Ingersoll Rand Distributor Tour

Ingersoll Rand-Athens manufactures power and pneumatic hand tools for the consumer and commercial markets for automotive and heavy industrial uses.  The site is approx 400,000 square feet and has been in operation since 1905.

Ingersoll Rand invited 90 Distributors from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to the Athens PA Operation for meetings and a tour of the plant.  The group arrived on buses on Thursday afternoon at 1 PM for an opening meeting.  We arrived at 11 am to set up all the PlantTours equipment for the 1:30 tour.

They ordered receivers and headphones for 8 groups of 11 distributors in each tour.  We pre-programmed and labeled the groups A-H.  One guide led each group through 21 stops on the tour of the plant.  At most stops, one-two presenters were stationed with visual aids, posters, samples, etc. to present the technical information regarding that product, process stage and give a description of any updates with products and manufacturing  methods.  The president of this Ingersoll Rand division was also present with staff from their corporate offices.

PlantTours handled the tour guide equipment logistics for the plant staff and groups and set up all the equipment in the auditorium.  We separated it by group (A-H) for quick and easy distribution.  Ingersoll Rand chose the Moderate Noise/Behind-Head headphones for light noise reduction for each guest;  some areas of the shop are somewhat noisy.  After their opening comments by the Plant Manager ended at 1:15 and each participant was equipped with safety shoes and glasses they were issued the receiver and headphone and were gathered by group by each assigned guide. It took about 15 minutes to issue all the radios and headphones to the distributors.

Each guide did a quick sound check and each group was assigned a tour route that began on a Shotgun Start, so they rotated every 5 minutes.

Ingersoll Rand used this tour to update their distributors on product enhancements and new time-saving processes and changes.  They used Hand-Held microphones so each guide could pass the Mic to the Presenter at each station for their portion of the tour.

All tours were completed by 3:45pm.  No service or assistance was needed.

A wrap-up summary meeting closed the event at the plant.