Adventures at work
"I hope your mother doesn't know how much you get around, young lady!"
Being the only female in the area, I guessed that comment was aimed at me, so I turned around. I see TmC, one of the machinists/mechanics/fixitguys that deal with my work cell, grinning at me. He continues, "First you're over there [on VMC-031], and now you're over here. You better be careful, or the guys will start to talk..."
OK, it's true that I have been moved to a different work area today, and am running not one but two machines. But I don't think that's really getting around, is it?? I decide to play along.
"Well, I guess I shouldn't say just how many different plants I've been in so far, or they'd really start talking."
"Too late for that. Women who can be classy while covered in grime are as rare as hen's teeth. And a gearhead too... you can't drive a forklift, can you?"
I laughed.
"Of course. Silly question."
I decided to try and get off the topic of me. "So, why did they decide to transfer the guts out of 031 and put them into 030? Will it speed things up?"
"Yeah, it should be faster once it's installed properly. But really, they moved everything over here so we all didn't have to make excuses to travel across the plant to visit you. There, I've got 012 all tuned up for you and ready to go. LZ will be retrofitting 030 this evening, so you'll probably just be on 012 tonight. Have fun!"
You see, the machines I'm working on now are right in front of the QA Office. Every time I reach over for a new part to put in a machine, I see the QA doors. I'm across the aisle from the staircase to the lunchroom, a bank of vending machines, and a water cooler. I have my own brand-new industrial-strength fan that I can adjust exactly as I want because I'm the only one using it. This kind of rocks.
It's also neat that I was able to learn how to use two new machines today, and not screw up any parts while doing so.
There is always a bit of a down side to change.
I don't get to work 10 paces away from a door that is open to the outside world. No more sticking my nose through the grill for fresh air, or catching a fresh breeze, whilst waiting for parts to finish being worked.
I now have not one but two machines to run, 030 and 012. They face each other, and share a common loading/working platform. They are arranged to have one person able to run both at the same time.
012 does only one thing - bores vertical channels into existing vertical holes - but it is used on three different parts: the 4-prong flanges I'm used to, 3-prong versions of the same flange, and a large cup-shaped flange-like thing. (Yeah, I know, high tech language, eh??)
030 is basically the same machine as 031, but 10 years newer. It's designed to run two different types of parts, but has been only used for one part up to now - just like 031. Now, 030 will be doing the job of both machines: alternating between the cup-shaped flange-like things and the 4-prong flanges.
More parts = more paperwork = aaaarrrggghhh!!
Apparently, they are refitting 031 to do a different part. I'll still wander over and visit 031 every once in a while, so she doesn't get lonely... and to peek out the door.
This place is OK to work at for now. But I really want a real job. Now-like would be fine by me.
Being the only female in the area, I guessed that comment was aimed at me, so I turned around. I see TmC, one of the machinists/mechanics/fixitguys that deal with my work cell, grinning at me. He continues, "First you're over there [on VMC-031], and now you're over here. You better be careful, or the guys will start to talk..."
OK, it's true that I have been moved to a different work area today, and am running not one but two machines. But I don't think that's really getting around, is it?? I decide to play along.
"Well, I guess I shouldn't say just how many different plants I've been in so far, or they'd really start talking."
"Too late for that. Women who can be classy while covered in grime are as rare as hen's teeth. And a gearhead too... you can't drive a forklift, can you?"
I laughed.
"Of course. Silly question."
I decided to try and get off the topic of me. "So, why did they decide to transfer the guts out of 031 and put them into 030? Will it speed things up?"
"Yeah, it should be faster once it's installed properly. But really, they moved everything over here so we all didn't have to make excuses to travel across the plant to visit you. There, I've got 012 all tuned up for you and ready to go. LZ will be retrofitting 030 this evening, so you'll probably just be on 012 tonight. Have fun!"
You see, the machines I'm working on now are right in front of the QA Office. Every time I reach over for a new part to put in a machine, I see the QA doors. I'm across the aisle from the staircase to the lunchroom, a bank of vending machines, and a water cooler. I have my own brand-new industrial-strength fan that I can adjust exactly as I want because I'm the only one using it. This kind of rocks.
It's also neat that I was able to learn how to use two new machines today, and not screw up any parts while doing so.
There is always a bit of a down side to change.
I don't get to work 10 paces away from a door that is open to the outside world. No more sticking my nose through the grill for fresh air, or catching a fresh breeze, whilst waiting for parts to finish being worked.
I now have not one but two machines to run, 030 and 012. They face each other, and share a common loading/working platform. They are arranged to have one person able to run both at the same time.
012 does only one thing - bores vertical channels into existing vertical holes - but it is used on three different parts: the 4-prong flanges I'm used to, 3-prong versions of the same flange, and a large cup-shaped flange-like thing. (Yeah, I know, high tech language, eh??)
030 is basically the same machine as 031, but 10 years newer. It's designed to run two different types of parts, but has been only used for one part up to now - just like 031. Now, 030 will be doing the job of both machines: alternating between the cup-shaped flange-like things and the 4-prong flanges.
More parts = more paperwork = aaaarrrggghhh!!
Apparently, they are refitting 031 to do a different part. I'll still wander over and visit 031 every once in a while, so she doesn't get lonely... and to peek out the door.
This place is OK to work at for now. But I really want a real job. Now-like would be fine by me.