Saturday, November 17, 2007

Pegging the Pragmatometer.

Well, folks, I strolled into work at 7:00 Friday morning to complete my first week at the dishwasher rack factory. I was greeted by George, the Quality Manager.

He was in a bit of a manic mode, but he explained he had to leave early.


He rattled off a short list of some things I should take care of after he left:


  • Hang the receiving tags I had filled out for the 20 boxes of components for which I had finished the incoming inspection. "Find Kenny. He'll help you hunt them down," he said.

  • Enter a half-dozen new gages into the calibration system.

  • Start working on the gage R & R studies, using the samples in the gage drawer.

Well, OK, fine. At least I now have a "to do" list.

While I was out on the floor looking for this Kenny guy, an announcement cave over the PA. "All supervisors report to the front office."

I couldn't find Kenny, so I doubled back through the front office, just as all the supervisors came trucking out of the Plant Manager's office.

"Oh, hey, Craig," the PM called to me. "I should have had you in here with the other guys just now."

"Oh, Hi, Rab," I replied. "What's up?"

"We just let George go this morning," he stated.

"Oh, really?" I said. (Left unsaid: "You mean the guy who was going to train me?")
"Yeah. Sorry to do that on your first week," he said, "but it's a done deal. If you need anything, just come and see me."

Great.

Just. Great.

I am so screwed, people.

More to come: "Culture Wars!"

15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

if they ley him go, he prolly wasn't hittin' on shit, in which case, um.... well you don't want to be trained by the guy they want to fire is what im saying.

anywho, you been doing qc for 100 years, so dont worry about it. pick yourself a pet project over the weekend, sex it up and present it to some higher up in the food chain (preferrably someone involved with the qc program) and tell him you want to work on this, unless he's got some other pet proj in the pipeline. bring some biscuits abd go to the ceo's house and pick up his son's dirt bike using a 'lift with your legs' stance you learned in the military, spit up some bile on the mens room, getting it on your slide for the slide show, ( any other 'deadwood' thing you can think of, blah blah blah). no matter what, your blog kicks ass

November 17, 2007 10:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Craig! If you think about it, that's probably why they hired you. They checked you out for a few days, saw that they got a quality individual and then did the ol' heave ho with George. Maybe you can move into the QC manager postion(more$$$$). Either way like Scott said, if they fired him, you are better off not being trained by him. You'll be fine!! Glad to hear that you survived the first week. Say hi to Michelle and Mariel. Also watch the mail for a birthday surprise for the wee one.

November 17, 2007 11:09 AM  
Blogger furiousBall said...

you'll make it fine... probably. either way it will make for great reading for us.

you'll do fine seriously.


probably.

November 17, 2007 11:21 AM  
Blogger Lee said...

I hate it when life imitates poorly written drama.

Hang in there and stick to your guns. You'll come out swell, of that I'm sure!

(And now it's the w/e and they're not paying you to brood... so stop it!)

November 17, 2007 11:41 AM  
Blogger whimsical brainpan said...

YIKES!

I think you'll do fine Craig. Hang in there.

November 17, 2007 2:22 PM  
Blogger RED MOJO said...

I think I'd have tried to find out why they let him go, then I'd know what NOT to do! The rest will come to you. You're not new to this.

November 17, 2007 3:10 PM  
Blogger PDR said...

At least he wasn't training you for a job where you would be replacing him?

Say, have you picked up any new tips on what not to put into a dishwasher?

November 17, 2007 10:19 PM  
Blogger Craig D said...

bigrig: Well, George singled out automtive motor mounts as something not to put into a dishwasher. Anything that might cut through the nylon rack coating is bad. This will cause the wires to rust as they will now be exposed to water.

Thanks for everyone's supportive comments. My rationalization is, they obviouly have hired me (and the new Quality Manager) because they want new people in that department. I'll get into my theory as to why such a an integral, long-time employee was canned when I discuss the company's "culture war."

ASIDE: I do not have internet access at work, and it seems unlikely that I will get it. My computer time will remain under severe rationing for the immediate future. If I don't get to visit or comment at your blogs right now, this is the reason. Maybe once those big, corportae paychecks come rolling in I'll get a new PC and a better IP.

November 18, 2007 7:28 AM  
Blogger Synchronicity said...

well...sounds like it will be um....challenging. sorry you can't blog at work. we will miss you.

November 18, 2007 9:05 AM  
Blogger more cowbell said...

if it wasn't so shocking and maddening ... it would be pretty friggin' funny.

Hey, maybe you could get a comedic movie made of your job travails, become a famous member of the glitterati, and then who'd be the one laughing?

Oh, you're probably laughing right now. OK.

November 18, 2007 2:31 PM  
Blogger Gale said...

So it sounds like you got lucky. Now hear me out. Why would you want him training you if he was let go? Good thing you weren't at the meeting, probably would of gave you a heart attack. What with you not insurance yet, or so I am assuming. Go find Kenny, he probably knows the job way better than George...best of luck!

November 18, 2007 3:18 PM  
Blogger Judy said...

Aw, shucks, Craig. I was really hoping for great news of the first week on the job... Well, maybe George's departure will turn out to be great news. George may be one reason you were hired...

I’ve been working more and more on the development of my “professional” photography business, trying to learn the technical stuff I should know, developing a line of postcards and greeting cards, and trying to get organized. As a result, blogging has been on the back burner.

I think of you (all you blogging buddies), now and then sneak a quick look at your blog and what’s happening in your life, but for the most part I haven’t been doing a lot of reading or commenting. It’s probably time for me to take a break and come back when I can spend reasonable time visiting as well as writing.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and I hope to “see you” soon!

Wiz’d Wiz’d

November 19, 2007 1:36 PM  
Blogger Craig D said...

Wiz: WOW - best of luck with your new venture! You take some mighty pretty pictures; I hope you can translate them into salable commodities. Stop by when / if life permits it. Let's give it up for "Wiz'd wiz'd" one of my best blogging buddies!

gale: I'd just appreciate sombody showing me what they expect me to do. I don't think George was screwing up stuff so much as not having his priorities in synch with the powers that be.

cowbell: That movie has already been made. It was called "Office Space!" The Dilbert comic strip covers much of this same gfround, as well. Looks like all I can do is post blog entires about it.

merelyme: I'm in full "Anne Frank" mode right now. I hope to have a better computer and better internet access at home some day soon, though.

everyone: I prefer to write amusing posts, rather than just complain about my job. I hope to get back to that soon.

November 19, 2007 9:44 PM  
Blogger Allan said...

Hmm...this sounds bad, but from the post that follows this one, you seem to have a good approach/attitude, making it a challenge and all...
Good luck...I hope they let you 'make it your's'- a system developed by someone who REALLY gives a hoot is one that is likely to succeed...why is that overlooked so often by upper mgt?

November 21, 2007 5:29 PM  
Blogger CS said...

I'm amazed that George felt enough loyalty to tell you anything. I think if I had just been "let go," I'd just walk. I wouldn't even be giving the to-do list. I hope things go up from here!

November 23, 2007 12:54 PM  

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