Mike E. Thomas
--a book by A C. E. Metals Testing, 7/14/01.
INTRODUCTION.
Michael [Mike] Thomas is a good US citizen who devotes a lot of time with his only child, Melissa, a splendid girl. Born in New Jersey, the chemical capitol of the world, Mike was degreed in chemistry and worked as a chemist for laboratories. Mike got involved in quality, particularly NonDestructive Testing, NDT, and his customers often make a special point of declaring what a good worker he is.
Note: Classified by Dr. Bob Benchoff May 2, 2002, this site was readdressed and declassified per the Lanham Act, after updates and clarifications were inserted.
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CONTENTS:
CHAPTER 1. QUALITY.
CHAPTER 2. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION.
CHAPTER 3. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.
CHAPTER 4. TRAINING + EXPERIENCE DO NOT EQUAL QUALITY.
CHAPTER 5. BEYOND STATE OF THE ART.
CHAPTER 6. WRITEABLE HARDWARE.
CHAPTER 7. P.A.I.U.S.
CHAPTER 8. DESIGN.
CHAPTER 9. TAKING SHAPE.
CHAPTER 10. RESPONSIBILITY.
CHAPTER 11. RESUME.
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CHAPTER 1. QUALITY.
Before joining A C. E. Metals Testing (referred to in this book as A C.E.), Mike saw a great need for improving quality. He saw how difficult it was to gain technical information necessary for gaining technical skills. He also saw the importance of improving quality of life for family, friends, and community.
So he cofounded Quality Club charity in Charlotte, NC. Known for the joy he brings to people with his sense of humor, he assumed the position Dictator For Life.
Quality Club quickly grew, initially among people with technical concerns for quality, such as motivated optomistic NDT personnel. Manufacturers also joined, realizing great advantages via Quality Club, in terms of profitability (such as for Don [Ray] Bobo, head of Quality Control, Torrington, SC, and Quality Club Region 1 Manager), interfacing (such as for Clint Mooney, quality control/AWS welding Professor, University of North Carolina, a Quality Club Member and sponsor), and others. The club grew in Pittsburgh and other manufacturing cities. However, the number of people joining for quality of life reasons soon outnumbered and overshadowed/overwhelmed other areas.
Membership quickly grew, starting with about 50 members in the first year. Quality Club quickly gained interest across the US and internationally. Then it became known as Quality Club International, QCI, and is now headed by Sidelil Gizachew, living in Addis Abbaba (spellings vary) the capitol of Ethiopia.
The results of Mike's efforts have had widespread consequences. The club newsletter bought out Carolina Commentary, a government publication, and became a magazine, disbursing reference as well as state-of-the-art quality information, including high tech quality information not published elsewhere.
The club not only discussed quality, but also had a mind-boggling amount of hands-on quality activies. Mike donated full sized coin operated commercial video gaming equipment to the club which he then delivered to childrens' hospitals. This is, of course, after he modified the coin mechanism so the children wouldn't have to pay. All was provided for free, compliments of Mike.
QCI had a car donated to it, which it later sold to a race car driver, and fellow QCI member George Taylor. Mike delivered the car to George, and subsequently QCI became the sole sponsor of the George Taylor Race Car Team. George saw to it that his race car sported the Quality Club International name (along with other names of his vendors, hoping for additional support), and promoted quality among race car drivers and fans.
Mike and Bob were delighted to get this update from George:
Bob had further interests in street rods as seen in the following:
Bob & his wife Linda used to cruise the Myrtle Beach strip as onlookers oogled the flaming duel hood scoops; and sometimes Bob would pull over and show it's mirror finished engine.
Mike helped Bob with computer advancements, and when Bob decided to sell, he used computers to sell the Maverick Grabber Classic to an engineer at the North end of the Alaskan Pipeline.
Bob said to the engineer that he had heard there was a high mark up on items in Alaska. The engineer said for perishables only. No one would buy a car in Alaska over two years old: they needed something dependable.
Mike's QCI worked spawned further compassion by others. One group handed-out gifts to children playing football in a trailer court
Among the other quality activities of the club were the forming of a Quality Club Agency which created a comprehensive quality standardization chart, the creation of special projects, such as the Duck Project, a wildlife quality program, and the recognition of quality leadership, such as honoring Charlotte Hornets' Larry Johnson, for helping underprivileged children.
