Frustraded with my company

[aaron p]

I work for a massivly huge oil field service tools company that has about 33,500 people world wide. I work 2nd shift in a big production machine shop running a 5axis mazak E-410. Just frustrated with people that are soo damn narrow minded in the shop and wont listen to any of my ideas. Just like my post about Sandvik R390 milling inserts weather or not to run coolant on them. I told the guys in the shop to run AIR only and their response was "well, we have been doing it like this for years!". I tried to explain about thermal shock and such and nobody wanted to listen. This isnt 1985 anymore and the top notch tooling we have is being used like its a antique. I guess my production numbers will show the real story. They were wondering how I was running 4 parts a shift to their 3. I trippled the feed rate on ruffing opps, and blew threw that 20-22RkC 4140 like it was butter. I might just be 24, but ive been hardcore into machining since I was about 17. Just really tired of all the red tape, but I cant leave b/c A. theres nobody hiring, and B. they pay very well. Hell, I even got a few engineers to change some tollerances on prints so that manufacturing would be easier and less prone to scrap parts. Guess im the odd ball machinist working with a bunch of button pushers and could care less about their job as long as the check clears. Sorry for the rant, just at my wits end with people! Dont even get me started on 3rd shift. Need to have my own shop, and just do stuff right. I learned CNC working for little money $9/hr on titanium and inconnel holding tenths tollerances on stuff. Kinda glad I learned on the hard stuff, but still have alot to learn as we all do. Anyone else work in a red-tape infested company? At times I think I should have become a engineer.

[tobyaxis]

Not to invade your venting but improper tool usage is very common in shops that have uneducated employees. Be happy that the guys you work with are stuck in 1985 because a vast majority (least amount found here on the zone) are stuck in 1965.

I see and feel the same frustrations in the shops in this area. What is worse is when you go to work and just do your job and wind up machining things faster and with better results only to wind up being the "Odd Ball".

Look at it this way. If you ever open your own shop this will be a good thing. You will know the products, the cycle times they get vs yours, and the education level which is there. These things can be to your advantage.

Write down your thoughts and ideas and if they don't want to hear them it's their loss.

Being here show your willingness to share and learn. These are the qualities that shops should be looking for, not uneducated sticks that are stuck in 1985.

Cheers

[aaron p]

I agree with you Toby. It sucks working in manufacturing when your always making the same parts 90% of the time. Its funny how the engineers always come ask me questions about a fixture design or something and dont bother with the other guys. Having a engineer tell me "good idea or that sounds really good" is a huge compliment to me in my eyes. I get a good feeling when something good is accomplished and it really works in reality, not just on paper. The "hammerhead" mentality is prevelant in my shop also. I live by the saying "work smart, not hard".

[tobyaxis]

Well I have to say that I have been in the same boat with Engineering and yes it feels good, but make dam sure it is recognized when it is raise time. The last place I resigned from made false promises of positions and promotions for 9 months. The results should have been expected but oh well.

A good word is nice but won't pay the bills. If they mention promotions or raises, get it in writing.

Sorry if I seem brash or unreasonable but that is business.

Now I do side work full time working for various firms and friends shops. It beats punching a clock and someone else taking the credit for your hard work. They can do what ever they want after I get paid as long as I get paid.

LOL Dunn&BradStreet says weather I do business with a company or not. Got to love technology!

http://www.dnb.com/us/

[aaron p]

Originally Posted by tobyaxis Well I have to say that I have been in the same boat with Engineering and yes it feels good, but make dam sure it is recognized when it is raise time. The last place I resigned from made false promises of positions and promotions for 9 months. The results should have been expected but oh well. A good word is nice but won't pay the bills. If they mention promotions or raises, get it in writing. Sorry if I seem brash or unreasonable but that is business. Now I do side work full time working for various firms and friends shops. It beats punching a clock and someone else taking the credit for your hard work. They can do what ever they want after I get paid as long as I get paid. LOL Dunn&BradStreet says weather I do business with a company or not. Got to love technology! http://www.dnb.com/us/

thats a handy little link.
Man, this site needs a chat room.

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by aaron p thats a handy little link. Man, this site needs a chat room.

I believe it still does but I never used it. Correction, it used too. There is a Blog area though, but I never use that either. Have to type too fast, LOL

[aaron p]

bummer. chat rooms are always good.

[SumDumPhuckr]

The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.

John Maynard Keynes

[aaron p]

Originally Posted by SumDumPhuckr The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. John Maynard Keynes

Old Habbits Die Hard.

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by aaron p Old Habbits Die Hard.

It depends on how open minded a person is, and if they strive to stay current.

This will decide weather you move forward or get left behind.

[dertsap]

almost everywhere you go you will find they each have their own idea of how things should be done , clearly if they are in business and making money then they must be doing something right , and this tends to be the reason that most companies are slow at trying new things , every new guy says "this isnt the way we did it at the last place" , ive worked with a number of hot shots( not suggesting anyone here is) over the years who thought they would come in and run the shop their way , well , it doesnt work like that and when companies face this on a regular basis then maybe it would appear a little more obvious why they are reluctant to try new things , especially if theyve tryed new things that guys have suggested and they failed ,or guys will begin implementing new things then leave in the middle of it all .
its a matter of being in the company for a while and gaining the respect from you peers and the management above , changes come in steps and won't happen over night . and if they dont then we have to bite our tongue and do the job or move on . at the end of the day we are there to provide a service then come home

as far as the tooling thing goes , talk to the sandvik rep and ask him to provide a brief tooling seminar for you and your coworkers , any company would be a fool not to accept educating their employees for free , and it should set a few things straight

[apache405]

Originally Posted by aaron p At times I think I should have become a engineer.

I'm stuck in engineering school, majoring in electrical.

(begin rant about my engineering school)

You will find the following: in your classes of say 50-100 people, only about 10 (most times less) who have actually built anything, ever!!

I'm gonna assume that you major in manufacturing engineering or mechanical engineering. with what you know now, you will coast through your design and lab classes and be "god" to everyone else in your classes, and if you're anything like me, you will absolutely hate doing the theory and making detailed calculations.

(end of rant)

that being said, you will most likely get a much better job during and after 4-5 of getting B.S.'d to dead in engineering school.

i start asking the engineering ppl where they went to school and then find out how to get the company to pay for the upgrading of your education. then transfer to engineering. you'll trade building for designing.