AUGUST 2011Ascend News
Welcome to Ascend News. Our newsletter is an important tool in connecting with each other across the company to learn how our colleagues are working in the five key focus areas – safety, customer, productivity, reliability, and people – to achieve our business objectives and build a successful company.
The progress made by A2E teams everywhere in the organization are critical to our success as a company. Ascend News will highlight your engagement in A2E by bringing you success stories. In this issue, you’ll read about the simplicity of the Decatur Glove project, and the complexity of Decatur River Pump project. It is exciting to see A2E success stories that all have something important in common -- your engagement in recognizing opportunities and creating solutions.
When we visit the sites, one of the key questions you have is, “What does the future look like?” The Business Overview from John Ferguson, Dick Prinstein, and Scott Rook provides insight into each of our three businesses, Chemicals, Polymers & Fibers, and Plastics. You’ll learn about our business outlook from each of these business leaders. The ISC Scorecard will provide you with metrics related to our key focus areas. In particular, you will see results of our on-time delivery against our customer promise, and quality defects -- two of the most important measurements of our reliability.
We hope you enjoy the first edition of Ascend News and consider it your source for news of your colleagues, our business, and our success. We invite your thoughts and ideas for future editions of Ascend News. In the meantime, we have more progress to make.
Be safe. Do great things. Have fun. Tim
Message from the Vice President of ISC
Core Values Defined – Engagement
During our Year 2 anniversary
celebrations, Fred and Tim spoke
about the great progress we’ve
made over the first two years
of Ascend, and about how much
more we have to accomplish
as we continue to grow our
business. There are opportunities
to be better all across the
organization and in particular,
in the areas of safety, reliability,
quality, and capacity. We will
make progress by leveraging
those opportunities, and as
we do, the most powerful thing we can do as individuals and
teams is engage. The power of 3000 employees and resident
contractors engaged in generating ideas, developing project
plans, and execution, will result in accomplishments far
beyond what we imagine today. • In keeping with our pursuit
of excellence, and the obvious tie to our company name,
we use Ascend to Excellence (A2E) as our brand for employee
engagement in creating a successful company. I want to take
this opportunity to talk a bit more about A2E – what it is,
its importance to the success of Ascend, and how A2E is
becoming a part of our organization DNA.
What is A2E?
A2E is 3000 employees and resident contractors engaged
in the work, owning the results, and driving continuous
improvement in every aspect of our business. • Engagement
and ownership of results is a key behavior we embrace and
expect of our teammates and ourselves. It is an enduring
view that defines our value system, our personnel evaluation
processes, and our promotion and hiring decisions.
Engagement and ownership is the foundation of our
expected organizational behaviors.
Message from the VP of ISC
I believe in Zero!
SDI SSP Capacity Increase
Employee Engagement Key Component
of Pensacola Safety Effort
Storm Impact on Decatur
Ascend Cares
Site Focus: What is it about Decatur?
Decatur Takes the Gloves off, Saves $22,000
Celebrating 50 years
Decatur pictures
Business Overview
Have you attended the A2E 2011 learning course yet?
IT Transition
Pensacola FRC Commitee Works to Beat the Heat
Congratulations
Decatur Reduces River Water Pump Costs
Year 2 Celebration pictures
APEX 2011
INSIDE COVER–1
2
3
4–5
6–7
8–9
10
ESSH
ESSH
ESSH
Table of Contents
Ascend News Editorial Advisory Board wants your thoughts!
Have ideas to share?
Want to become a member of Editorial Advisory Board?
We would love to hear from you! If you are interested in
contributing to Ascend News please contact us at
SafetyESSH
Customer
ProductivityReliability
People
Do you believe in ZERO? Do you believe you will be injured in the second half of
the year? Of course not! Then you believe in ZERO! No one expects to be injured
at home or work, but the real question is, “What are you doing to make that
a reality for yourself?” • As we begin the 3rd quarter, there is no better time
to answer that question of personal accountability. With the onset of summer,
comes the heat, increased work activity at home, overhauls and turnarounds
at work, the distractions of vacations, kids at home, and longer days. With
no change in behavior, the probability of your risk of injury increases.
So what will you do to be ZERO? • Safety is our most important focus area
at Ascend – we want everyone to return to their families safely at the end of the workday. We continue to
improve safety processes so they are practical and easy to follow, and to provide safety professionals to address the tough questions and
issues in the workplace. We will continue to look for opportunities to make Ascend a safer place to work. • Enjoy the summer and focus on
being safe at work, at home, and at play. We will provide as safe a work environment as possible and the rest is up to you. Believe in ZERO!
