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Show i 12. . Hilltop Times QUALITY July. 21, .1989. o DDS S'DDQ by David W. Harris Hilltop Times staff writer Cooking up a good process action team requires several dedicated employees and a dash of desire.' Then simmer 36 hours with "the Dons." Don Hopfenbeck and Don Singleton, affectionately known as the Dons, teach their PAT training seminar four times a year. Students are a n of base employees from different directorates who want to know how to form and. manage a PAT or quality circle. Students attend the nine-da- y course either voluntarily or at the of their directorate. request The course teaches principles of creativity, problem definition and solving, decision making, data collection and presentation techniques. However, the main objective of the course is to teach people to work together to solve problems. Mr. Hopfenbeck said that learning to get along in a team environment is what he hopes students take back to the work place with them. He said that graduates of the class should be qualified to facilitate a team working to solve problems. Mr. Hopfenbeck and Mr. Singleton have been teaching the course for eight years. They said it has changed a lot since it began in 1981. Origicourse that emphasized nally it was a the tools of effective quality management. They designed the course themselves, borrowing from several different sources including an Air Force Institute of Technology manual. Over the years they have modified it to include effec tive team building techniques and personal interaction. Mr. Singleton said the course was not successful until team and personal interaction concepts were included in the curriculum. i ' - i ) t f ! i wwm cross-sectio- i t I s. ';'". 9, 1 20-ho- ur I'..'. U.S. Air Force Photo by Michael Thompson One of the Dons Don Singleton (above) and his partner Don Hopfenbeck have been training PAT members for eight years at Hill. ' ' 'V :, -S , : Students are not graded, but understand that what they learn is important to how well they can do their job. Since most are volunteers, the ? mm rum I ON SALE CSTOM ORDER SOFAS COUNTRY DINING sfil W AT OUR LOWEST PRICES OF THE YEAR. IS AVAILABLE IN 4 STAIN COLORS. 100's OF FABRICS TO SET l INCLUDES AN 8 TABLE WITH LEAF AND 6 PADDED-BACSIDE CHAIRS. CHOOSE FROM. CHOOSE FROM SOLID OAK, BALL & CLAW OR QUEEN ANNE LEGS. SELF-STORIN- G K SET 2 INCLUDES A 10' TABLE YOUR CHOICE WITH 6 SIDE BOW-BAC- K CHAIRS. YOUR CHOICE STARTING FARBir lUtsi AMERICAN HEIRLOOM Signature Hand Carving mm. RQinr OAK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER pro Our American Heirloom Collection Features Accuride Drawer Guides, Cedar Lined Drawers. Secret Jewelry Chest with Genuine Velvet Lining. Etched Mirror and Signature Hand Carving. Dresser Wing Mirror Nitestand Cedar Chest Bed Tall. (as shown) - Entertainment Armoire $699 $299 $249 $349 Hand-Carve- CHAIR PADS EXTRA DEEP POCKET DRAWERS LIGHT OR DARK FINISH. fg SOUP OAK by Richardson Brotx Co. For all jtiwritione Rkhardion Co. hat beta know fw the moil reliable. furniturt Bra. bulldinf y IBl yon can buy. Kkhardao Brat. 1 iMim at (peclal priclM or lurnltort purchaard that month. Wt an DaMinf Hm aavingt on . i toyo. Brtnj CHOOSE FROM LATEST COUNTRY FABRICS. n tkla ad and lot a tlm tecetvc 35 HmH-t- off on Hi namifactumi IM prtct trot. Fotntttm. $5" d, Short 4- - Potter Bed Fn Factory Authorized Sale OFF LIST $599 $699 Prices Effective thru 89 OGDEN STORE HOURS: Nlon. - Sat.. w . Students said they liked the course, especially the instructors. They liked the openness that existed in the class. Students are encouraged to voice their opinions, ,and to express their feelings. This helps students realize their opinions count. "I feel like what I say matters now," said Donna Steed from the Directorate of Contracting and Manufacturing. "I've had a real change of attitude." Mr. Hopfenbeck said the course is good because it gives people with no previous management experience a chance to become part of the management process. However, as good as the class is, students said that their training will only be as effective as management's participation in the quality process. Many students said they would like to see management take this class as well, so they know what role PATs and quality circles play in overall organizational quality. Process action teams are people chosen by management to evaluate processes and make suggestions for improvement. Quality circles are voluntary groups set up for similar purposes. . ME i S desire to learn is quite high. Many students said the course has provided an excellent base from which to build an effective PAT or quality circle. As this is what many of them expected from the course, they" consider their time spent worthwhile. Mark Bentley is a quality circle leader for the Directorate of Maintenance. He said he will go back to the hangar and apply the concepts learned in the course to his quality circle. He said he wishes all his people could take the course. Other students will take what they have learned and teach it to others. Several participants of the current class are part of the Rivet MILE project. Their responsibility is to train other PAT members in their own organi-zation- Seminar teaches teams to organize and manage effectively ' n Lii n i OGDEN 4077 Riverdale Rd., 399-392- 8 (Next to Fred Meyer's in Riverdale Center) 10-- 6 flflERITAGEQAK OamIc American Fumlehlnya |