"I Work For A Lunatic" Topic

Thirty minutes before a safety meeting, the plant manager walks directly under moving conveyer belts to clean built-up debris.

During the safety meeting, he says he's always safe because he wants to go home to his family at night.

Sounds more like there's trouble in paradise and he'd rather be anywhere else, including the hospital or graveyard.

Friday, a production meeting.

Two issues: Four percent overruns and waste.

"I know I'm the plant manager and I authorized the sending of the material to the customer, but you've all been here long enough to know what should and shouldn't be sent."

What does this mean? &7.00-an-hour employees are supposed to try to stop the <plant manager>, who gets paid the big bucks to make these decisions, from making an ass of himself?

Waste solution:

When running material during set-up, if the first part doesn't meet specs, run the same one again and again until it does, rather than use up four or five pieces.

Right. So if the part isn't centered properly and too much material is removed from one side, you'll get a correct measurement with a part already cut wrong.

We're going to give a bonus to the operators for reducing waste.
Great. No trickle-down effect for all the employees.
Nice move, trying to pit the employees against each other.

Where do these guys come from?

JW

"Where do these guys come from?"

Anywhere but "the ranks" is usually a bad idea. I know if someone put a measure on the ballot calling for sociopathy screening for all M.BA holders, I'd vote for it.

JW, the translation is "I screwed up, but I'm going to blame you guys." The fact of the matter is, even if you have someone in charge who might not have the on the floor know-how, if he can show he gives a darn about his people and if he takes the time to talk to his people, he might just hear something to the effect of "Sir, are you sure you want to do that? My experience is…". And if he's wise, he'll take the hint.

Anywhere but "the ranks" is usually a bad idea

Nope, not necessarily true. But if not, then the number one rule for such a supervisor is as I've written above.

I think there are too many smart kids who think that having a university degree automatically makes them manager material. I'll never forget a business trip where I met this one young woman who hadn't even finished her bachelors and was going on about how "she wanted to get into management". As I was a guest, I didn't remark that unless she was getting intense leadership training while at university (unlikely unless one is attending Westpoint or a military college) she wasn't going to be truly "ready for management" until about ten years after gradating…. maybe.
--
Tim

Two things I heard that I truly believe. In a management class:
"Businesses dumb down because managers never hire anyone smarter than they are".

From a top level manager:

"We don't like to promote the good workers. We need them on the floor".

Pretty much says it all.

As someone who spent years 'in the ranks' before being
appointed to management, I can see both sides of the
discussion – BUT, anointing as managers folks with
degrees or graduate degrees right out of school is
*not* the best way to run a business.

Too many think that a manager's job is process/cost/etc.
control. It *AIN'T* !!!

As a manager, the people with whom you work (not 'who
work for you', because they work for the organization !)
and their efforts are the *sole* influence you have over
the processes, etc, for which you have responsibility.

Trust, both ways, is essential to that relationship, and
that means communicating – always, every day, all the
time, in every way. You have to let the folks know when
times are good, and have to let them know when times
ain't so good. But you DON'T dodge responsibility for
the failure of a direction you gave, and you ALWAYS
support those people upon whom you rely to get the
job done – even if they've erred.

I used to subscribe to the idea that there were no bad
employees, only bad managers. Well, I came to know one
or two (out of hundreds, over 36 years in management)
who were 'bad' employees.

But the typical person who works for another wants fair,
just, and honest treatment and communication. And
DESERVES those things.

"Businesses dumb down because managers never hire anyone smarter than they are".

I know that that is true in some cases. But I've never found it wise or practical. I've always tried to hire people who are smarter than I am and then train them in domain knowledge. It makes my life easier, day-to-day, and it allows me to explore things that I didn't have time for before.

"We don't like to promote the good workers. We need them on the floor".

The Army trained me right on that one. I saw too many good people leave because their boss thought they were so indispensible that they couldn't take time off, go to training, get promoted, etc. Yet, in real life, every time I've promoted someone or moved them on to a better position (even outside my organization), things have gotten better overall (even though my group may have taken a hit over the loss).

In my book, it's all about taking care of the people; take care of them and they'll get the mission accomplished for you. That doesn't mean giving them what they want, but rather what they need. And kicking obstacles out of their way so that they can do the job, and getting them the tools and training to do the work.

Union! Union!

I was once in a drawing office and niether office or shop, so both sides came to me to pass messages to 'the other side'. Not a good place to be.

Robert

"We don't like to promote the good workers. We need them on the floor".

I've been that good worker.

I stopped being such a good worker after I heard that crap, though.

Ed

This is what I'm talking about. Before about ten years ago, all my supervisors thought this way. It was all about attitude (good) and work ethic.

Now, it's all about kissing ass, insulting people and treating everybody like they're out to screw the company or steal it blind.

The vast majority of employees are just trying to support themselves. It really doesn't behoove anybody to screw the company over, when that's their bread and butter.

Management today acts as though the rank and file are their blood enemies.

If you haven't seen it, it's hard to describe.

Another good explanation by jizbrand: "Kicking obstacles <out> of their way." Way too much jealousy in the workplace today, even among people with the same job function.

Alxbates: Yes, again. That's a big temptation. Companies want loyalty, but don't see any need to give it in return.

JW

JW

Hoo-hah! Don't get me started on this topic! I've had more lunatic bosses in my career than sane ones by a factor of 5 to 1.

ive worked at any number of jobs where the higher-ups were nuts: the further away from actual bottom-rung sawdust reality they are, the greater the lunacy and psychological fantasy life.