Other notable quality activities included community effort fundraising, such as in the case when Mike donated carpeting used in the manufacture of Sesame Street Cookie Monster-like toys, David Stewart, head of Quality Control, Otto Industries provided the miniature garbage cans where Cookie Monster lives, Mike's coworker and club cofounder Bob Benchoff, head of quality for VGC Nonprofit Corporation, provided Cookie Monster head features and handled assembly, club Secretary Vicky Thomas, self-employed computer expert handled mailings, and club Treasurer Judy McGraw, head of Vic's, conducted sales and collected funds.
Currently, QCI President Gizachew meets with government officials and many other people to build schools, hospitals, and churches for the underprivileged. He has coordinated the gathering of signatures for this cause and has submitted countless thousands who express their support.
As Mike continues to promote quality, he continues to provide better quality for all.
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CHAPTER 2. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION.
Mike's quality work was outstanding and previously unappreciated (except in QCI/Quality Club), so he sought something better. From the time Mike gladly took a cut in pay for the opportunity to work in an advanced quality system for A Check Exact [A C. E. Metals Testing] in 1995, Mike worked to recreate highly technological quality areas, transforming them from nonsensical traditional cost areas into new profitability top quality fortes.
As seen in the above exerpts taken from the Defense Standardization Journal, p. 17, February 2001, Mike was on the right track years ahead of his time.
The Journal went on to declare government as being incongruous with quality with the exception of some recent high tech involvement, and it stated it is unrealistic to expect government or industry to achieve top quality without proper focus on reinvention of laboratories.
Mike saw the advantages of the initial design of A C. E. and what that had to offer for customers with regard to reinvention of it's laboratories with regard to and leadership for ISO 2000 (initial A C. E. design), ISO 9000 series (customers: 9001, 9002, medical...) and 14000 (for instance, Mike visited a multimillion dollar laboratory involved in tank quality control in Asheville, NC, (that serviced many states) that paid to work for A C. E. under the A C. E. Quality Assurance Program, but that company failed Mike's surprise audit). As the Journal admitted, it takes more than talk to provide quality.
Likewise, groups such as QS 9000, and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications see the need for improving not only their system, but also their system's system, their program. This is something ISO has only in recent times taken seriously (reference current ISO proposals). And as with Total Quality Management, the benefits are worth the effort, in terms of both quality and profitability.
Many quality standardization laboratories tie the hands of bright technicians to the extent of keeping them appearing busy in order for the supervisor to save face. But with A C. E. Metals Testing, Mike realized new freedom. Having completed the tasks at hand, A C. E. had no busy work, but did prompt personnel to achieve more, and so Mike quickly took initiatives seldom found among quality technicians.
Mike sought to provide customers with the lowest prices reasonably sustainable, to provide long range planning for their ongoing optimal quality operations.
At his own expense, Mike met with Scott gruBell, M.Acc., who taught accounting at colleges and universities throughout the country, and other officials responsible for quality for brainstorming sessions. Based on the overwhelming and impressive success of the new A C. E. design, the brainstorming sessions covered the comprehensive realm of quality relative to financial responsibility.
As discussed previously, government has traditionally been anti-quality. One minor example is that in the 1980s government moved to disallow education deductions as related to quality clubs. This had severe effects, hurting such organizations as Quality Club International (Mike cofounded QCI), American Society for Nondestructive Testing [national/international technician certification board] (Mike holds ASNTs highest certificates, Level III, in the most useful Methods), American Welding Society (Mike controlled quality/AWS), and so on.
The change in government with today's focus on grade school through college education can hardly be expected to compensate for that damage government has done in reversing the drive for better quality. The far reaching devastating effects have undermined US industry as a whole, throughout small businesses as well as the Fortune 500 companies.
In addition to government hurting quality organizational meetings, US businesses also were given an extra tax burden for helping employees applicable to training materials focused on quality. With US businesses penalized, this became an opportunity for foreign opportunists to take over.
While Mike would like to see all people prosper, he is not so inclined if it means the devastation of US industry. When government acts a certain way, industry tends to fall in line, that is, for example, as perhaps an ancilary effect, a government contractor worked for a utility company to build their first land based nuclear power plant at Perry, Ohio, starting in the 1970s. During construction Quality Control Inspectors found very many flaws to be recorded (normally the best way practical) but the Quality Control Inspectors were assembled in a meeting and strictly told not to make certain records, with emphasis on photography restrictions. A week later a large group from Japan toured the facility, taking pictures of anything they felt like.
Yet regardless of US interests, US government continues to make many quality and/or economic endeavors more beneficial for foreign businesses than for US businesses.
