STEADYING BUSINESS 
been very profitable. However, it is far more profitable than 
shutting the mill down.” 
TRANSFERRING PERSONNEL 
Closely allied to the dovetailing of seasonal products is the 
dovetailing of jobs by transferring employees from one process 
or one department to another within the existing plant without 
introducing new products. While difficulties are met in such 
transfers, they are not ordinarily so serious as those involved 
in the complete dovetailing of products. In many cases there 
is the advantage of increasing the employees interest in his 
work by the added variety. 
Examples of this method are numerous. A miller has 
found no difficulty in transferring employees from package 
machines where the work is entirely automatic, to sewing 
machines in the sack department. A large canner of soups 
and beans continually changes employees from one depart- 
ment to another. In 1924 a packer of dried fruits transferred 
341 of his 634 employees from one job to another to offset 
slumps. In another food factory the foreman of the conserve 
department is also foreman of the peanut butter department, 
and during the height of the conserve season the peanut butter 
workers are turned to making conserves. 
In industries where the work requires higher skill, the 
transfer of employees is more difficult, but not impossible. A 
manufacturer of steam shovels has reduced his turnover 50 
per cent. by transferring employees from one department to 
another. Manufacturers of typewriters, calculating machines, 
duplicating machines and supplies, heating apparatus, parch- 
ment and writing paper, cameras, and clothing have all found 
this device useful. 
PRODUCING FOR STOCK 
rae 
The marked trend toward standardized specifications—a 
movement sponsored by many trade associations, and actively