The author of this blog post believes 3M is one of the more innovative companies around today, and their decision to emove clocks from a main building, and bill it as a cost-savings measure, was not as well thought through as one might have expected, in our humble opinion.

There is no doubt that as clocks are showing up in more and more places – from smartphones to desktop computer and beyond – and that therefore do they not need to reference Street Clocks and Tower Clocks, but they reasonably might consider having fewer wall clocks in their Minnesota-based company.  3M took the position that the wall clocks could and should be gone altogether, and trotted out some rather specific mathematics to justify their decision.  3M’s Maplewood Minnesota Headquarters had about 1,000 wall clocks on its 400 acre campus.  Only a few were left in their fitness centers and labs.

The stated rationale was that simply eliminating the clocks saved in 2 ways:

1.  There would no longer be the need for 3M to staff a crew of nearly two dozen people, two weekends a year, to reset clocks and replace batteries during 12-hour shifts.
2.  It also saves roughly $35,000 a year in the cost of batteries.

Using a likely conservative estimate of $25 for an hourly rate, the cost might break down as follow:

1.  On the labor cost, assuming an 8 day work day, the hours quoted to change the time and batteries were 24 people for 4 days (2 weekends), which translates into about 100 work days, and with the $25 assumed (weekend) average company labor cost, comes to a cost of about $2,500 per year.

What is totally missing from 3Ms analysis is that there are alternative clocks readily available that themselves — by themselves and for themselves — adjust time twice a year for Daylight Savings Time.  The best example are what as known as Atomic Clocks and these same clocks sometimes also referred to as Radio Controlled Clocks.  They are not especially expensive, and unless basic quartz clocks, which generally keep good time, Atomic Clocks are accurate generally to AT LEAST 1/10,000th’s of a second.

Here is an example of a Howard Miller Accuwave Wall Clock

Atomic Clocks are the most accurate clocks, and self-adjust for Daylight Savings Time changes

Here are this clocks specs:

Item #:  625-205 (020867252053)

Manufacturer: Howard Miller

The ultimate in accuracy. This Howard Miller Accuwave DS™ wall clock automatically sets itself, and adjusts for Daylight Savings Time.

Features an easy-to-read white dial with black Arabic numerals, black case, and glass crystal.

This clock receives a radio signal from the cesium atomic clock, the most accurate clock in the world.

Radio controlled clocks display Continental US Time Zones only.

PLEASE NOTE: Radio signal interference may occur near electrical items or within some structures.

Radio controlled, battery operated movement, automatically adjusts for Daylight Saving Time, and requires one AA sized battery (not included).

Details

Height: 12.25 inches

Width: 12.25 inches

Depth: 1.75 inches

We wish we had spoken with you long ago.  We could have helped your amazing Company to be even more efficient.

Additionally, not only will we give you a better sale price, or volume discount, on 1,000 new replacement Atomic Clocks, we will even leave a PostIt on your desk to remind you to call us to place the order at 1-800-4CLOCKS!