In the early days of the Defense Standardization Journal (Volume 1, Number 2, p. 3, Sept. 2000) their headline at the top of the page reads "Japanese space engineers like DSCC's quality program". The article explained how the US Defense discussed the US Qualified Manufacturers List, QML, with Japan, and now Japan handles circuitry for the US Military, and is forming it's own QML. Of course, Japan is known for buying in-house, excluding USA, and thusly exasperating US quality efforts and profitability in that area.
Mike brainstormed on key features of long range quality planning with fiscal responsibility and saw the importance of not only helping customers from proverbial ivory towers in the traditional sense, but also saw that concerted work for quality must include improving the quality of government.
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CHAPTER 3. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT.
Before the end of 1995, Mike said, "I'm making more money than I ever made in my life!", and he not only got more done faster and at lower cost (if any) for customers, it was of quality so much higher than his previous employers' that it was like comparing a 286 to a Pentium IV or an Athelon.
For instance, as Mike explained, at the last place Mike worked before joining A C. E., the laboratories where he worked were fined by government for dumping chemicals out their back door. They had to have a special team come excavate a large pit and then EPA had to make sure the remaining soil was tested and found to contain nonrestricted levels of contamination. The company then sold their business. We can be proud of that company's neighbor for blowing the whistle on that wreckless behavior which endangered the environment, wrecked havoc on their operations overhead, and severely damaged their reputation among government and others. {Editor's note: that company also had a history of governmental financial problems, and the government kept a wary eye on their IRS returns, auditing them often, according to their former president}.
It is virtually impossible for such dumping to happen at A C. E. Metals Testing, since the offices do not conduct those incongruent applicable activities by A C. E. Metals Testing Program design.
Another problem Mike's previous employer created for themself was their choice to wrecklessly use X-ray and gamma ray radiation for industrial radiography. Mike was required to perform radiography for that lab, even though those in charge knew of the illegal radiation leakage at the shielding door. Mike understood the problems and had to work extra carefully to protect himself and others. Few other people understand, including radiographers, how tremendously dangerous industrial radiography is.
For instance, radiographers have radiographed Americanium without knowing that that creates high energy neutron rays that move easily through otherwise protective shielding typically used by radiographers, such as metal and concrete.
As one radiography lab owner, Chuck Vigne of NIC said at various nuclear plant meetings in 1980, "Radiographers are crazy." He went on to say top experts don't understand how very many new dangers with it are being discovered constantly.
Accidents are commonplace among radiographic laboratories. At one laboratory, for example, a radiographer shot off part of his thumb after a manager thwarted a safety switch to speed productivity.
Where Mike Thomas worked, prior to A C. E. Metals Testing, the manager didn't know the difference between the X-ray tube and a metal pointer inside the X-ray room. So if a lathe operator asked for safety googles, the manager sometimes provided them; but if Mike asked for any radiography safety equipment, the manager couldn't necessarily fathom what Mike was talking about.
Radiographers typically complain about safety problems, with management often offering little concern.
Simply relegating to doing things as they were done in the past is not an option when quality improvement is sought.
There is an old saying that it is hard to concentrate on draining the swamp when you're up to your armpits in alligators. Likewise, it's hard to think of improving quality when safety is a haphazard.
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CHAPTER 4. TRAINING + EXPERIENCE DO NOT EQUAL QUALITY. P>Although Mike joined A C. E. with it's high political profile, he found far less destructive internal politicking (less back stabbing) so common among other laboratories. For example, it is normal for labs to have one Level III (highest ASNT and/or MIL-STD-410 level) and many Level IIs, and few if any Level Is or trainees. The reason is commonly known among them, although of course not in writing, that the Level IIs are not permitted to increase quality that way. That is because Level IIs quit when they become Level IIIs to get better jobs elsewhere. Also, if the new Level IIIs remain working for that same employer, the old Level III's job is jeopardized, since a replacement has become available.
But the opposite is true at A C. E., and Mike quickly became a Level III, and therefore quickly improved quality at a rate he had never previously been permitted. Also, Mike continues to be offered many incentives in terms of advancement, finances, and other quality related areas; and given the high quality of A C. E. flexibility in providing employee benefits, some offers Mike accepts, some he rejects.
It has been said many times before that allowing more technicians to become Level IIIs translates into higher quality and profitability for the company and it's customers.
Mike not only attended many A C. E. sponsored training classes on quality, but he also taught classes on quality, in-house, and among A C. E. customers. Mike worked hard to help customers learn more about quality improvements to help their businesses, and their personnel in a more personal way: by teaching quality improvement.
