DATE: July 2005

TO: Friends of Ramsay Corporation

FROM: Tom Ramsay
 

NEW PRODUCTS:

  • Our Multi-Craft Trainee Test won the Gold Award in PLANT ENGINEERING’S Product-of-the-Year Awards competition. Ramsay Corporation’s winner is a 60-item mechanical and electrical skills assessment aimed at persons with at least a year of training or experience who, with a year of training and experience, can reach journey-level performance.
     

  • T. Clifton Melcher, Manager of Engineering Services at Dietrich Design Group, asked us to develop and validate a test for Drafter, CAD Operator. The 30-question paper-and-pencil test includes sections on Print Reading and CAD. A version of this test is available to users of Ramsay Corporation tests. Please call our office for details.
     

  • We have begun distribution of Employee Reliability Index (ERI), which is a measure of reliability, following rules, safety and attendance authored by Dr. Jerry Borofsky. With a sample of many thousands, and using the 80% rule, the test has no adverse impact on race, gender, or age. It takes about 20 minutes and the computer printout suggests areas to explore in a pre-employment interview.
     

  • Our C, B, & A Mechanical Technician Tests have been printed in a self-scoring format and are available at $19.00 each. The three separate 60-item tests are progressively more difficult and may be used in pay-for-knowledge programs. Alternate equivalent forms are available for retesting.

PARTNERSHIPS:

  • In cooperation with Gary Stewart, Director – Performance Improvement & Training, at General Physics, Ramsay Corporation began a series of measures (Basic Electricity and Hydraulics) for Randy Stacks, Manager – Sort Systems Maintenance, at FedEx Express in Memphis, TN. The assessment tests and accompanying training projects are expected to lead to a skills-based system of development for Sort Systems Maintenance employees.

TECHNICAL TESTS:

  • James Conn, Senior Human Resources Development Director at Allegheny Ludlum Corporation, requested development and validation of a knowledge and skills assessment for Systems Repair. Job experts from several locations worked together to devise a generic measure to be used corporate-wide.
     

  • We were asked by Ed Flick, Human Resources Manager at Levi Strauss to conduct a validation study for the job of Mechanic for their plant in Hebron, KY.
     

  • Karis Dorfman, Manager, Staffing and Hourly Compensation Systems at Alcoa Corporate Center in Pittsburgh, PA, retained us to validate tests originally made for a single plant location for use corporate-wide for Maintenance Mechanics and Electricians. Job experts from several plant locations were convened to review and edit the tests and participated in an Angoff procedure to develop cutting scores.
     

  • Dr. Liz Bronneberg, Director, Training at Coca Cola North America utilized our services in development of tests for corporate use for selection of Maintenance Technicians I and II.
     

  • Due to the reduction in pay grades from more than 30 to 5, Thomas Wood, Vice President, Labor Relations at International Steel Group, Inc. at Richfield, OH, contracted us to make corporate-wide tests for Maintenance Technician – Mechanical and Maintenance Technician – Electrical. The tests are in use by various former Bethlehem Steel, Acme Steel, and Weirton Steel facilities.
     

  • Mike Beeler, Corporate Coordinator of Training Development at U.S. Steel Corporation, Gary, IN, selected us to develop tests for Maintenance Technician – Mechanical and Maintenance Technician – Electrical at all U.S. Steel facilities including former National Steel and Great Lakes Steel plants.

PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS TESTS

  • At Tone Brothers, Inc., Ankeny, IA, William Nelson, Labor Relations Manager, engaged us to conduct a validation study for a test used for training and assessment of Line Operators. An item analysis was conducted on the precursor test with the results being used to develop and set cutting scores for the successor measure.
     

  • Lee Szanto, Staff Supervisor – Labor Relations and Training, hired us to develop a set of assessments for production employees receiving training as Heaters in the Ovens Department at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works in Clairton, PA. We also made a basic skills battery for individuals bidding into the Heating line of progression.
     

  • At Kellogg’s Snacks Bakery in Cincinnati, OH, Ramsay Corporation was employed by Jamie Chorley, Employee Relations Manager, to develop a battery of pre-employment tests for Production Worker. More than 230 persons were assessed in Bake Shop; Packaging; and Receiving, Shipping & Sanitation areas.
     

  • For Kathy Rayman, Human Resource Site Manager at Lexmark International in Longmont, CO, we evaluated results of an 8 year-old assessment for employment of production workers and suggested updates for the entry-level assessment.
     

  • Projects were completed for Sun Coke Company’s Danny Adkins, Human Resources Manager, at Haverhill North Coke Co. in Franklin Furnace, OH, and Mike Mako, Vice President – Human Resources, at Indiana Harbor Coke Company in East Chicago, IN. The tests for Product Technician measured cognitive skills as well as employee reliability. We also reviewed and updated job knowledge tests for Mechanic Welder and Motor Inspector Expanded.