MECHANICAL TROUBLESHOOTING ENJOYABLE WORK FOR MAYFIELD

JACKSON -- Jamie Mayfield must be a pretty popular guy at the Lee-Rowan Co. plant in Jackson. Throughout the day his name is called frequently over the plant's public address system.

That's because Mayfield is a Set Up Adjustor Coordinator (read "troubleshooter") for the day shift at the plant. If a piece of equipment on the production line isn't working properly, and the operator can't correct the problem, the call goes out for Mayfield's help.

"It's both a supervisory and troubleshooting job," said Mayfield. "That's what I like about my work. There's always something happening somewhere. Somebody always needs me."

The Lee-Rowan Co. was founded in 1939 by Edgar D. Lee and John V. Rowan. Today, their sons, Desmond Lee and James P. Rowan, continue to operate the company, that now has plants in Jackson and St. Louis.

During the past 52 years, Lee Rowan has grown from a one-product company that made a trouser creaser, to a company that manufactures hangers, shoe racks, garment racks and ventilated, epoxy-coated wire storage systems.

"Lee-Rowan Where the World Gets Organized" is the company's registered trademark. The products are sold world-wide.

The Jackson plant is undergoing its ninth expansion. It has 464,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities. The plant is the largest employer in Jackson, and one of the top three in Cape Girardeau County.

Because of the complexity of the manufacturing equipment, there are very few unskilled workers in the plant. Each machine operator is trained to operate and do minor maintenance or make changes to his or her machine.

When something comes up the machine operator can't handle, they call for Jamie Mayfield, one of the three "troubleshooters" assigned to each of the three shifts at the plant.

"I talk with the machine operator and try to determine what the problem is. Usually, we can correct the problem. If we can't handle it, I call the maintenance department," said Mayfield. "That's what I enjoy about my work. The challenge of trying to find out why a piece of machinery isn't working right, and try to fix it."

Mayfield, 26, grew up on a farm near Patton and graduated in 1984 from Meadow Heights High School. He came to Lee-Rowan in 1986. Prior to that, he worked on a horse farm near Marquand.

Mayfield owns two horses that he keeps on the family farm. Mayfield and his younger brother, Jason, 15, ride horses to team-rope calves at a local indoor arena.

However, Mayfield felt that taking care of horses, and showing them, is not exactly a job with a future. When he considered his long-term employment options, his father, Jerry Mayfield (a 20-year Lee-Rowan employee), suggested he apply at the plant. Jamie did and was hired.

"My first job was on the paint line, hanging fixtures," said Mayfield. "I started out on midnights, but moved to the second shift about six months later."

Since that time, Mayfield has worked just about every position at the plant before ending up in the manufacturing department. As a result, he has a good feel for the entire plant production facilities.

Mayfield says working at Lee-Rowan is like being a part of a large family. The employees are referred to as associates and are considered by management to be one of the most valuable assets of the company.

"Actually, we really are one big family out here," he said. "Everyone knows each other because we all live in the Jackson area."

The plant uses the "team" concept.

Mayfield said the team concept is a part of management's emphasis on workplace safety. The teams compete with each other to accumulate injury-free work days for awards.

Since coming to Lee-Rowan, Mayfield has been involved in several plant expansions, and a doubling of the number of associates in the plant. The latest expansion is now under way. When completed, the plant will have a new paint production line. In addition, the extra space will make room for three more pieces of manufacturing equipment. Eventually, Mayfield will also be responsible for looking after them as well.

Mayfield says he wants to continue doing troubleshooting work. "I would eventually like to move up into a supervisory position, as long as I can stay on the move inside the plant," he said. "I don't like to stay in one place for a long time. I like to move around. My job lets me do that."