At least I wasn’t fired

[fbhjr]

I’m told, by my boss whom I respect, that I should not call the factory
manager a “fucking moron” while on the factory floor in front of his
people.*
To be fair to me, I felt provoked.
We were in the middle of our quarterly UL inspection. The inspection to
prove to our customers that the product we make is safe for them to use.
The inspector found that the labels that show their mark had been made
wrong and the UL cut off. Apparently at some point the factory moved the
label printer and never made sure it was set up right. So, instead of
showing the mark that proves we’re safe, it showed just our part number.
Any building inspector could look at it and say “without proof of safety,
you’re not allowed to use that in this building”.
So, we asked the factory manage why the labels were wrong.
“No one told us they had to be right,” he said. “You didn’t give us any
thing to measure it against.”
“Having ¼ is obvious,” I said. “They words and graphics are cut off. All
you had to do was look at one before and after you moved it to see the
difference.”
“I have a thousand different things to deal with,” he said. “I can’t take
the time to fix this.”
And, of course, he said this right in front of the UL inspector who was
saying “Doesn’t anyone care you’re making parts wrong?”
So, I told him he couldn’t walk off without some plan for fixing it. He
told me again he “didn’t have the time”.
So, I lost my temper.
The bad news is, he’s really mad at me.
The good news is, the UL inspector thanked me for being someone who cares
things are done right.
The extra bad news is the factory manager’s boss sent out an email saying
“we shouldn’t have to follow these rules just because the safety inspector
says we do.”
I think he’s moronic too.
They did fix the labels. But, for a week at least we’ve been shipping it
wrong. Hopefully that won’t cause a problem.

*To quibble and say I said “You’re being fucking moronic” isn’t worth it.

Comments

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

*blink* *blink* why wasn't the factory manager and his equally libel boss not fired?

[64tbird.livejournal.com]

That's what I was wondering.

Maybe they are waiting to see home many things come back rejected to assess the $$$ damage.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

and...what the fuck?

that's one the same level of arrogant stupid as the OSHA Inspector surprise visit "that's not me" story.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Sadly no.
They're just both friends with the CEO and he's not going to do anything.
As long as the shipments go out the door and the bottom line looks good, he won't care.

If a customer complains, it might get noticed. More than likely the guy on the production floor who hardly speaks English will pay the price. Not his boss, his boss's boss, the quality group that didn't notice for more than a week, etc.

As my boss pointed out to me, it isn't my job to stop the stupidity.
I was only supposed to escort the inspector, not change the factory.

"You realize it is because I care about the company and the product we make?" I asked him.
"Yeah," he said. "That and your temper will get you in trouble."

I like my boss. And, he's right about a lot.
He's 5 years younger than me, and has been my boss for that many years.
So, he's doing something right.
Something I won't do.

[evrgreen.livejournal.com]

Man, your company is very lucky, AND you got an incredibly easy-going UL inspector. Technically, he could write up a report and impose a fine on the company for each item that is not properly labeled. Will he do it, probably not. It does demonstrate how much quality effort is put into assembling the product, no matter how much quality time you put into designing it. Rest assured that the next UL inspection will be less "cursory" and may likely impose a production stoppage if they find a reason to. I've certainly had to help a previous business through that mess.

Still, one has to be more politically correct when dealing with ignorant people in a more 'public' setting, particularly if you do aspire to rise in the ranks. From all the stories I've heard about this company, I would be looking for alternate employers, even in this economy, if I were in your position. I can accept that others may not have the same morals, priorities, or work ethics as I have, but if they are sufficiently out of synch then I will just find another place to fit in better, rather than trying to "push a rope" and make them change against their own nature or will.

At least the weekend is here ! Go out and eat a couple marshmallow peeps and try to relax before the office insanity resumes next week.

Astrologically speaking, we are beginning a new year now - want to get it started out on the right foot, if possible.

[yebo.livejournal.com]

The only thing more common than Hydrogen is stupidity....