July/August 79 No. 138 THE HOUSE MAGAZINE OF RANK XEROX MITCHELDEAN In Buoyant Mood That's how these girls felt, despite namesake, their craft kept afloat and The raft came in sixth, but won the having named their raft the 'Titanic' reached the finish safely. race to raise the most for Spina Bifida (which was a somewhat backhanded Several groups of people from Research — the magnificent sum of compliment to the builder, apprentice Mitcheldean also took part, including £500, which included a donation of Steve Morris). our Works Fire Brigade, Maintenance £200 from the Company. men, and some electrical adjusters The girls — engineering apprentice At the time of going to press, the from 9400 Dept — the 'Splash In Debbie Lowen (in unisex gear) and total amount raised by the other rafts Sparks' — who tied with another commercial trainees Sarah Davies, had still to be totted up, and it is group for second place. Mary Nash and Sue Keen — were planned to hand over a cheque for the taking part in a sponsored raft race But the official RX entry, we were proceeds of the race to the Spina from Wilton Bridge, Ross-on-Wye, assured by 'Admiral' Ken Griffiths of Bifida Research people at a special to Lydbrook on July 14. And we're Security, was the 'HMS Rank Xerox' function to be held at Mitcheldean in glad to report that, unlike its (see story on page 3). the near future. IT ANSWERS THE CONTROL Madge Jenkins explains the data appearing on the screen to Nadia Kemley while, on the right, Roy Brooks studies the print-out. Our telephone traffic has increased general reports required by A further feature of Tel-Tag is that by some 80 per cent in the last 12 management. it can record calls that should have months and this, together with Each week a summary, by been made via the 'Direct' network increased telephone charges, has department, is being issued and (where there is no charge on traffic had an alarming effect on our managers will be able to obtain the generated) but which have been telephone bill. following information: made instead via the GPO system, To keep it within bounds, the incurring a charge. • extension number Company is relying on two things — control, using the very latest in • time of day the outgoing call Co-operation communications technology, and was made Another 'direct' method of operation the co-operation of callers. • duration of call which is helping us to cope On the understanding that 'If you • cost of call effectively with our greatly increased traffic over the telephone wires was can't measure it, you can't manage • number dialled it', we have installed a computerised introduced at Mitcheldean on July 2. call-monitoring system which is • number of incoming calls and Unless they ask for assistance (as expected to pay for itself in the first their duration in the case of international calls), year. Tel-Tag can also produce extension users at Mitcheldean are Call-monitoring systems have been 'histograms' which show the use now given a line on request and can in operation for the past few years being made of extensions, exchange dial their business calls direct. on automatic-type telephone lines, 'Direct' network and Cinderford This means that our switchboard exchanges, but this system, known and Lydney tie-lines. staff are able to concentrate more as Tel-Tag, is the first to be able to This will enable Office Services fully on those all-important incoming monitor a manual-type switchboard Manager Roy Brooks to see how calls where we rely on our girls to such as we have at Mitcheldean. the various lines and extensions are project a good image of the being used and identify which are Company. Digital Reports overloaded. The new 'assistant' is located in the He can then rearrange extensions to Site Directory office of Madge Jenkins, Senior provide greater efficiency and reduce 'It is intended, in the near future, to Telecommunications Supervisor, and rental charges. produce a site telephone directory connected to the exchange via a from the Tel-Tag line printer, with This sort of information can also scanner. more information for Mitcheldean help to make trends more easily users', says Roy Brooks. 