Spare Time at Work
Spare Time at Work
(OP)
Our projects at work are sporadic, sometimes crazy busy, and other times twiddling our thimbs. It's public service, so I can't spend my down time marketing. I try to keep busy regardless -- try to examine processes, do technical reading. I've thought about doing some on-line course, just not sure if sporadic workloads will allow for it.
Wondering how other people deal with sporadic workloads.
Wondering how other people deal with sporadic workloads.





RE: Spare Time at Work
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Spare Time at Work
Read a tech book
Write a manual for your products or services
Drink heavily
Design a spreadsheet to speed calcs
Draw some AutoCad blocks
Smoke some dope
Re-organize files so people can find stuff
Sniff some glue
Clean out the refrig - watch for hazardous wastes
Look for a new job or see if your salary is up to spec
Invent a new product or service your company can offer
Upgrade your tech library.
I am sure you can add a few more to this list and yes "Airplane" is one of my favorite movies!
RE: Spare Time at Work
Or along the lines of Studying, I will pick something related to work and I want to know more about like, Euler Buckling. Then I will apply what I learned to aspects of our systems which have known information to see if I will come to the same conclusion.
RE: Spare Time at Work
Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Apr 30, 2008)
RE: Spare Time at Work
engineering is inherently a cyclical business. getting caught up on training or reading about new technologies is a good way to spend down time because it will improve you as a professional.
if you have tremendous amounts of down time you may want use some of it looking for another job...
RE: Spare Time at Work
- Steve
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
Creating productivity tools such as spreadsheets
Write a design checklist for typical products.
generally try to come up with ideas that will make you more efficient.
RE: Spare Time at Work
In the private sector, even during slow economy, people tend to have something to do. Creating spreadsheets, updating the company standards/details/specs, contribute to the company's design standards, etc.
For those in the public sector, they can spend time organizing their computer files and paper files. Organizing alone is an endless task.
Idle time is "expected" in many careers. I can think of firefighters, police among others. Don't feel too guilty.
RE: Spare Time at Work
All too often you never get time to forensic completed projects and consequently repeat errors. Some day understanding where the problems lie may prove a great benefit.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
As Mike says, it is a killer to say you have no work to your boss! Downtime is the opportunity for engineers to catch up with their auto-didactic responsibilities and professionally develop oneself.
After six years, I still haven't figured how to program my calculator yet.... I will wait until we really hit the graveyard shift.
Robert Mote
www.motagg.com
RE: Spare Time at Work
Wow spare time, that would be so nice. Sure my places have had cycles but these vary from busy, to very busy to so busy I wait till I'm about to wet myself or die from de-hydration or whatever before leaving my desk (or where ever I'm working).
When I'm only busy I do try to organize as others have said.
Find ways to make life easier for when you are busy, be it updating procedures etc, documenting best practice, creating standard formats for documents & calculations etc.
Time spent on education is probably a good idea if your employer doesn't take exception.
Come in on time, leave on time, spend more time with family, friends etc. Though as a government worker you do that already right
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Spare Time at Work
It is a time that separates the disciplined from the not so disciplined.
RE: Spare Time at Work
In all seriousness, I actually started a project (yes, initiated, on my own volition) because I wanted to be challenged. I'm expanding the company's horizons by gathering an entire skill set that's currently lacking. I'm taking a Good Will Hunting approach to a master's degree by reading stuff online and on my own, watching video lectures I downloaded from my college before leaving and whatnot. Maybe one day, when I realize the company will never pay me what I'm worth, I'll have a resume worth five master's degrees. (This secondary project, and my blood-thirsty drive for continuing education, is much of the reason why I work 10 hour days.)
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
- Housekeeping: filing, cleaning the desk, virus scan, clearing the SPAM folder, etc.
- Sending emails to providers for tracking ongoing works. Googleing new components.
- Only once I had a circuit done during my spare time, a pretty simple power supply -still in the laptop HD
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
Or, to be more positive, the person who can design themselves out of a job will always have another job.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Spare Time at Work
http://www.despair.com/inspiration.html
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
TTFN
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RE: Spare Time at Work
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Forging http://mech.e.tripod.com
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Ddraig Breuddwydia....www.tailofthedragon.com
RE: Spare Time at Work
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
Now half the office is using it, while I got twice as much the paperwork I used to do, and far less cheers for jobs done on time :P
RE: Spare Time at Work
RE: Spare Time at Work
Start writing technical articles. Browse the internet, if you have access. It has unlimited wealth of information, if used properly. Start writing courses / articles, the list can go on and on.
Time is the most precious commodity today. Be glad you have "spare time " !!!
HVAC68
RE: Spare Time at Work
Never ever let it be known that you are having down time be creative and ensure that you get all your own work done and keep upto date with things. There is always things that need doing and if you cant see them then you aint looking hard enough!
Rugged
RE: Spare Time at Work
My more respected mentors were noted for creating design charts. I suspect that engineers at GE created the psych chart to speed up HVAC calcs. That created free time for an army of engineers over the years.