I Believe in ZERO! by Dale Borths
ZEROINJURIES
1
Dale Borths is the Vice President of Environmental, Safety, Security, and Health.
ESSH
A couple of things it is NOT:
- A program of the month. Engagement and ownership of
results is a key behavior trait we embrace and expect of our
teammates and ourselves.
- Only a set of Continuous Improvement (CI) tools. As a learning
organization, we will continue to teach CI tools such as DMAIC,
brainstorming, design of experiments, etc., to increase the
effectiveness of our individual engagement in the growth and
success of the organization. In effect, learning and using
the tools are a means to an end, not the end itself.
A2E Engagement is a two-way street.
To be successful, each of us has to commit to A2E as the way
we work each day. The power of 3000 engaged in A2E will make
far more progress than just a few individuals. We don’t have to look
further than the recent NBA finals to see the truth in this. The Dallas
Mavericks won the title through the cooperative efforts of the entire
roster --when it mattered most, each player engaged in their role
to the best of their ability, while the Miami Heat attempted to
carry the title through the extraordinary efforts of three superstars.
If we are actively engaged in improving our work environment,
it will be a place that represents our values, a place we can be
proud of, and one that energizes us. • Ascend is supporting your
A2E engagement to ensure success. That support started early by
providing learning opportunities around DMAIC tools to help teams
get started. Last year, Ascend supported the A2E momentum with
the inaugural APEX event to recognize individuals and teams that
demonstrated leadership, engagement, and ownership of A2E. •
Now, A2E 2011 courses which provide more tools to support active
and future teams are being taught across the company. Much of
the direction for these courses came from the APEX 2010 Delegates.
APEX 2011 is just around the corner, and this year’s delegates will
provide input and direction for A2E 2012 courses. • Ascend is
supporting A2E in other ways – each site has an A2E “core team”
that will act as a resource. The core teams and the Front Line
Supervisors are engaged in learning focused on leading great
teams. The Quality & Continuous Improvement (QCI) team is
staffed and is providing technical support to our teams. After all,
the folks working in a specific area are the best subject matter
experts. No one is more qualified to make improvements in
our daily work than each one of us. • Looking across Ascend
you can see more and more engagement. Teams, work-groups,
and sites are making a difference by tackling tougher issues,
finishing faster, and in some cases setting site/company policy
through their efforts. I’m personally looking forward to
APEX 2011 to see first hand some of the top efforts of
the past year. After all, the folks working in a specific
area are the best subject matter experts for
that area. No one is more qualified to make
improvements in OUR daily work than
each one of us.
Barry Penney
Employee Engagement Key Component of Pensacola Safety EffortThere are three key employee safety teams in place at the Pensacola site:
Site Safety Steering Committee (SSSC) / Nylon Plant Safety Team / Area I Safety Steering Team.
All three of these teams, composed almost entirely of hourly employees are focused
on improving safety at the site. The SSSC which includes members from each area
of the site targets activities that foster employee involvement such as hazard recognition
and resolution, focused safety audits, Voluntary Protection Program certification, and
poster contests. Members are also working on updating area safety orientation training
videos. • The Nylon Plant Safety Team includes maintenance and operations employees
who are committed to improving their area’s safety. Their activities include those that
address area employee concerns such as working safely in the heat, guarding equipment,
and work practices aimed at reducing risks associated with breaks in processes. •
The Area I Safety Steering Team’s mission is to empower each other to create a safer
and more productive working environment. This team has spent time ensuring that
its members are aligned in its mission and goals. One key accomplishment was to
set up a Cool Zone to provide some heat relief to workers involved in shutdown
activities at the Halcon Unit. This Zone included a tent with chairs, tables, fans,
and drinks. Feedback from the maintenance group was very positive. While each
team has different membership and a unique approach, they all have one common
goal – to create an injury free workplace. Working together, there is no doubt
they will accomplish this goal at the Pensacola site.
ESSH
Cool Zone
2
by Chuck Clarke
SDI SSP Capacity Increase by Raymond Fogle
The Greenwood site recently expanded their Industrial
Fiber (IF) production on their Toray-licensed Solid Stating
Process (SSP). Originally supplied at a 30 tonnes per day
capacity, the process now has been demonstrated at
>50 tonnes per day using innovative technology and
engineering modifications with minimal capital investment.
