Corpate CYA

[ADC Product Engineer]

Reminds me of the old saw from aviation: A twin engine plane has double the chance of failure, and the purpose of the second engine is to guarantee that you are going faster when you crash.

"A pilot is merely in an aircraft to control the amount of damage the crash does since every landing is simply a controlled crash."

[BobO]

"A pilot is merely in an aircraft to control the amount of damage the crash does since every landing is simply a controlled crash."

Exactly this. Always wear your brown pants. 

[Controls Guy]

Reminds me of the old saw from aviation: A twin engine plane has double the chance of failure, and the purpose of the second engine is to guarantee that you are going faster when you crash.

If somebody asks my buddy the pilot how far a small plane will glide, his answer is: "All the way to the crash site!"

[Controls Guy]

He also describes a good landing as one where you can use the plane again.

[BobO]

There is a disconcerting amount of gallows humor in aviation, but for good reason. 

"Aviation is inherently unsafe, but can be made tolerable by well-maintained aircraft and well-trained pilots".

"Aviation is hours of abject boredom, punctuated by moments of sheer terror".

[Garyhlucas]

Things are getting disconcerting in my job right now too.  My boss has started looking critically at everything I do and he is finding mistakes I made.  I make lots of mistakes when you force me to decide between a thorough examination of the process and getting a quote out the door!  Lately he has been telling me how things he wants done are so simple.  He doesn't use 3D modeling, can't do wiring diagrams, can't program PLCs or CNCs so I guess because I am good at all these things the work looks simple when I do it.

Yesterday he wanted something done that he said was simple, all you need is a pump a tank and a couple of level sensors and some PLC programming.  Never mind whether there is space in the cabinet for a VFD and it's associated hardware or I/O available. This morning I told him that I could do it with the existing tank, and remove two automated valves in the bargain.  He calls a meeting and says to me "Go ahead and explain your idea"  I literally said three words and he says hold on a second I want to say one thing.  He then goes on for ten minutes and off on six tangents while mostly finishing what I was going to say!

This is getting totally ridiculous.

[Controls Guy]

I had a customer like that.  His techs called him "Easy Button"!   

[DLTimmons]

Update

I turned in a resignation letter Monday. Leaving a 1000+ employee company going to a 60 employee company, Will be the Plant Engineer.  Not as many big projects but a lot of small one that can really make a difference . Will have the chance to train some younger guys. Will be taking a pay cut but pay is not every thing.

So I'm feeling a lot better. Will get to share Do-more's with some young minds. Have yet to have someone that really took an open minded look at the do-more that did not become a fan.

Thanks to all for the support

[plcnut]

@DLTimmons
Good for you!
I hope things go great for you in your new venture.
When do you start?

[Controls Guy]

I turned in a resignation letter Monday. Leaving a 1000+ employee company going to a 60 employee company, Will be the Plant Engineer.  Not as many big projects but a lot of small one that can really make a difference . Will have the chance to train some younger guys. Will be taking a pay cut but pay is not every thing.

The improvement in stress will be more than worth the pay cut, plus in a smaller company there's a lot more opportunity to be judged on your merits and be paid accordingly.  Wish you well with it!  You might end up taking in more work on the side or going out on your own.  I've been doing it for a couple decades now and I still haven't learned my lesson!   

[DLTimmons]

Thanks All

What is funny. The owner of the new company  was my first boss at the old one, so he know what I can do. The old company will not let me come back till I have a doctors release and I see the doctor Thursday. Not sure what will happen they may just walk me out the door. Did not tell them I was going to a competitor

Baring being walk out I start April first or sooner.

So in the mean time I enjoying some that sick leave that I will be losing.

[ATU]

Best of luck, take care of yourself first. Large companies have a tendency to undervalue technical talent. Most managers don't have a clue, what technical people do until they are gone.  IN their minds, if you can't put it on an excel chart, it can't be too important      It will probably work out for the best in the long run. Don't worry too much about finding work if you have to. I think there is a demand for experienced controls people and PLC programmers.  I've passed up new work several times in the past month if that is any indication, but I guess that depends on your location.

[deep6ixed]

Best of luck in your new job,

As I've just recently learned the hard way, you have to do what is best for you, and sometimes that is not what is best for where you work.  Currently the phrase "People quit managers not jobs." rings true.

I have a similar manager, always micromanages my projects even though he has no idea what is going on.  I explained to him that I'm 'lazy'  I want to design and build projects that work so well I never have to touch them again.  But then management gets their hands on things and they always go south.  Its not even about the cost of some these jobs.  It's the old outdated way of thinking. 

We spent 175K 2 years ago to replace a TI5 PLC with an S7, only to leave 30 year old control wiring throughout the machine that was laying in oil soaked trenches.  Blows my mind...