light that bounces off surfaces; the author emphasizes using bright paint colors to maximize this effect.

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