Opinion

Thorns & Roses: GE beats the world

By Bill Moss, Published: June 3, 2012

Rose — To the managers, sales team and workers at GE's East Flat Rock plant, who have made the factory competitive in the world market with efficiency, speed and attention to detail.

As we report in an exclusive story in this week's issue, the plant has made a remarkable turnaround from a low point for years ago. Two high-ranking officials from GE lighting headquarters in Cleveland joined plant manager Paul Morse last week in talking about the plant's progress and the "wins," as they like to call them, that the company has achieved selling the new LED streetlights. Managers, engineers and workers on the factory floor have collaborated to relook at processes for maximum speed and quality, cutting the time from order to shipping from 20 days to six days and getting orders out the door on time more than 95 percent of the time. One of Henderson County's remaining legacy industrial plants, GE-East Flat Rock has shown that American know-how can still win in a competitive global market. Given that less than 1 percent of old-technology streetlights across America have been converted to the money- and energy-saving LEDs, the future of GE lighting is very bright indeed.

Thorn — To carelessness and recklessness that unnecessarily endangers the lives of young people and sometimes not so young visitors to our area. The unofficial kickoff of our summer tourism season brings the threat of waterfall accidents and other avoidable calamities. Whether preparing wisely when hiking and camping, avoiding dangerous conditions on the water or using common sense around our waterfalls, we all ought to be vigilant and sensible. Big searches in the woods, waterfall rescues and lake search-and-rescue operations too often end tragically. They also cost our local fire and rescue departments time and money and pull volunteer firefighters from their workplace or their families. Enjoy our outdoors but please be smart.

Rose —To the first Mad Mountain Mud Run, a fundraiser for Hands On: A Children's Gallery. Hands On director Heather Boeke says the Mud Run has attracted many local sponsors and supporters willing to contribute money, supplies or labor. Crews this week will turn Berkeley Park into a muddy race course for more than 750 runners. The event, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, features music, food and beer. Non-runners are invited too.