Auctions: Inner workings: Chapter 12
Seeking opinions:Yahoo and Google are multi billion dollar companies. They have millions of people using their services every day. When you first log on to either Yahoo or Google....you will see that at the bottom of the page there is a place where you can send comments or suggestions.
Here are two industry giants, with unlimited resources, in-house research departments and think tanks....yet they still seek out suggestions from the general user.( Actually most major search engines have this suggestion box.) Why?? Why would a billion dollar company bother with the humble opinions of the average Joe Blow? Think about it.
The beauty and elegance of this boggles the mind. With this one little step, they have tapped into the sum knowledge of every user on the net. If there is some aspect of the search engine that bothers you, or you find something that is utterly stupid, all you have to do is send your comments to the powers to be. Hopefully, someone on the other end is actually reading your comments and they can then rectify the problem.
Now back to our machine buying topic.
Once you have determined that you need a new slitter rewinder, you now have to figure out what make and type is best suited to your needs. This is another area where your machine operator or plant manager can either make you or break you. Let's explore this last statement.
Take a top notch lathe operator. Lets say this guy has 30 plus years in the industry. Only problem is that he has never learnt how to program or run a fully automated CNC lathe. This guy will do everything in his power to make sure that his "top dog" status remains intact, within this company. You now have an 20 year old kid...straight out of the local Technical college. This kid has worked with computers since he was a toddler. He can punch in the code so fast that all you see is a blur of fingers on the keyboard. Give him a blueprint and he will make you the part within minutes. Now the top dog resents this. He lets everyone within ear shot know that these new kids have no respect or knowledge about the true art of machining. To make his point he asks stupid questions that only an old timer would know. "Let's see you sharpen this drill bit on that grinder" says the Top Dog. The new kid has never learnt to sharpen a drill bit by hand ( manually , that is). He just put it in the automatic grinder and out came the drill bit all shiney and good as new. " Why" says the kid "we just threw the dull bits in a bucket and once a month I spent a few hours sharpening them in the automatic drill sharpening machine. Took about 30 seconds to sharpen one.." he adds. This is like throwing salt on the Top Dog's wounds. It takes him 15 minutes to sharpen a drill bit , manually . It took several years before he got the time down to 15 minutes per drill bit....
Keep the above points in mind:
You, as the owner or the plant manager must keep the above points in mind. Understand the reasons and motives of your machine operators. If your machine operator is only familiar with running an old Cameron slitter rewinder, he will do everything in his power to try to convince you to buy another Cameron. Even though a Dusenbery or a Titan would increase your production a 100 fold. Iam not suggesting that you utterly ignore your machine operators' input. Listen, take notes and mark down each operators' input.
It is also a good idea at this point to mark down your own choices. Analyse, why are you leaning towards a particular make? Is it out of familiarity? Or affinity for a certain make and model?. Keep investigating till you have left no stone unturned.
Getting outside help:
Even billion dollar corporations hire specialists and consultants to come in and suggest improvements. These consultants are not cheap. At the end of the day a consultant may say that he could find no better options than the ones already in place.
(That is if the consultant is a honest guy.) Even if this happens, it's still money well spent. At least management gets assurance doubly assured. On the other hand, once you call in a consultant, set simple ground rules.
The Golden Rule
Above all, to thine own self be true. Tell the consultant to be brutally honest. No ego, no position is too sacred. If he sees anything that needs to be corrected or changed, so be it. Spare no one. The whole company is under the microscope. No exam is to be spared..be it oral or rectal....
Lay your pride and ego to rest. Let the consultant do his job..unhindered. What's the point of calling in outside help if you are not ready for it? It's like going to a doctor....you don't tell the doctor what to do..you merely tell him about the pain or the symptoms...he examines you and then recommends a course of action.
Dr. Winder Reports For Duty:
I detest politicans. They talk out of both sides of their mouths at the same time. Have you ever heard a reporter ask a politican a question? A simple question...the answer to which is either a "yes" or a "No"? After 15 minutes talking utter nonsense, using strange words.....you suddenly realise that you didn't understand a darn thing he said. Meanwhile 15 minutes of your life has just flashed by and the TV show has filled in its alloted time slot. This crap happens over and over. Day in day out. Then you get several TV personalities analyse what the politican just said. Another half an hour down the tubes...While these TV announcer with their nose jobs, fake boobs, skin stretched tighter than a snare drum, and the classic "hollow eyes" ( more plastic surgery) use more strange words and flash their bleached tooth smiles. Who are they fooling? They are well past their primes...old hags trying to look like young models,
And old men trying to look like movie stars. This bull crap is beamed daily into our homes. Why? Simply because people get so sick of this that they stop listening. That is exactly what the whole show is designed to do ...to lull the masses into a deep hypnotic sleep. Meanwhile, the elected officials stay in power.
Don't let this disease spread to your company. As the owner or plant manager be true to your company. If you find a problem....state it clearly. Give simple answers...yes or no..will work dandy.
