Pre-productivity
I work in print production.
I have for the past five years.
I’ve learned and honed my skills from people that have been doing this all their lives. I’ve also become very good at developing techniques to increase productivity without cutting necessary corners.
More than anything, I hate blunt stupidity. It makes me want to hurt small, furry, woodland creatures.
Allow me to explain that past statement…from an experienced production worker’s point of view (really the only view I’m offering here).
Production is based on an undocumented set of beliefs that state you should take the most direct, most obvious course of action for any given decision. You need something copied. You pick a copier and go.
File servers are also based on this “cardinal rule”. You can find anything you need on the server with a few pieces of information. This can be a date, a docket number, or in my case, the company name followed by the contact name followed by the job name. If there’s no company name, you obviously default to the final two elements.
This will get you a file path ever single time.
At least it does when I do it.
So why whould you ever need to write this file path down?
There would be no point. It would be an unrequired action. And another important rule states that anything that doesn’t help, hinders.
And herein lies a source of my frustration. It may be a small thing…writing the file path down…but do it more than once in ten minutes. It will interfere with your productivity by breaking state. When that happens, you have to spend time thinking about what you were doing. Gearing back up to speed.
Now, since my “superiors” tried enforcing this, I’ve argued the point and have more or less won that battle. They don’t ask me for a file path any more.
But recently,there has been an increasing number of redundant paperwork implimentations that fall under this same stupidity.
Why would I have to enter skus on a piece of paper that will never be used? This information is entered into the computer at order time.
Why would I have to write down that I have a till—and what that till contains—if I have to enter it into a computer anyway?
Why?
The answer that I received was that we would fail an audit—resulting in my “superiors” getting in trouble.
They say, “Yes, I agree with you that this is redundant, but do it anyway”.
If you agree with me that this is stupid and unnecessary, why aren’t you calling you “superiors” and arguing the case?
WHY?
All these little things only serve to piss me right off. The real sad point is that I’ve ended up having this same fight with most of my previous employers.
And I’m sure it won’t be the last.
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:02 pm
I am one of Calvin’s friends. I have more experience than most In print. I have seen the transition from paste up to film to the so called wonderfull digital age….Not.
Your lack of experience is clear in your rant.
Redundance in any work flow is key. For saftey, legal issues and just plan smart. So listen to your boss- do it any way stop bitching and trust that they truly know what they are doing. If they do it your way they would be out of business.
Trust me. I have seen others fail with your method for seceral reasons. Smile, nod and be happy that you think you are smarter than they….Just remeber who is paying your bills next time you want to yip yap. and in time you too will see they are right.
August 2nd, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Yes The post has error as I have only had 4 hours of sleep in three days due to a cold. Please forgive the poor spelling and grammer as my nose and fingers are stuffed up.
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:30 am
Why would you go and flame me on my own site, Richard?
Commenting on why redundancy is necessary is one thing, but to comment on my “lack of experience” is to say you know me intimately.
Since I only had the chance to ever wrestle your brother (which is the closest I’ve come to being “friends that know anything about each other” with you), I’m going to have to say that this is damn near impossible.
Our experiences are only different. Yours aren’t any better or worse than mine.
Furthermore…. my site! I’ll “yip yap” as I please. That’s partly why the site is here.
Now, that being said, I wasn’t discussing safety or legality. I was discussing smart. Redundancy is smart when you are dealing with the past two, but not with paperwork. If I needed copies of everything, those forms would be printed on NCR.
Your experience should have taught you that workflow is the core of all production. It’s purpose is to help “work” “flow”.
If I’m spending excess time “writng down” what should be common knowledge, then the flow of work is being shunted.
What’s next, Richard? Everytime I punch in (via digital timecard) I have to write down my time in a book too?
Little things have a way of becoming big things. I’ve made a concious decision to fight for the little things before they reach the “big thing” stage.
One final thought. Next time, cite examples. Just telling me to “shut the fuck up” because you think you know better isn’t a valid arguement.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:00 pm
I have never used those words to stem your rant. I do know as well that companies use hard copies for billing constancy and yes punching the time card. It is a hard copy sent to a satellite office which is often of use. And if you are spending time filling out a sheet based on the computer data you just entered. Good, you are being paid for every second you waste. It is not your money. And your time is being paid for. So why is it some thing to rant about?
You are a cog in a dead end job.
I like you, do as I please. Because I can, and you did choose to post it.
I never claimed that we were friends.
Further to that- I like my brother, could whoop you even more swiftly, should a mat ever come into play.(LOL)
I never said I was your friend. I have few of those these days.
Keep up the good work, your making me chuckle.
August 23rd, 2006 at 9:12 pm
In the Red corner, weighing in at 12:30am, representing speed and effeciency. A man who understands that if NECESSITY is the MOTHER of invention, then LAZINESS is the FATHER! (he’ll know what I mean by ‘laziness’, I hope). The rabid redhead….. CUJOooooooooooooooo!!!!
In the Blue singlet and grey hair, hailing from Cowtown, with a record of 2 and employment, fighting for truth, justice and shaving cream, the sketchy, the flavourful, the moist, heavyweight champion of the HOOOOOD….. G-MAAAAAAAAAAAN!
(all characters and situations in this program are completely fictional. Any similarity to any persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental. Viewer discression is advised, quantities limited, while supplies last, use as directed, consult your gynecologist to relieve swelling…)
FYI: work smart, not hard, that’s my kind of laziness.
Chuckle away everone!
PEACE!
August 31st, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Calvin: You kill me sometimes.
Rich: Like I said, important stuff I could handle, but the paperwork I’m talking about isn’t important and is routinly thrown out at the end of a job.
I didn’t mean to insinuate that we were friends. Just a couple old farts arguing over bullshit. But maybe one day….
Thanks for replying. Even if I don’t agree, I still appreciate hearing a different take. Or at the very least, one that forces me to clarify my position. I’ve added a link to your site as props. You deserve at least that much.
Later.