For instance, A C. E. sent him to Union, SC for a week to train people from many states. The formal classroom training was for Magnetic Particle Level III. Although some of the people had many years of experience with Magnetic Particle testing, and many hours of in-house training, it seemed they all had previously been taught wrongly and their experience puts a person in awe at the lack of quality that must have transpired.
Most of the students didn't have proper documentation to even begin the certification program; something they should have completely understood, especially since their bosses helped them prepare.
The first thing Mike did was to hand out leaflets covering the basic concepts of the Magnetic Particle Inpsection Method according to world renown ASNT, the typical industry standardizing body as recognized by government historically. Half the class failed that portion of the test as if they had never heard of those basics and as if hadn't even bothered to read the few pages.
Mike undoubtedly helped them, but regardless of Mike's work to provide them with formal classroom training, none qualified to be certified.
High tech quality requires high tech high pressure self motivated studying and work in addition to any provided by employers and schools. Reliable quality requires a consciencious effort, in reasoning and also in hands-on experience with others highly qualified.
And the tests are no simple matter.
The experience requirements likewise come as a big surprise to people anxious to take these industrial quality control standardized tests. Before taking any typical MIL-STD-410 or ASNT SNT-TC-1A test, the candidate must prove their qualification by experience documented (normally by employers) specifically involving hands-on work as a trainee or assistant to certified personnel in that Method (and supportive associated Methods may supplement such on the job required training).
In order to meet the minimum for experience requirements for any given popular Nondestructive Testing Method (with the exception of BT), and to only meet the minimum requirements of Level I (the least expertise Level, without authority to make accept/reject decisions) the candidate must have at least one month on the job training, but then only if they have "Completion with a passing grade of at least 2 years of engineering or science study in a university, college, or technical school." But this requirement does not include the more complex Nondestructive Testing Methods, such as Ultrasonic Method, which has a ten times greater formal classroom training requirement for Level II, for instance, than for Penetrant Method Level II.
When Mike started with A C. E. Metals Testing, in the first month he took 26 standardized technical tests on quality. He also took some non-standardized tests, such as the A C. E. ink blot test (such testing is very simple and amazingly effective in gaining extremely useful data, and is typically used in composing the psychological profile for admission to certain nuclear power plants and for certain classified projects){Editor's note: Screening for divorcees, for example, is conducted prior to admittance to certain nuclear power plants}.
Customers rely on Mike's expertise, which can often make (or break, theoretically) a business. And it can mean saving many lives. Mike has worked on auto parts, aerospace components, and nuclear submarine power generation cores.
But that's only part of the story. Customers rely on Mike's expertise to provide cutting edge technologies to keep them on the forefront of new and better ways to help people. New designs, prototypes, and working devices are essential to moving the economy. Mike goes beyond the stereotypical inspector parameters in his spare time, to provide real solutions, useful in many areas.
Mike Thomas has worked closely with people working with the White House: News: White House: click here for NewsWhiteHouse.com. Mike has used secret matters to reveal hidden problems of monumental proportions.
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CHAPTER 5. BEYOND STATE OF THE ART.
Mike directly and personally consults with A C. E. Metals Testing & Confidential Drug Testing customers, explaining to them the parameters of their new design plans with respect to given industrial quality control standards. Mike advises them as to which designs may be less likely to have flaws, and why.
For instance, Mike may say to a customer that their ideas and/or blueprints lack sufficient initial considerations, such as properly stating specifications. This is a widespread problem among new A C. E. Metals Testing customers.
For instance, in general operations, Mike has trained other company personnel, such as Gary Deeck (who did very well) [of PMI] at Reliance Electric/Rockwell in Liquid Dye Penetrant Testing Method on huge electric generator rotor cores, while simultaneously consulting with Reliance Electric/Rockwell as to placement of the cores for optimal inspection in their clean room. Mike demonstrated for Gary the actual PT quality control process, and then oversaw Gary as he then worked to achieve the same results; and Mike graded Gary and also submitted a report to Reliance Electric/Rockwell on the metals tested.
In a more highly technical situation involving not only material design, but also Nondestructive Testing Method technique design, applicable to an aerospace quality control prototype, Mike, representing A C. E. Metals Testing, explained to the aerospace manufacturer Kaiser Fluid Technologies Quality Assurance Manager Jamie Burke, and to Jamie's Quality Control Department, the abilities and limitations involved with testing certain components that other laboratories had failed to adequately gauge to Jamie's satisfaction.
Jamie was impressed by Mike's integrity and was happy to work with him.
Such were no isolated cases for Mike. Mike has had ongoing interest in state-of-the-art technology. Computerization, particularly computerized hardware, has been a mainstay with Mike.
