Ron Johnson gave up sea life to work in the rubber factory at Bata's in August 1935. He learnt lasting on a training department and was then transferred to Department 321.
It was not long before he became lasting instructor and early in 1937 became foreman of the same department. During the time that he was in charge of Department 321, they won the factory championship shield for good changeover from summer to winter production, and later won first prize in the "fight against B-pairs" competition.
In 1938, he was made foreman of the newly-formed sample department, which position he holds today. Now his department makes all the new styles of rubber boots and shoes, experimenting with materials and operations before the latest types are put into production in the factory.