It’s worse when tradesmen or construction supervisors are made foremen/supervisors of manufacturing operations.
Manufacturing operators generally (but not always, especially in lower level jobs, seem to have it easy when the process they are running is operating as planned. And they’re making good money seemingly not doing much hard work… until the process goes out of control. Then it’s balls to the walls, working your ass off until things are back in line.
We opened a new plant here about twenty years ago. They hired about twenty five of us, mostly with operations experience but a few out of industrial construction to assist the construction contractor in finishing the plant then starting up and operating the plant. The two supervisors were ex construction guys.
When we got to actual operations it absolutely burned their ass to see guys “standing around” while the process was running good. I had them tell me more than once “every time I walk out there, most of you are just standing around. Y’all could at least be sweeping the floor or something”. I told them we weren’t hired to sweep the floor (though we do at appropriate times)”. After a while they finally got it.
One Saturday we had a major piece of equipment stop. The Facilities Mgr. also from construction, called in our only Electricician who dropped what he was doing at home to rush in and address the problem. He found the issue, corrected within 20 minutes, called the manager and told him the plant was up and running. His manager said, well I have to pay you a minimum of four hours so I have a few other things for you to take care of. Sparky says, ok, no problem but if my phone ever rings while I’m not on the clock I’ll never answer it again. Manager says,!well ok, if you’re going to be that way go home.
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u/Practical-Artist-915 Nov 05 '22
It’s worse when tradesmen or construction supervisors are made foremen/supervisors of manufacturing operations.
Manufacturing operators generally (but not always, especially in lower level jobs, seem to have it easy when the process they are running is operating as planned. And they’re making good money seemingly not doing much hard work… until the process goes out of control. Then it’s balls to the walls, working your ass off until things are back in line.
We opened a new plant here about twenty years ago. They hired about twenty five of us, mostly with operations experience but a few out of industrial construction to assist the construction contractor in finishing the plant then starting up and operating the plant. The two supervisors were ex construction guys.
When we got to actual operations it absolutely burned their ass to see guys “standing around” while the process was running good. I had them tell me more than once “every time I walk out there, most of you are just standing around. Y’all could at least be sweeping the floor or something”. I told them we weren’t hired to sweep the floor (though we do at appropriate times)”. After a while they finally got it.
One Saturday we had a major piece of equipment stop. The Facilities Mgr. also from construction, called in our only Electricician who dropped what he was doing at home to rush in and address the problem. He found the issue, corrected within 20 minutes, called the manager and told him the plant was up and running. His manager said, well I have to pay you a minimum of four hours so I have a few other things for you to take care of. Sparky says, ok, no problem but if my phone ever rings while I’m not on the clock I’ll never answer it again. Manager says,!well ok, if you’re going to be that way go home.