How do you handle interuptions
How do you handle interuptions
(OP)
I tell you what, this is my 4th Monday this week. Everytime I get working on something I have to drop it 10 minutes later to address some issue that was just dropped in my lap. I have been working on a model that should have taken 1-1.5 days to complete and I started it on the 1st Monday of this week. Not only do the interuptions take time out of the modeling process but it leads to errors because you have to drop, pick-up, drop, pick-up, etc...I am curious how others handle interuptions. I only have a cube area with 3 walls so I do not have a door to close & LOCK.
Thanks :(
Thanks :(
***** Fear not those who argue but those who dodge *****
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RE: How do you handle interuptions
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How do you handle interuptions
People refer to me as Firewalker at work for all the fires I get tasked to stomp out.
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: How do you handle interuptions
We had two "mechanical guys"--another guy and myself. And we were constantly bombarded with demands for help in production, parts problems, and everything else. At first, we got some toy fireman hats and put those on to fight the "fires". They didn't get the hint, and it only got much worse.
After a while, we actually had to go to our supervisor--the engineering manager with suspenders--and he began to act as a shield to enforce scheduled interruptions. This way, we were able to set up blocks of non-interrupted time--and the manager would enforce that time by not allowing people past his corner office into the cube farm, except at the allotted interruption times. It worked great. We'd have about 1.5 hours of work time with 15 minutes of scheduled firefighting--and then back to uninterrupted work.
Consider setting up something like that, and if you have a worthy manager (or a decent front desk person, or armed guard), you'll have someone to run interference for you while you get work done.
After a few weeks with this system in place, everyone in the company got much more disciplined and settled down--so we ended up phasing out the forced scheduling when it was no longer needed.
These days, I just don't answer email or my phone until I'm ready to deal with an interruption.
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
The other part of it is that we (engineering) are so overloaded that we:
1. Rush through everything on project 1 because everything is a week late.
2. It's late because half the time is spent with the fireman hat on addressing issues of project 2.
3. Now we have finished project 1 and fixing project 2, rest assured mistakes have been made on project 1 because it was rushed through.
4. Rush through everything on project 3 because everything is a week late from fixing fires on project 2.
Here we go again.
***** Fear not those who argue but those who dodge *****
Dell Precision 670
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RE: How do you handle interuptions
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Best Regards,
Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)
Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Finally I told him that I'm not a baby sitter, stop interrupting me and will get back to him when I can.
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How do you handle interuptions
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: How do you handle interuptions
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Finethread - I like the idea of a sign across the doorway, I may give that a try.
In any case, it is comforting to know that I do not walk this road alone.
Bloodclot
***** Fear not those who argue but those who dodge *****
Dell Precision 670
3.0 Ghz Xeon Processor
Nvidia FX3450
3 gig of RAM
Dual 19" Viewsonics
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How do you handle interuptions
--Peter Gibbons
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
RE: How do you handle interuptions
***** Fear not those who argue but those who dodge *****
Dell Precision 670
3.0 Ghz Xeon Processor
Nvidia FX3450
3 gig of RAM
Dual 19" Viewsonics
RE: How do you handle interuptions
Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
RE: How do you handle interuptions
RE: How do you handle interuptions
If not, you may start entertaining thoughts of setting the building on fire. ..
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe trumps reason.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
RE: How do you handle interuptions
I finally had to explode at my new boss who now runs interference and allows me to say "You have to discuss it with her to have my priorities changed, otherwise it'll be..." and I'll tell them when I can have it done. I finally just became a jerk about it (only took me 9 yrs) and people are starting to be more respectful of the situation. They just needed to see that I will give them my best if they leave me alone to do so.
Always, ALWAYS OVER estimate the time you'll need on a project. Then you have to figure out the best way to get everyone around you to respect the fact you need uninterrupted time to focus on the designs you're working on without stopping and starting because that's where mistakes and items are missed and that can lead to unhappy customers.
I've tried the sign across the cube entrance, the DND notes, etc. Even during Six Sigma exam time such signs were ignored. It's frustrating.
RE: How do you handle interuptions
RE: How do you handle interuptions
RE: How do you handle interuptions