His interest in advanced computer technologies have always shown through in his pursuit of knowledge in the quality quantification field. The yet untapped possibilities abounding in computer hardware and associated electronics [albeit electronics is outmoded terminology, the fresh lingo being writeable hardware] allowed Mike to consider the benefits that he could bring to the world through such mechanisms.
From the start, Mike vigorously studied computerization on his own and in formal training. But it wasn't just studying without function.
Mike applied his abilities as quickly as possible, often tinkering, for example, on microswitch circuitry for radioactive, safety, and access equipment.
When computers first became available to the general public, the public asked computer sales people what the computer could do. The typical enthusiastic, yet dullard, response was anything.
Of course if the buyer wanted the computer to wash their car or do the dishes, the sales people didn't sell hardware attachments or software to do such things (at all, let alone properly).
Yet Mike has always wanted to make the computers do such things as a minimum.
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CHAPTER 6. WRITEABLE HARDWARE.
Just getting a computer to work used to be a great challenge. But Mike taught A C. E. and others the fundamental principles of computer hardware, software, and pre-plug and play attributes. Mike showed revealed the truth, how the scanner, printer, and Internet interactions were about all the then current technology had to offer the average person.
Let it not go unsaid that computerized hardware technological advancements often seem to require a special person not only willing to work hard physically, but also able to endure mental and spiritual challenges.
It would seem that only by working through such spiritual challenges that mental emotion, logic, and drive coagulate to form an optimum pathway.
Bob Benchoff and Mike Thomas were working very late one night, and were the only people in the offices at Herron Laboratories' Charlotte branch. (Note: Mike and Bob offered suggestions there that were not heeded and eventually quit to work at A C. E.; and Herron Laboratories were sold and the Herron President also quit.)
With the project newrly complete, while waiting for the copying machine to finish it's task, the conversation turned to the quality of life and the Bible. Mike declared his distaste for death, even that of [an antagonist] being put to death. And Mike declared his distaste for teachings that would foster such distasteful actions.
Just then someone came in the front door at that surprizingly late hour, interrupting the conversation. So the conversation continued the next night.
Bob proffered the idea that, one of the blessings found with a deep understanding of the intent of the Bible was that death of [an antagonist] could be had simply by the [antagonist] having a change of heart.
Mike was not an antagonist, but when he heard that it seemed as though a great burden had been lifted off his back and he gained a new perspective and interest in the Bible and in helping others.
Mike used his newfound spirit to improve the spirits of others and the unity of purpose to achieve even more excellent ways.
Mike always had people skills. He's been a likeable person, and at home could be usually found with people around. Bringing people together for an excited and united cause was just his way.
He taught and also led by example. By writing improved hardware for his mind (in the normal sense as achievable practically by anyone) he was enabled to then provide writeable / permanent hardware for others.
To do this properly, he sought to make use of his own talents, and that of those provided to him by others. As he said June 26, 2001, "Software is easy, [hardware is the hard part]".
Once the software is perfected in form, it can be made substance. In other words, once the software is made inscrutable, and can not be improved in that form, that software can be made into hardware.
A C. E. considers itself fortunate to have a worker so deliberate in intent to achieve perfection.
Mike surrounds himself with people involved with computerization, such as Christine, a First Union computer hardware expert who was helping Mike understand and manage / repair the more complex areas of computer hardware. Mike appreciates such bonds of friendship.
Mike is very tolerant of others' liberties, but is not interested in smoking, drinking, over-eating, or other similar activities.
Mike likes to focus his energy on those things most useful for long range planning.
Computer hardware fits the ticket.
Bill Gates brought forth software through IBM, the hardware giant. Software made a huge difference and gained tremendous interest.
Yet Mike sees a resurgence of hardware value as being the wave of the future.
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CHAPTER 7. P.A.I.U.S.
Personally helping one person is one thing. Personally helping many people is another.
In order for any real measure of success to be resolved by a person working to improve quality, profitability, speed, and overall effectuality, many obstacles must be overcome in order to do it right the first time.
In Chinese the word for problem is the same word for opportunity.
In the Bible, "Eli, Eli, lama sabach-thani?" is interpreted as "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" by those in that language part of the world. Yet years later it was discovered that an indian tribe in Latin America had a clear understanding of the message in their own native tongue; which is interpreted in this book as being something like a lovingly concern for the people.
So as one person sees a problem, another sees a solution; and as one person sees distress (obstacles), another sees vestment of interest in continuing to benefit others.
Mike put up half the money to finance the building of PAIUS, a computerized hardware solution to an age old problem.