To achieve the capacity, a Project Team, with members
from Greenwood and Pensacola, developed an EVOP
plan. Although initial results were favorable, high
temperature upset (exotherm) events began plaguing
operations, limiting production below target. Toray
could not provide technical assistance for these types
of process modifications. • The Project Team developed
parallel paths utilizing experimentation and industry
consultants to develop the fundamental process
understanding necessary to prevent the exotherm
events. With diligence, discoveries were made allowing
process optimization to prevent the upsets. To date,
no new exotherm events have been experienced and
the plant has achieved >50 tonnes per day capacity.
The use of good planning, outside resources, technology
development, and team work has achieved a 67%
capacity increase with minimal cost. Great job by
the Greenwood site and the SSP team!
N2degC
waterppm
unused
40ºC
25ºC
Crystallizer150ºC
SSP Tower158–166ºC
(rate dependent)
unused
heating loop
PreviouslyDew Point
(degC)
cooling loop
Lamson Blowers
DesiccantDryers
Buffer Hopper
65ºC
steam
Cool
ing
Wat
er J
acke
ted
Pip
e
0.4 wt % H20
Wet Chip Silo
MoistureRegulating
SiloMRS
Temp/MoistureControl
Loop
Dry Chip Hoppers
0 % H20
0.1 wt % H20
0 % H20
110ºCScreener
Raymond Fogle is a Lead Process Engineer in Pensacola.
Chuck Clarke is the ESSH Lead in Pensacola.
The Ascend Cares Foundation was set up to aid the employees and resident contractors which comprise
the Ascend Family, to care for each other in times of hardship. Our initial solicitation for donations was
in support of the members of the Ascend Family affected by the tornadoes that struck the Decatur area
in late April. Your generous donations have helped a number of Ascend Families in Decatur meet their
immediate needs following devastating losses. • While there are many local, state, and national agencies
that provide disaster relief, the intent of the Ascend Cares Foundation is to provide immediate and
personal relief to the Ascend Family, from fellow workers. • We would like to remind our colleagues in Decatur that we are still accepting
applications for relief. We would also like to remind everyone that we continue to accept donations to Ascend Cares. • If you have
questions regarding the Ascend Cares Foundation, please email [email protected].
Storm Impact on Decatur by Al Faulkner & Monica Jackson
On April 27, 2011, one of the largest tornado outbreaks in American
history occurred across the southeastern United States. An EF5
tornado swept through several counties in Alabama, terrorizing
families and destroying everything in its path. About 50 minutes
and 55 miles later, it was gone, however, the aftermath remains.
• Although the tornado passed within two miles of the plant,
the Ascend Performance Materials Decatur site had minimal
damage. While the plant was left completely without power,
only minor damage to the exterior of the cooling towers and
several roof leaks were reported. Ascend was very fortunate.
More important, good fortune continued as we confirmed there
were no employee injuries or fatalities. However, thoughts quickly
turned to the Ascend employees and contractors impacted by
their own loss of property, or an injured or deceased relative.
Immediately after the storm, the site leadership team was not
only on the ground working through their restart strategy,
but also reaching out to impacted employees. With rain in
the immediate forecast, teams set out to provide tarps to
employees who sustained roof damage during the storm.
• The storm provided the right opportunity to establish the
Ascend Cares Foundation as a way of allowing employees
to help each other. Funds were solicited and through the
generous donations of Ascend employees, resident contractors,
and suppliers, several families impacted by the storm have
received relief funds. The impact of improving a difficult
situation has been tremendous. • Lack of electrical power
was the site’s biggest issue in preparation for restart. This significantly
complicates the restart effort and of course, no restart can begin
without resumption of power. Emergency power was restored
one week after the storm. Restart power returned two weeks after
the storm and was under close oversight from TVA. • At this time,
the plant is completing a project pulled forward to maximize
production for the remainder of 2011. After the project work is
completed in early July, the plant will return to full operational rates.
The Decatur site appreciates the thoughts, prayers, and the outpouring
of support to the site and to our employees through Ascend Cares.
