Factories (Part II)

In my previous post, I alluded to certain dangers related to working in a factory. These dangers became quite apparent while undergoing some recent investigations. Production associates (more commonly referred to as operators) are the heart and soul of the manufacturing operation. They are also the eyes and ears of the operation. They see the product. They hear the bearing that is going bad in a machine. They feel the product as they are setting up a production line.

All of this is great.

Yet, a certain danger lurks beneath the surface and is captured in conversations.

“I just do what I’m told.”

“I’ve worked here for 3 years and have never touched those valves.”

“I don’t know which gauge you are talking about. We’ve never had to know that before.”

“Oh, the other shift quit doing that a long time ago.”

(By the way, these comments aren't limited to production associates.)

As Godin writes, “The organizations of the future are filled with smart, fast, flexible people on a mission” (Godin, 2008, 41).

This leaves us with some choices.

We can do things the way that they have been done for decades. We can claim ignorance. We can pass the buck to someone else.

Or

We can change for the better. We can learn. We can innovate.

Godin, S. (2008). Tribes. New York: Penguin Group.