In lay terms, it's a little like using the computer to wash the car or do the dishes.
Constructed for aerospace and other industrial purposes, PAIUS looks at the cleanliness of materials, such as a special alloy stainless steel bar, perhaps an inch or two in diameter by 15 feet long. It doesn't look just at the surface of the bar, but also at the cleanliness of the interior of the bar by using Ultrasonically induced Ultrasonic waves or Ultrasound.
A PAIUS unit can find slag inside a bar, cracks, seams, and many other defects; and was made to quickly inspect one bar after another without interruption.
The unit is portable and easily fits in a small car, yet assembled is 30 feet long and can handle many tons per day.
Before PAIUS, what would take an Ultrasonic technician 8 hours to do, could be done by PAIUS in minutes. And with higher quality, since manual inspection is considered a sampling technique relative to automated inspection.
Although PAIUS does require extra time to prepare for transport, setup, and disassemble, it is ideal for projects that last several days or more, or if customers want to witness high quality automated results.
Nonetheless, even if PAIUS was slower than manual inspection, the higher quality is quite valuable, since we don't want a part to break in outer space, while driving a car, or in a mine or submarine.
The problem with Mike's or other people's good ideas is not that good ideas don't work, but that those who could benefit the greatest amount are often those who are least inclined to change to take advantage of new technological advancements. The old adage that "It's been done this way for years, so that's the way we'll continue to do it." is an ever present threat to education, achievement of fullest potential, and progress as a whole.
Recently, for instance, concerning a new FREE Program to financially benefit one of Mike's customers who always paid late and bickered over pennies, the customer said "[Name of company] is too big to get involved in that." Then in the next breath began bickering again over insignificant amounts. Of course, that bickerer didn't care about it since they admitted the prices were already very low, fair and reasonable; they were simply bickering to satisfy their boss.
Protecting the boss' cushy job is always something to be carefully considered. And while Mike works to be careful not to tread on toes, he continues to offer more to their benefit than they expected.
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CHAPTER 8. DESIGN.
It takes a lot of guts to start from scratch with an idea that in all likelyhood will be held subject to close scrutiny, not only currently, but also in many years to come. This is especially true of critical components of high tech systems that are not given to error as reputations go on the line.
Moreover, those in the line of work Mike Thomas has pursued have added encumberances that virtually make it impossible to offer any new design, since that could reduce perceived veracity among certain customers. Therefore, such designing must be accomodated properly by listing it as a technique, not a Method (something often wrongly stated by those having less pertinent expertise than Mike).
Mike routinely made new designs [techniques] for customers. He induced plasma fields, he constructed temporary apparatuses to measure light intensities, and he prepared new security features.
A good new design is normally valuable for current use, but is better if it also has great value in generations to come.
Aside from meetings, many drawings were made of the various possibilities for final design of PAIUS.
What if spring clips were used instead of fixed clips? Yes, spring clips would make assembled pieces tighter. What if adjustable clamps were used instead of preset fittings? No, that adds to the weight without adding significant functional value.
Among the concerns were motor size, torque, variable speeds, Ultrasonic / motor coordination, defect analysis, computer displays and printouts, and on and on.
Beyond A C. E., investors were sought, but only passing interest was noted, at best. Just the tax benefit alone provided a significant return.
Mike sifted through the drawings, adding to some, disgarding some, and finally agreeing to the optimum design.
The final drawings finally took shape in the form of tangible creation.
First a prototype was made, courtesy of one of Mike's customers, Economy Grinding & Straightening. Through A C. E., Mike got his Level II Ultrasonic start at Economy Grinding & Straightening when they worked closely with Castle Metals. Mike advanced quickly to Level III, the highest Level, and worked a great deal through A C. E. with Economy Grinding & Straightening for Avesta Sheffield Bar Company.
Mike Ultrasonically receipt inspected Avesta's material coming from Sweden, Canada, Britain, or other countries. He was highly regarded for his professionalism and expertise, and certainly served as part of the team in leading to the Avesta Polarit merger to become the second largest stainless steel company in the world.
Avesta was interested in PAIUS from the start, and the company Vice President, Dave Roose, visited Economy Grinding & Straightening, pointed to tons of steel and asked if PAIUS could handle the job. Yes.
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CHAPTER 9. TAKING SHAPE.
Mike's plans began taking shape in the form of cutting edge innovation, the likes of which had been discussed by Ultrasonic experts at countless laboratories for years. The dream was finally realized, and it took someone the caliber of Mike Thomas to get the job done.
If his former boss could see him now.... And what's amazing is that Mike offered so many great ideas like this to his former boss, but was refused consideration.