EMPLOYEE IMPACTInjuries or fatalities: 0 employeesLoss of property, injured, or deceased relative: 23 employees (Ascend and Contractor) Significant damage or complete loss of their home:10 employees
PLANT DAMAGE• Minimal damage to exterior of cooling towers• Roof Leaks in several buildings• Very fortunate…significant damage to two plants three miles west of Ascend facility
3
EF5 passed within 2 miles of the plant
Al Faulkner is the Decatur plant manager. Monica Jackson is ISC communications manager.
he said. • Perhaps it helps to grow up in the City of Decatur, today the busiest port of the Tennessee River and known as “The River City.” More than 55,000 people call this north Alabama city home, making Decatur the state’s eighth largest city. • Decatur, too, had to earn its present-day success. It endured several encounters during the Civil War. When all but four building were burned during the 1864 “Battle of Decatur,” it was referred to as A Tough Nut to Crack. Later, Decatur’s steady economic growth as a cargo and passenger port was overshadowed by the space race fueled growth of nearby Huntsville. Today, Decatur’s economy is based on manufacturing industries. • Ascend Performance Materials and its committed Decatur employees play an important role in the life and economy of the community.
Site Focus: What is it about Decatur?Employee commitment to company & community
Editor’s Note This is the first in a series of articles profiling our plants. Look for upcoming issues of Ascend News. Yours could be next!
Since mid-2009, business volume at Ascend’s plant in Decatur, Alabama, has been thriving. How come? • Sound management – encouraging employees to overcome barriers and providing the tools to do so – has certainly been a factor. Effective leadership provides the big picture, and the picture’s focus is the character of the employees who work in Decatur. • Decatur’s 235 employees, 110 contractors and the entire Decatur community for that matter is a close-knit bunch. They develop strong bonds of friendship, camaraderie, and have a resolute belief that they will always triumph over adversity. Plant Manager Al Faulkner is proud of the Decatur employees' commitment to work through the difficult times. Downsizing, business losses, and layoffs marked the last decade. “They are now able to experience the improvement that their years of hard work led to,” Faulkner said. “They just don’t give up,” he added. • “Their commitment to safety improvements in productivity and quality is as solid as a piece of granite,” said Faulkner. “When these folks set out to accomplish something, that something gets accomplished, period.” • Faulkner said employees have strong bonds with friends, with their families and in their ties to the Decatur community. “They’re very active within the community and several are members of our city councils. Many are actively involved with area charitable organizations including United Way, and several are volunteer firemen and volunteer emergency medical technicians,”
Decatur Takes The Gloves Off, Saves $22,000Increasing efficiency by cutting unnecessary expenses go hand-in-hand with always seeking out ways to make things better, which is the essence of Ascend To Excellence. • Such opportunities are all around us, some right in hand. We just have to look. When a team of Ascend employees at the Decatur, Ala., facility looked, they uncovered annual savings of almost $22,000. • Did the team discover a high-tech solution that cut costs? No, they simply looked at their work with fresh eyes and, in a moment of creative insight, realized that by reviewing the types of gloves used for certain jobs and implementing a glove management system, they could improve selection criteria and use, increase hand safety and save a lot of money. • The Decatur glove team comprised Lisa Naccarato, ES&H Department; Maintenance lead Jamie Dozier; Darrell Eddleman, Laboratory; Davis Canady, of off-site contractor Mundy, Inc.; Ray Halbrooks, Area Operations; Joe Forton, Continuous Improvement Lead and Storeroom personnel Loyal Parker and Matt Kenum. • The team began by assessing current glove usage and inventories. In reports on glove use at Decatur and other Ascend sites. This enabled them to focus on the most predominately used gloves. By standardizing the types of gloves used for various applications and soliciting prices from several glove manufacturers, the team found gloves that were just as effective at less cost.
• The Decatur Plant employs 235 and has 110 contractors.• The plant serves internal customers at Greenwood and Pensacola. • Decatur produces H.M.D. (hexamethyldiamine) for external customers.• The plant manufactures three products: A.D.N. (adiponitrile, a key intermediate chemical in the production of Nylon 6,6), H.M.D. and coke, a form of carbon.• The facility is located on a 750-acre site along a peninsula bordered by the Tennessee River.• The property was purchased in 1952.• Chemstrand, headquartered at the site in 1952, would become Monsanto, then Solutia and now Ascend Performance Materials.• The Decatur Plant is one of four production-scale A.D.N. facilities in the world. (Two are in Texas, and one is in France.)
