LPT: As a supervisor, asking hands-on workers "Is there anything I can do for you that would help you do your job better/make your job easier?"

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

I've experienced the benefits of this several times over the past years, but I'll just include one example.

When I was hired as an engineering intern at a pump distributor, I was doing individual package CAD drawings (which is a pump, gearbox if applicable, and motor all assembled and mounted on a steel plate) that would then go to the mechanics to be built. I had worked in the back warehouse years before as a general shophand, so I was somewhat familiar with the process of putting a package together.

Having been close to the mechanics previously when I worked in back, I went back and basically asked them what the biggest pain in the ass is during the build. They agreed on a few top answers, and I asked "is there anywhere I can change these drawings to make doing your job easier?"

The simple answer?

1. Shifting the motor an inch back from the pump, which would let them slip couplings in instead of having to unbolt and re-bolt the motor to the plate (which required a crane and was not quick).

2. Backing the motor flush against the edge of the baseplate, so they could use it as a measurement point and a right angle reference without needing to draw lines.

3. Slotting some of the bolt holes. Because of casting variances in the pump feet, the bolt holes didn't always line up. (They were pretty bad variances, but telling them "get better castings" really isn't realistic.)

My internship ended right before the drawings I was working on were put into assembly (4+ month lead time) but my boss contacted me and let me know that the mechanics said they'd never had a package come together that easily and precisely once the new drawings hit assembly.

I know I wasn't technically their supervisor, but I think their supervisor should have asked this question before.