Family Orientated Membership

 

MIA News – April 1953, Volume 1, Number 1

The greatest asset of the Metalock International Association does not rest in any bank, nor is it something we can take to the bank and borrow money against. Yet it is an asset of which we can rightly be proud and one we must guard jealously. It is something we must value above all else, because it is our reputation for first-class workmanship; therefore, it is something we must never place at risk for any reason.

As we are a far-flung organisation, this reputation is entrusted to many hands in many places. For that reason, it is vitally important that not a single member of the organisation—from the Managing Director to the skilled engineers on site, including engineering and surveying personnel—compromises quality.

From the management point of view, there are two things that can be done to maintain these standards: the first is to ensure that all personnel selected for training are workers of the highest calibre and, above all, men with a strong sense of personal responsibility; and the second is that the training programme designed for these men should be thorough, complete in every detail, and never shortened for any reason.

From the surveyor’s standpoint, it is extremely important that all aspects of the repair are studied carefully, with particular attention given to the risk of failure. It is far more advisable—and strengthens our reputation with the client—to decline a repair whose success is doubtful. This is especially true for work that will require the approval of Maritime Classification Societies. In such cases, if this careful policy is followed, the acceptance of a repair by a Metalock surveyor should be equivalent to a guarantee of the repair’s future acceptance by the surveyor of the Classification Society.

The engineer must be aware that poor or questionable workmanship on his part may remain hidden for a time, but eventually—even if it is not traced directly back to him—it will reflect on the company that employs him, to its detriment and, consequently, to his own through loss of business.

At every level, quality must never be sacrificed in the name of service. It is true that we take pride in the service we provide, but under no circumstances should work be diminished in favour of speed. If a job cannot be done properly, it may be better not to undertake it at all.

MIA News – April 1953

Volume 1, Number 1