Decatur Plant Facts
4
Betty Qualls began job in 1961Reprinted in part from Decatur Daily, April 27, 2011 Betty Qualls has worked for Ascend and its predecessors for 50 years. “I always felt this was where I belonged,” said Qualls, who started working at the Decatur plant in 1961. “I enjoyed my work. You’ve got to enjoy your work to stay with it for 50 years.” • The goal of logistics – or “traffic,” as it was called when Qualls entered the department 35 years ago – is a steady routine of shipments to and from the plant. The reality of logistics is maneuvering from one crisis to the next, making sure the Decatur plant has the raw materials it needs and that downstream plants have the Decatur intermediates they need. • Qualls’ supervisor,Kim Roberts, is a 13-year employee. “She’s seen many different business situations and many different management styles,” Roberts said. “She’s very good at managing crisis situations when we’re trying to secure our raw materials or get our finished goods shipped out.” • Qualls often gets calls after hours and over the weekend, Roberts said. “She always responds with a positive attitude, regardless of the hour,” Roberts said. • “As a result of her long tenure, she has a lot of great relationships with our carriers, whether truck, rail or barge companies,” said Plant Manager Al Faulkner. “As a result, they are very responsive to us. Betty has worked very hard with them for a lot of years.” • She points out
her window, past a dogwood tree planted in her honor, to a plot of ground between Ascend and a neighboring plant. That, she explains with macabre humor, is supposed to be her burial plot. She scolded a contractor for infringing on the space when he expanded the parking lot. • Qualls has no immediate plans for retirement. “The people here are so much family to me that I don’t want to leave them,” Qualls said. “They all work together. It’s a great place.”
Celebrating 50 Years
5
Business Overview Plastics – Scott Rook, V.P.Key Successes: New contracts were successfully negotiated and
signed with customers in key markets for the Plastics business,
including fasteners, compounder, and consumer & industrial.
New Products: Launched a new compounder product for use as
a component in thermal break products. On pace to significantly
increase sales for a next generation fastener product with Phase II
product currently in development.
External Events: The Plastics business lost production due to
the Decatur power outage. Inventory reduction and ramped up
production in Q4 will make up the lost production.
Business Outlook: Overall sales volume picking up pace with
increased demand in all market segments in all regions. Discussions
are underway with multiple customers to increase supply positions
for 2012. Global automotive production is forecasted to grow >14%
in 2012, boosting increased demand for Nylon 6,6.
Polymers & Fibers – Dick Prinstein, V.P.The Polymers and Fibers business finished Q2 somewhat short. De-
mand remains strong in all Polymer and Fiber segments, but
our ability to supply has been constrained by the production issues
in HMD. We honored all volume commitments to our contractual
customers in spite of the severe constraints. The demand outlook
remains strong and we expect it to continue to outstrip our ability
to supply. • For the Textile segment we began servicing a new
customer, Aquafil, located in Slovenia, who makes yarns for clothing
applications. We completed a new contract with TWD (one of our
largest customers who also make clothing applications) at increased
volume. • For Industrial we completed negotiations on a contract
with Hyosung to service their expanded plant located in Vietnam.
The Phase 2 Industrial Fibers startup has gone well and as a result,
we have begun servicing 2 new customers while increasing our vol-
umes with Kordsa. Thanks to the Greenwood team for their efforts.
• In Specialty Polymers we completed contracts with Textech, (who
make tennis ball felt) and Palmetto (who make specialty military and
industrial clothing applications), and have recently announced plant
expansion plans.
Chemicals – John Ferguson, V.P.Key Successes: A long-term contract to supply HCN, utilities and
services was finalized with Cyanco. Cyanco will build a 55,000 ton
per year sodium cyanide plant at Chocolate Bayou to start up in 2012.
Cyanco is the leading supplier of sodium cyanide to mining industry
in North America and expects to grow its business internationally.
New contracts were successfully negotiated with multiple customers.
External Events: The power interruption in Decatur resulted in
a volume shortfall vs. AOP for HMD. Acrylonitrile demand weakened
during Q2 due to lower demand for the two major AN derivatives
(Acrylic Fiber and ABS), and high raw materials costs. A contributing
cause of the low demand was Chinese monetary policy as the Chinese
attempt to curb inflation. Maintenance work originally scheduled
for Q3 was accelerated to leverage the lower demand.
Business Outlook: We expect continued strong demand for
Adipic Acid and HMD in Q3, while the Acrylonitrile market will
continue to be challenging. Exceptional reliability will be critical
in order to leverage market opportunities.