'For this In this way, Tel-Tag can keep a recognisable so that future reason it is essential that users check on all incoming and outgoing requirements can be planned more notify Madge Jenkins on ext. 479 calls, though since it is digital it accurately. can't 'eavesdrop' on actual of changes for the directory as and conversations. when they occur.' Every time a call comes in or goes out via the GPO system, Tel-Tag CALLING ALL USERS Engaged? flags up information about it on the Please co-operate by following this Despite every effort to make each screen of a visual display unit — 'Calling Code': issue of the directory as accurate as the extension number, the number • 'Phone after 1 pm — before that possible, the odd misprint does being called (if outgoing), the time there is a surcharge of 25%. occasionally get through. the call is made and its duration, so • Plan your conversation beforehand Hopefuls queued up to apply for a that an 'on-the-spot' visual check and make sure any relevant certain gentleman's post when they can be made. documents are to hand. saw this entry in the last issue This information can also be printed • Keep the conversation to the against a secretary's name: business in hand (in a friendly 'Sex to A, P. S—' out simultaneously on a line printer way, of course). which forms part of the system. and the question was asked : 'Is • Don't hold on, it is cheaper to this the ultimate in managerial The 'brain' of Tel-Tag is the call back later. perks ?' controller which stores the • Use the 'Direct' network wherever information and processes it on this is available. No wonder the cover of the directory demand to give the financial and was bright red ! 2 Theurc all Qood Sports Sponsorship has proved a splendid money-spinner for charities in recent years, and given a two-fold sense of achievement to those who have been sponsored. People of all ages have walked miles to win money, lost lbs to gain £££'s and often discovered a totally new interest through being adventurous in a good cause. We recently reported in VISION EXTRA the sponsored parachute jumps made by Mayor of Cinderford Frank Beard (who works in the Supply Centre) and Courtney The 'HMS Rank Xerox'— claimed to be the only dry raft in the race! It was escorted Morgan (Electrical Sub-assembly) to the starting-point by a drummer and two trumpeters playing a funeral march! which brought in some £200 for the Cheltenham Cobalt Unit. Neither of them had parachuted before and although Frank, while appreciating the experience, felt once was enough, Courtney found himself bitten by the bug and he has now joined the ranks of leisure-time sky-divers. Other sponsored events that have come to our notice this summer seem to have been concentrated on the River Wye. Last May, for example, Dino Nardecchia (QA) and some friends The Rank Xerox Fire Service put out a raft. Bob Randall looks coy about taking to the were among the hundreds who took water with Ann Jones, John Carswell part in an annual 100-mile carnival and Jill Smith. raft race from Hay-on-Wye to Chepstow Bridge. Kay Evans. Vilma Powell and Kevin Virgo 'It was in four stages, spread over meet for a chat about the day they paddled four days and the going was tough', their canoes for a good cause. says Dino. 'But we weren't out to win, just to finish the course'. Which they did, bringing in nearly £600. Cleary of Tool Control did a sponsored jump in aid of the British Of this, £80 was collected by Dino Diabetic Association and raised over himself at Mitcheldean, thanks to £100. kind sponsors, and the overall total raised — which exceeded the target Though he didn't reach the sky of £12,000 — is being used to himself, Martyn Holbrook (Mfg purchase a specially equipped Eng.) of the Rank Xerox minibus and playground equipment Aeromodellers flew his 'Vortex' for handicapped children. model for 46 minutes in a sponsored 'Soar for Britain' and raised £21 in Mental Handicap Week began on support of the British Thermal June 24, and some of our people Soaring Team who competed in the paddled canoes down the Wye on crew — and their chances of World Championships this summer. that Sunday to support the winning — when 'engineering officer' Herefordshire Society for the The latest sponsored event — on the Don Wilkes was rammed by the Mentally Handicapped. Wye again — was the raft race on raft at some rapids and had to go The rally this time was a 27-mile one, July 14 from Wilton Bridge to ashore for treatment. from Hereford to Ross; Kay Evans Lydbrook. As you'll have seen from our front (Electrical Sub-assembly) partnered Last year it was held in aid of cover story, though they didn't come Kevin Virgo (Production Control) Mitcheldean Scouts, but in this, the in first, they won the race to raise while Vilma Powell (Commodity Year of the Child, the proceeds are the biggest Mitcheldean contribution Operations) and schoolmaster Dick for Spina Bifida Research. to the fund — £500. Brice were in another canoe. Among the various rafts manned by As we went to press, we heard that Both couples finished the course Mitcheldean people was the 'HMS apprentice John Skinner, a member of (only half the 300 people who Rank Xerox' captained by Security the Gloucester 18-Plus Group, will entered did so).