Robot Announcer Keeps Factory Abreast of the News.--A robot "announcer," on duty 24 hours a day, is keeping management employes of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., right up to the minute on company news. By dialing a special number on their in-plant telephones supervisory employes can listen in while a continuous tape reels off the latest developments.
Designed to keep supervisors at all levels abreast of policy matters, labor relation matters, new orders secured, production loads, backlogs, outstanding services rendered customers, quality of Westinghouse products and its effect on increasing sales, the robot announcer is saving considerable time for plant executives, T. I. Phillips, Westinghouse vice president, reported. "It now is possible to pass on a greater volume of information without any individual having to repeat the same story over and over. It's accurate too because the robot never forgets a fact or a phase."
The system works as follows: A script is prepared on the subject to be discussed, then recorded on a standard tape recorder and later transferred to a circular metallic tape which runs continuously. A system of electrical circuits amplify the message and channel it into the plant's telephone system where 30 calls can be handled at the same time--more than that get a busy signal.
The average message runs from 3 to 5 minutes in duration and new recordings are made two or three times a week. At the end of the "broadcast" an announcement is made on the time a new message may be expected. Because it takes less than half an hour to make a recording, important news can be covered quickl~z.