Mike tried not only to bring forth good material, but more importantly to bring forth the good in people. As Mike continues to bring together people for a good and unified purpose, we are invited to observe and partake in the fruits of his labor.
While he would surely claim his greatest gift is his daughter, we also see the gifts he produces from his complex reasoning talents.
The following is a slightly scrambled picture of a portion of the loading side of PAIUS. It is scrambled due to proprietary concerns.
While completely assembled loading side is very long (as is the unloading side), some batches of bars are of shorter lengths. For such batches, the entire PAIUS length needs not be assembled. This can be a critical factor for sites where available space is limited.
The above system loading station allows bars to be quickly and easily entered into and removed from the PAIUS unit. Simplicity is a key factor, and an excellent indicator of proper design.
Below is part of the unit, showing the important part designation system. This makes a huge difference in functional usefullness, yet it is so rare to find designers providing completely functional equipment in Mike's field of work.
Realistic foresight goes a long way. In the above case, the symbols serve to let the assembler quickly and easily know where each piece goes (due to proprietary reasons this is not shown here).
There is such a multitude of poor designs in Mike's line of work that it is simply incredulous. For instance, for decades inspectors have complained that the special 3,650 Angstrom lights thy use have screws so tiny that when they have to change a bulb, they have to use a special tiny screwdriver not readily available, and they often lose the screws due to the industrial laboratory settings. It would be so easy for the manufacturers to provide thumbscrews, clips, flashlight type connections, or other, but many don't. They would rather sell replacement parts. But somehow they don't seem to realize they lose customers to companies that care about customers.
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CHAPTER 10. RESPONSIBILITY.
It is more than building a better mousetrap that contributes to the character of a good person. Among the constituents are honor, loyalty, perserverence, bravery, integrity, motivation, hope, trust, faith, and love.
We are reminded of the many great people that went before us, victors in their fields. Braille, Fulton, Pasteur, and Wright, to name a few.
These are people who've dwelt among us. Beside us all the way. These are our coworkers, our families and friends.
These are the people that gain our trust, respect, and indebtedness; and especially that of our great grandchildren.
These are the people we can be.
Together we can achieve more than has ever been achieved before, and we can thereby set in motion the spiritual software that constitutes the making of a firm permanent foundation.
We can continue thinking of better solutions, with the bold ferocity it takes to see them through.
Hats off to you Mike. And in the words of Derrick Freeman, "Have a blessed day."
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CHAPTER 11. SUMMER 2001 RESUME.
Michael E. Thomas
Charlotte, NC
A C. E. Office 704-588-5462
Home 704-587-9653
Cell 704-724-8537
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BACKGROUND SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES
Computer expert, speed reader, and consultant for Fortune 500 companies and for specialists interacting with the White House. Quality Assurance and Control background for some of the world's most advanced and secure endeavors.
Interested in applying overhead reduction, augmented processing speed,
improved quality, and increased profitability background to projected rebirth of
hardware focused computerization.
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EDUCATION
ADVANCED STUDIES:
Focus on computer studies with area of specific interest in hardware. Software designer. User of state-of-the-art specialized computerized instrumentation through EMTMAX.
Top National Certifications Holder per ASNT and per MIL-STD-410 in Ultrasonic, Magnetic Particle, Visual, and Penetrant; with supportive certifications.
Advanced Computer Sciences Studies at Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ.
Received special one year Technology Certificate from Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ.
Continuing education per ASNT, MIL, and others.
DEGREES:
AS Degree 1980
Middlesex County College
Edison, NJ.
Chemistry Degree 1974
Pembroke State University
Pembroke, NC
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teach advanced studies and technologies to students from various states per ASNT and MIL-STD-410. Teaching and examinations toward issuing students Levels I, II, and III Certifications in state-of-the-art technologies ranging from nuclear submarine to aerospace.
Formal Classroom Training included comprehensive Basic Training on law, fiscal responsibilities, administration, materials, methodologies, qualifying personnel per math and science education status, qualifying personnel per applicable experience, certification processing, and criteria for issuance of credits / accreditation.
On the job training included demonstrating in actual practice the testing of enormous electrical power generation rotor cores, such as used on nuclear submarines and classified projects.