6
ISC Scorecard | Q2
Major Achievements2Q11 was marked by the extended Decatur outage from the tornado that caused power outage in early May. Across the circuit the production units did a very nice job of accelerating and/or moving forward planned maintenance to minimize the lost production impact for the full year. On the heels of the process restart in Decatur, the site executed the addition of the 18th reactor. Greenwood completed the startup of the Industrial Fiber Phase 2 Project in effect capping off several steps that has doubled our capability to produce this high-grade fiber.
Major OpportunitiesDuring the third quarter we have several recently completed capacity additions to start and shake out. GWD IF Phase 2 for tire and airbag fiber, Pensacola CP 22/23 pellet conversion to increase our chip-out capability, and Decatur ADN reactor addition. All of these are important projects but with our current inventory position following the Decatur power outage, it is critical that the ADN unit operates well in order to provide feedstock for the downstream process.
AOP Q1 Actual
Q2 Actual
Percentage of SIOP
100% 98% 95%
Customer Promise
OTD97% 93.4% 79.8%
Quality defects
parts/million
N/A*
15,916**
46,129***
Meeting Customers Needs
*This was not previously measured/not available Ascend wide **Q1 PPM Baseline is a Partial Metric (all areas not reporting at this time)***Q2 Better Reporting, Ascend wide and Global Coverage & Controls Going in Place.
Ascend employees pulled together in a collective spirit
of compassion for the less fortunate and generously
gave to the Company’s annual United Way fundraising
campaign last fall. • Employee participation exceeded
82 percent, almost 10 percent above the year prior.
Donations totaled $624,000, including employee
pledges and the Company’s match. • In addition,
Ascend employees held a number of separate
fundraisers, such as a cake auction, golf tourney,
chili cookoffs, and taco lunches that brought in nearly
$36,000. Prize drawings for Wii video game consoles,
wide-screen TVs and parking spaces sparked awareness
and enthusiasm for the United Way campaign. • “Today’s economy is stretching everyone’s resources, but imagine for a moment the plight
of those who are less fortunate,” said Paul Hawes, vice president of Human Resources. “In many cases, United Way is the only option available
to assist them in their time of need.”
Have you attended the A2E 2011 learning course yet? by Matilda Reeder A2E 2011 roll out began in May and will continue through July. This learning course offers a little something for everyone! • Did you wonder
what happened to that A2E survey you completed last summer ? Well, we put the survey to work. First, we used it to identify and plan
the activities for APEX 2010. As important, we used it to develop A2E 2011 learning courses! Your survey responses make a difference in
how we develop your A2E learning opportunities. • One of the most exciting elements of the A2E 2011 course is learning how to empower
yourself on your next A2E project. When you and your team assume the power and authority to identify and solve problems, your engagement
in and contribution to Ascend's success will increase significantly. A2E learning is about building the skills for success. We look forward to
seeing you! • And don't forget, APEX 2011 is coming!! Start thinking about who you would like to nominate.
Ascend Surpasses United Way Goal
7
It’s hard to believe that nearly four months
have passed since we went live on our
own SAP system! Our SAP support team
is committed to making sure that all
production issues reported via the ticketing
system are resolved in a timely manner, all
requests for moderate system changes are
prioritized through a Change Control Board,
and all major system enhancements are
projects that are resourced appropriately to deliver significant
improvements to our various operations across Ascend. • Our
Change Control Board (CCB) consists of Finance, ISC, and HR leaders
that meet weekly to review and prioritize all pending requests
ensuring we are focused on the requests that drive the most
business value. If you’re interested in knowing who sits on the CCB
or knowing what changes your coworkers are requesting and when
they’re scheduled to go into effect, please visit our SAP SharePoint
site at https://team.ascendmaterials.com/sites/it/SAP • In the spirit of
continuous improvement, key SAP enhancement projects underway
will deliver greater visibility to our spend in the areas of Procurement
and Logistics, better on time delivery and credible promise dates
Allison Roberman is the Chief Information Officer.
to customers, along with increased revenue opportunity through
programs such as duty drawback -- all coming in 2011. • In parallel
with adding new functionality in SAP, we’re streamlining/cleansing
our system by removing what is not applicable to Ascend. This will
make our SAP system more efficient and easier to use. But there is
life beyond SAP! Here are some other activities in underway… •
The IT Enterprise Applications team is gathering requirements
from business leaders to ensure our portfolio of systems is the right
tool set for Ascend, and is configured appropriately to improve
the way we operate internally, and with our customers and suppliers.
