[Keith Seymore]

Attrition was high.

I had 29 production operations and had an additional 6 or 7 utility men on the rolls just to cover absenteeism. Most days the line would start at 6 am and there wouldn't be enough people to cover every job. We would double up, or maybe even me as a salaried supervisor would do a vehicle or two just to get started. I never shut the line down, because I knew it would move about one spot and somebody else would shut it down.

Deer season was especially bad. Those of that remained behind would work double shifts to keep the line moving.

As far as clowning around, the answer is probably both. The environment was ripe for horseplay and practical jokes, perhaps because of the young age and testosterone of the workers but also to break the monotony. We had these giant elastic bands to hold the steering column/ rag joint out of the way at body drop and the guys would shoot them across the main aisle at each other. God forbid a FEMALE should walk out on the shop floor; you'd think these guys hadn't seen a woman in years, and you could track her location just based on the whoops and hollers.

ANY THING to make the time go faster.

K