karl k
06-26-2005, 09:34 AM
After 17yrs at my future "former"employer, I finally decided to take the leap and try someone new. It was the hardest decision I've had to make but I still feel it was necissary. I started that job with the goal of learning new stuff about manufacturing in an effort to go somewhere else to make the "megabucks" but the pay got better and advancement potential was looking good so I decided to stay for awhile and try to make the place and the product better. I am an analyst by nature and am always looking for ways to increase efficiency of both the product and manufacturing process. I just can't stand to set back and watch someone kill themselves when there is an easier way. At the same time, I think it's wrong to build "planned obsolesence" or an inferior product. Unfortunately, some don't agree that change is a good thing or that change can/should come from the bottom of the ladder and there was my dilemma. Even when someone wants change, without formal certification or college background, it seems you aren't taken seriously when making suggestions. You would think that 17yrs would be enough to convince others that you know a little something about what you speak... I guess not. Engineers have this thing about having to know it all, owners have too many headaches already, and plant managers and foremans want nothing more than a worker(not a thinker)... as if your not suppose to have good ideas. Everybody, everywhere is protecting their own turf! I've been told SOOOO many times "you're not an engineer" or "you can't do it all"... AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!
I told them it would catch up with them someday, the idea that shipping something out the door that wasn't right would cost them, that continueous product developement was required to survive, that standard product lines must be maintained when doing custom, one time pieces. You can only say "I told you so" a number of times before noboby listens anymore, and it now appears that day has come.
All I wanted to do was help make the place more money, work less, and make everybody feel good about what they do. I guess that was asking too much.
I just got notice 2wks ago that the whole plant was going to 3 day work weeks and unemployment was going to be made available for the other 2 days. I was told that it would be for about 4wks until we closed on some sales(we've been told about these sales for atleast 6mths now). A far cry from the 10hr days and Saturdays of a couple yrs ago. We've had 2 management consultant firms come in to help out... the first we quit half way through because "we know more about it that they do" and the other is still there (at the request of the companies bank BTW) but isn't having much luck. Ironically, management has always blamed their problems on the labor and the consultants are maintaining that the labor is some of the best out there! Go figure! hahaha :p Our working capital comes from the bank in the form of loans, most of our vendors won't do busines with us until we pay ALL our bill with them, and last week we were overdrawn on our business account. Not looking good at all!
So after 2wks of doaling out resumes and conducting a couple interviews with the president of one company, I think I have a potential winner! :D Another small company, family built and apparently looking for change. They matched my current pay and suggested that if it worked out, it would be worth much more down the road. Of course, I'm a little apprehensive about what's been promised as far as description of the duties envolved but at least I feel better about the short term finances. The postition is/would be an extention of my current management/crew leaders experience and should payoff even if things don't work out long term. I'll get to experience building new things and ways of handling people as well as introduce change to increase efficiency of productivity. Right up my alley!
I've got to admit, I really like talking/negotiating with the "president" of a company for a job. You get a better feel for the actual goal of the company(instead of the politics) and it's nice to know that if you have a problem, you can't do any better than the person that hired you!!! I walked away with a VERY good feeling about this!
Now I've got to go in(on my day off) and break the bad news to my employer. It's going to be soooo hard! I won't burn any bridges just incase but how do you tell someone that has told you that you have a job till the day the doors close you no longer have confidence in their ability to keep those doors open? :confused: It will be interesting to say the least.
If you have some simular experiences, by all means post them and how it worked out!
Enough babble... going to enjoy the day!
I told them it would catch up with them someday, the idea that shipping something out the door that wasn't right would cost them, that continueous product developement was required to survive, that standard product lines must be maintained when doing custom, one time pieces. You can only say "I told you so" a number of times before noboby listens anymore, and it now appears that day has come.
All I wanted to do was help make the place more money, work less, and make everybody feel good about what they do. I guess that was asking too much.
I just got notice 2wks ago that the whole plant was going to 3 day work weeks and unemployment was going to be made available for the other 2 days. I was told that it would be for about 4wks until we closed on some sales(we've been told about these sales for atleast 6mths now). A far cry from the 10hr days and Saturdays of a couple yrs ago. We've had 2 management consultant firms come in to help out... the first we quit half way through because "we know more about it that they do" and the other is still there (at the request of the companies bank BTW) but isn't having much luck. Ironically, management has always blamed their problems on the labor and the consultants are maintaining that the labor is some of the best out there! Go figure! hahaha :p Our working capital comes from the bank in the form of loans, most of our vendors won't do busines with us until we pay ALL our bill with them, and last week we were overdrawn on our business account. Not looking good at all!
So after 2wks of doaling out resumes and conducting a couple interviews with the president of one company, I think I have a potential winner! :D Another small company, family built and apparently looking for change. They matched my current pay and suggested that if it worked out, it would be worth much more down the road. Of course, I'm a little apprehensive about what's been promised as far as description of the duties envolved but at least I feel better about the short term finances. The postition is/would be an extention of my current management/crew leaders experience and should payoff even if things don't work out long term. I'll get to experience building new things and ways of handling people as well as introduce change to increase efficiency of productivity. Right up my alley!
I've got to admit, I really like talking/negotiating with the "president" of a company for a job. You get a better feel for the actual goal of the company(instead of the politics) and it's nice to know that if you have a problem, you can't do any better than the person that hired you!!! I walked away with a VERY good feeling about this!
Now I've got to go in(on my day off) and break the bad news to my employer. It's going to be soooo hard! I won't burn any bridges just incase but how do you tell someone that has told you that you have a job till the day the doors close you no longer have confidence in their ability to keep those doors open? :confused: It will be interesting to say the least.
If you have some simular experiences, by all means post them and how it worked out!
Enough babble... going to enjoy the day!