• We are also revamping our IT Service Desk. Our key goals are to
continually improve incident resolution time, establish service level
agreements with ongoing report-outs of success rates against those
commitments, and implement a centralized call center to service all
of our plants and offices, globally. • Beneath it all lies the infrastructure
on which these systems run. Our infrastructure and network teams
are building a plan to apply modern technology solutions, which
will enable us to reduce our overall hardware footprint while
replacing aging hardware in the most cost effective and least
disruptive manner. • Look for more IT news in upcoming issues
of the Ascend Newsletter.
IT Transition by Allison Roberman
Matilda Reeder is the ISC Training Manager.
VS.
VS.
X X X
7 days
!
Pensacola FRC committee works to beat the heat by Chuck Clarke
It is a challenge to stay cool during the summer no matter where you are or what you are doing. Last fall the Pensacola site adopted a FRC policy for its Intermediates and shared services employees. While the FRC provides excellent protection against arc flash and flash fire hazards, it presents additional challenges to staying cool during hot summer months. • A committee of field employees from across the site took on the challenge of safeguarding Pensacola employees from the heat and came up with several ideas to help employees stay cool:• Smarter work practices such as scheduling more strenuous jobs in the mornings or evenings, and taking frequent breaks during the hottest part of the day• Changing up to eight work shirts to lighter weight, more breathable FRC shirts. The shirt will provide sufficient protection from a flash fire hazard however additional protection must be worn when there are concerns about arc flash hazards• Use of cooling devices such as cool bandanas, cooling vests, and hard hat inserts for particularly hot jobs• Education via Toolbox Safety Talks, Heat Index Alerts, posters and safety meeting discussions about heat stress hazards, the importance of drinking plenty of water, heat stress symptoms and treatment • Providing cooling areas with air conditioning or misting areas and/or tents for shade• Greater availability of drinking water and ice
While none of these ideas are the panacea for eliminating heat stress, used together they can help employees stay cooler and safer during the hot summer months.
Be pro-active to help your body tolerate the heat:
LIMIT HIGH FAT “HEAVY MEAL” INTAKE High fat and “heavy meal” consumption results in an increase in body metabolism which increases internal body temperature.
LIMIT SODIUM (SALT) INTAKE Salt intake creates dehydration which causes the body to work harder to circulate fluids which increases internal body temperature.
INCREASE FLUID INTAKE A well-lubricated machine runs more efficiently.
3:1 RATIO Consume 3 waters toevery 1 electrolyte replacement beverage.
LIMIT CAFFEINE INTAKE Caffeine is a stimulant and a diuretic, thus it increases body metabolism two-fold, resulting in increased internal body temperature
LIMIT ALCOHOL INTAKE Alcohol is a diuretic. Fluid lost when consuming alcohol is greater than the amount of fluid consumed, thus placing the body in a dehydrated state
KNOW YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS Medications such as Lasix, HCTZ, and other “fluid” medications prescribed for heart or blood pressure conditionskeep the body in a constant state of mild dehydration. Antibiotics can make us more sensitive to the solar effects of the sun, and to heat
LISTEN TO YOUR BODYThirsty = I am too dry, water me Dizzy = I need to sit downNausea = I need to cool downSweating ceases & skin becomes hot & red = I am in TROUBLE!
INFECTIONS Viral and/or Bacterial infections, up to one week after last symptoms, place additional strain on our bodies to regulate internal body temperatures
PERSONAL HISTORY OF A HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS If you have experienced a heat-related illness, you are more likely to have a recurrent heat-related event for up to a year later, with less heat exposure than the initial exposure
TAKE FREQUENT BREAKSWEAR LIGHT COLORED/LOOSE-FITTING COTTON CLOTHING COOL THE CORE Apply cool packs to the neck, under both arms and to the groin area to decrease internal body temperature. Drink cold water if nausea has passed, and no vomiting is present. Avoid rapid cooling as this will cause the body to shiver, thus increasing internal body temperature.
continued >
ESSH
8
Chuck Clarke is the ESSH Lead in Pensacola.
