Ok. So. Machines. I'm gonna get a little critical here, but I have to say it out of a place of love and experience. Wherever I work, I'm not just learning about the task at hand, or the workflow, or the supply chain, or the latest word around the water cooler. No. I'm also learning about the macro functioning [or dysfunctioning] of the place. That said, let's first look at the interface between man and machine....
The Beast and I seem to have come to an understanding. I have yet to achieve true mastery of her quirks, but she seems to tolerate me enough to allow me to be productive with a minimum of f-ups. She's not the only machine in the shop, however. We have an electric guillotine, jogger, leather parer, and even an electric rounder & backer [who knew!]. Then there are the man-powered machines, the corner cutter, the board cutters, the presses, etc. All require human interface and, most of them being early-non-fancy-versions, are subject to the error[s] of the operator. That said, it occurred to me that a machine is only as useful as its operator and its prevailing maintenance/condition.
Training a human to operate a machine always involves a learning curve. The human brain evolved to memorize and command the body to execute a stunning array of dextrous tasks. But no matter how well a person learns the necessary pattern of movements required to operate a machine, that machine must be able to perform in a predictable way for the exertions of the operator to be effective and efficient. Something as simple as an un-oiled spring can force the operator to adapt a series of compensatory maneuvers that cost time and money. Shorthand: the corner cutter sucks and a task that should have taken 10 minutes instead took 30 minutes to complete.
As an operator, it's probably not really worth getting worked up about when you're just punching the clock, right? Maybe. The employer/manager, however, has a much bigger problem. When efficiency is compromised, so is revenue. Machines that do not optimally function decrease productivity in two ways. The most obvious way is that they make it harder to maximize the time : product ratio, racking up the percentage of hours/wages the operator expends on completing a task, resulting in a product that cost more to produce thus yielding less profit.
The second, less obvious [and often more insidious] problem caused by faulty machinery has to do with the operator. The operator is human. He/she may not have had a well-rounded breakfast, they may have argued with their spouse the night before, they may be dealing with health issues. Even if their day started relatively well and the rest of their life isn't a shambles, a crappy machine can lead to frustration and de-motivation in the workplace. In general, people tend to want to do their best and are often their own harshest critics. In addition, the employer isn't going to air their grievances to the machine or chide it for its mistakes. The human employer is going to take its grievances to the human operator. Undermine the operator, however, and performance is further compromised.
Let me clarify something: I am not a disgruntled employee. I'm just not there enough to get really upset about any of it or take it personally. I'm merely observant. I've run a small business before and, who knows, I may again some time in the future. I'm sure that I could read about what I've learned in a textbook somewhere, but I've been fortunate to learn it in situ.
I've come to believe that the greatest challenges in any work place arise from ourselves and the people with whom we work. One can be a master in one's field, but a poor attitude and interpersonal skills can undermine the best work. I really don't mean to be negative, I'm only meditating on an idea I hope never to lose sight of. I've had good examples, too, for certain. I've been blessed with the friendship and mentoring of several people that are determined to see my efforts succeed and help open doors for me. Thankful doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. Sometimes we all need someone to descend from the rafters and present us with a sword or strength or salvation in our most desperate hour.
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| And sometimes they ride in on a giant boar... |
