Jimmy Gilland

I had a "voice to pick" headset on and it would tell me locations to go and how many product to pick and I'd put them on a skid. Products ranged from desks to desk calendars. I'd load a skid to order and then shrink wrap it and place it in the correct aisle to be loaded onto a truck to be taken to one of Staples stores.

I transferred to warehouse and was responsible for tagging and putting away stock, or locating and pulling down stock to go out to shipping lines. I did this on either a dock stocker or a turret forklift

Started 3rd shift in BMC (Body Molding Coating) loading a metalizer(chromer) of various size fiberglass and plastic housings and reflectors for automotive head lamps for several major auto companies. Parts would be ran through a quick painter( I also operated this), then through a drying oven, then I'd hang the parts on revolving racks (planets) inside the metalizer. As one metalizer would run a cycle I'd be unloading the other, looking quickly for any defects or issues on the newly chromed parts. I'd load the parts onto racks, tag /ID them properly (PLEX system) and put them in line to go to the correct line to be built that day. Then reload the open metalizer. I did this for 3 years, until Jan. 2020 on 3rd and then 2nd shift.

Jan.2020 I was transferred to the Processing Dept on 2nd shift. Processing had the injection molding presses that made the many housings and brackets for headlights. A part would come off the press and I would quickly inspect for any flaws against our QCIS which was a quality sheet on what the exact part should look like in it's perfect build form.. I would then carefully pack it into the correct dunnage according to the SOS sheet, (ship to line), and Plex the carts so they could be delivered to the correct line to be built.

I usually ran 2 presses at the same time a day for 8 to 12 hours.

Processing has a finer, more detailed paint booth. It was my job to quickly inspect incoming parts and load them on the belt to go into the paint booth. Then after being painted and dried I'd inspect the painted parts for and scratches or runs or flaws etc., and load the parts into the correct dunnage (carts/totes) to be shipped out to correct line.

Our paint booths have masks and bases for each individual part, left/right hands. I had the responsibility to retrieve the correct bases, prep them with grease for easy paint removal, locate the correct masks, and have everything set and ready for the next changeover between the 2 paint booths. A painter would run a dozen shots on the masks and then hand them over to me to put into as mask washer (acetone cleaner). They would have a second set to continue with while I cleaned and checked the masks before returning them to be used again, swapping them out every dozen shots . With 2 paint booths I was constantly moving doing set ups, change overs, and cleaning masks. I thought it was quite rewarding and the constant work made the day pass well and even fast.

I worked in the Stalls Dept. The trailer would have a final inspection and if any detail was flawed I/we'd have a list of what needed correcting and wold fulfill the task until it was done to spec. It was my job to fasten the placards, and paperwork cups, or sealed cases as well on the trwiler walls. Inside i would sand floors, tack weld the bulk head plate, sand walls, replace rights or bad monobolts. I'd wipe down the composite walls to make sure everything was spec and clean. Fix/replace floor bolts. On the roof I would remove the roof ties and make sure everything was sealed properly.

Skirting has started at this time and I was 1of 3 guys who would assemble and instsllcthe different skirting under the trailer.

I loved the fact we were manufacturing something that would be used everyday. Something we would see and would be proud of.

I started on "bogies" in Stalls Dept. Id take a crawler underneath the trailer and remve the foil left over from painting, check hoses and snap in spacers. I'd do any touch up painting needed and make sure the air brake tanks all had plugs put in securely.

I would remove roof bands and make sure all the sealant was touched up and up to specification.

I was put in wash rack where I'd attach the mudflaps and then give the trailer a final scrub and Walsh cycle to make sure it was clean. This is where I would torque the wheels also.

Eventually if was moved to "outside" where a final inspection sheet would be posted on the trailer and I and a few others would go and fix anything that wasn't to spec on the trailer.

I put paperwork boxes and placards on the trailer walls as well.

All State Belting makes custom conveyer belts, and also sub contracts for John Deere.

I started as a "gluer" on a gluing or sealer machine. I'd take a freshly cut conveyer belt that was rolled up, put it on the wheel, on it's side, and it would feed through a small opening and have glue sprayed across the edge of the belt. I would have to make certain adjustments to the sprayed to keep from overspraying or missing the edge entirely. Fast and constantly adjusting the belt as its being fed through the sealer. Then thryvwould be rolled up on the other side and I'd hand them and stack them to go through the cleaner process.

As a cleaner I'd unroll the belts and they'd be pulled down into a silicone bath and one guy would send them down and I'd wipe them down, roll them back up, shoot a staple into the roll and then properly identify and tag what type of belt it was and stack it on skid and send the skid off to shipping.

March 2015 All State hired me full time as a material handler. I was responsible for going out into the yard and picking up the required stock rolls of belt to be cut by the by the builders. These rolls were anywhere from 12 inches x 100 feet to huge 15 ft in diameter x several 100 feet. I used an assortment of lifts, gas fork truck, electric reach truck, order picker to accomplish these tasked depending on the size of the roll that was needed. After a builder was done with the roll of belt I'd tag it and haul it back outside and find a place for it.

We had at least 6 guys building belts all day long, of various sizes, so I was always busy hauling in rolls to be cut or to be returned to the yard.

At the end of June I moved back to Indiana.