HEAT FATIGUE HEAT RASH HEAT CRAMPS HEAT EXHAUSTION HEAT STROKE
CAUSE
Working in a hot environment
without building up a tolerance
to the heat (i.e. acclimatization)
inflammation of plugged sweat
glands
• Excessive loss of body salts
through sweating• Usually occurs after periods of strenuous
physical labor and heavy sweating
Loss of large amounts of fluid and excessive loss of salt
through sweating
Breakdown of the body’s heat
regulatory system
SYMPTOMS
• Psychological distress (feel
uncomfortable)• Loss of
coordination• Loss of alertness
• Dizziness/feeling of faintness
Non-contagious skin rash marked by red
pimples and intense itching
Painful, intermittent muscle
spasms or cramps
Weakness or fatigue, nausea, headache,
moist skin, pale/flushed complexion,
profuse sweating, and normal or
slightly elevated body temperature
Hot, dry, and usually red
spotted skin, body temperatures of 105° F or higher and rising, absence
of perspiration, mental confusion,
deliriousness, convulsions, and/or
unconsciousness
TREATMENTMoving
the individual to a cooler environment
• Clean the affected area thoroughly with
water and allow it to dry
completely• Calamine and other soothing lotions help
relieve discomfort after leaving work
(don’t use Calamine while
still working in heat)
• Have victim drink water or electrolyte
replacement/sport drinks
• Persons with heart problems or on
a low-sodium diet should not use
electrolyte/sports drinks without
consulting a physician first
• Gently massage or use firm pressure on the muscle that
is cramping
• Have victim rest in a cool
environment and drink water or
electrolyte replacement/sport drinks
• Persons with heart problems
or on a low-sodium diet should not use sports/electrolyte
drinks without first consulting
a physician• Severe cases of heat exhaustion
require medical care
• Summon medical aid immediately• Move victim to
a cool environment and bathe his/her
body with cool water until body temperature is
reduced to 102° F. • Vigorous fanning will help increase
cooling effect• Don’t leave victim
unattended
!!
Medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention Heat stroke is always life threatening. Brain damage and death can result if the victim is not cooled quickly!
9
FIVE LEVELS OF HEAT DISORDERS
10
Congratulations50 Years
Betty Qualls
40 Years
Philip Kellam
Roy Thomas
35 years
Rhonda Navarro
Curtis Ramsey
Sally Solis
George Bowers
James Lollis
30 years
Elaine Powell
Floyd Moore Jr.
Michael Norre
20 Years
Kevin Carrier
Johannes De Jongh
Jeffery Graham
Michael Hardeman
Ben Harris
Clifton Johnson
Sharon Johnson
Sherman Nichols
Darlene Sebesta
Gary Van Winkle
John Villareal
Billy Allen
James Baugh
Jeff Petersen
Chris Hodges
Aaron Bocz
Decatur
Pensacola
Pensacola
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Decatur
Greenwood
Chocolate Bayou
Greenwood
Pensacola
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Chocolate Bayou
Decatur
Decatur
Kellwood
Foley
Pensacola
Decatur Reduces River Water Pump Costs
Decatur recently completed a successful A2E project led by the Boiler House “A”
shift team. • The team identified an opportunity to optimize the number of river
water pumps in service. The Boiler House operators were managing the river water
pumps by a “seat of the pants” method without enough data to understand whether
river water needs were being met, or whether too much river water was being
utilized. They relied on pressures, experiences, and “gut” instincts. It was a poorly
informed and unstructured way of managing the pump operation. • The team,
led by David Lowery, identified the opportunity, discussed it with internal customers,
and developed an understanding of the needs, and a better understanding of the
critical equipment that used river water. The team also consulted with engineering
resources, as well Supervisors and team leads. • The team used the following A2E
tools in their efforts: Team Charter, Brainstorming, 5–whys, Data Collection, and
Mapping. They sought customer participation to help in the effort, and the team
developed a monitoring table of river water users across the plant. Now, they assist
and advise the manufacturing units in monitoring critical operating parameters,
and preventing pump startup too soon as ambient river water conditions and
manufacturing needs change. The initial result of this A2E project was a $58K
saving in the past month. The team initially believed this effort was sustainable
in the Spring and Fall seasons, but after further review the team believes that a net
reduction of one pump from continuous operation is possible for most, if not all
year. This total reduction would produce an annual savings of $337 K. • The key
to success for this team was obtaining and using customer information that was
previously unavailable. By obtaining the information, and centrally cataloging it,
the operators now manage area needs while minimizing overall pumping costs.
Technology was used to provide pertinent information to operators who now
decide how many river water pumps to run based on data rather than “gut”
instinct! Congratulations to the A2E River Water Pump Team!
Al Faulkner is the Decatur plant manager.
by Al Faulkner
Gearing up for