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PUBLIC JURISDICTION
Served as a Judge in North Carolina, presiding over federal, state, and local matters. Handled matters concerning multi-millions of dollars, including government management, business concerns, municipal bonds, and personal rights. Met with other Judges for coordinating effort / law, and as relating to church. Voluntarily provided free security communication equipment. Helped coordinate the preparation of facilities and grounds for secure assemblies of the general public, including providing media surveilance and their access permission and limitation areas, and protected individual secure areas. Controlled and operated high tech security systems. Oversaw various aides and helpers. Processed thousands of peoples' individual matters, including personal identification verification, assignments, control and updating of their records, and secure compilation of documentation. Courier agent of secret information.
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EVALUATION
SAT National Evaluator. As a speed-reader, evaluated the learning abilities of a very large volume of high school students from many states. Provided standardized aptitude results based on submitted prose.
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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Quality Assurance Manager, A C. E. Metals Testing & Confidential Drug Testing. Computerized the Quality Program and Revised the Quality Assurance Manual. Conducted internal and external Audits. Controlled projects from nuclear submarine to aerospace. Consulted for Griffin Gear (world's biggest telescope). Helped provide emergency disaster relief (helping to provide Mack trucks) for hurricane victims / FEMA / subcontractor by personally controlling processing. Quality Assurance and Quality Control of materials in a joint venture with Sweden, Britain, Canada, and United States for the world's second largest producer of stainless steel bars, including state-of-the-art. Consulted for Kaiser Fluid Technologies on state-of-the-art aerospace quality control. Created state-of-the-art techniques for testing an England / US prototype nuclear powerplant design for Chicago Tube & Iron. Provided financial specifications to a contractor relative to construction of a skyscraper in Charlotte, NC. Provided quality control services for Teledyne. Provided nuclear and other quality control services for Rockwell, including high tech plasma field inspection of state-of-the-art prototype lifting devices.
Had brainstorming sessions authors of multi-billion dollar accountability legislation who received commendations from the White House.
Designed and tested medical software; with four year involvement in Computer Analysis. Computer Operations. Cobol Programming.
President of EMTMAX, a high tech laboratories related business. Owner of high tech instrumentation used by Fortune 500 companies.
President of Metrolina, specially licensed computerized hardware device ownership. Each device weighed hundreds of pounds and served many people. In keeping current, closed business to pursue more advanced areas, and donated equipment to Quality Club International for distribution to hospitals to benefit children.
Served as a Judge in North Carolina, presiding over matters ranging through all levels of government.
SAT National Evaluator. Standardization / contributed to the rating of high school students' aptitudes.
Co-designer and co-producer of P.A.I.U.S., state-of-the-art industrial quality control processing system valued at $75,000 per unit.
Eleven years involvement with industrial quality control, including X-ray (ASNT and Middlesex County College Certificates), Ultrasonic, Magnetic Particle, and other Nondestructive Methods; and chemistry, destructive testing, and metallurgy.
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EXPERIENCE: Advancing
Quality Assurance Manager
A C. E. Metals Testing & Confidential Drug Testing
10037 Orchard Grass Court, Charlotte, NC 28278.
Interface with Fortune 500 companies. Cutting edge computerized Audits. Solely responsible for assuring quality, including on projects from nuclear submarines to aerospace, highly technological advancements, classified areas, personnel certifications, specification approvals, departmental approvals, administration approval, standardization approvals, and education approvals. Prepare and maintain documentation, including procedures, DEA/medical related documentation, OSHA documentation, and international standards. (4/95-present)
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EXPERIENCE: Supportive
Quality Control Technician, Radiographer, Chemist.
H/S Laboratories.
Westinghouse Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28241.
Performed Nondestructive and Destructive Tests on materials.
(12/90-5/95)
Operator
Steelfab
Old Dowd Road, Charlotte, NC 28214
(2/89-12/90)
Operator
Label Services
N Graham Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
(6/87-7/89)
Operator
Laird Industries
Cessna Lane, Charlotte, NC 28208
(12/84-6/87)
Systems Analyst, Cobol Programmer
Burroughs Corp.
Rexford Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
<8/79-12/84)
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VOLUNTEER WORK
Cofounded Quality Club, to promote quality from personal quality of life, to high tech industrial standardization quality improvements. Membership quickly grew to 50, and the Club became Quality Club International. Provided equipment for hospitalized children, reference materials on industrial quality, and quality of life. Sponsored race car. Created an ecology project. Provided gifts to children living in trailers. Gave special recognition awards to community leaders involved in quality, such as to South Carolina Representative Becky Meacham, and to Hornets Player Larry Johnson.
Provided free services and equipment for church and governmental entities, such as communications equipment, setting-up high tech high security electronic devices, tables, chairs, street signs, and barriers periodically.
Provided free services and equipment for industrial entities, such as electrical equipment, chemical application equipment, demonstrations, and consulting.
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