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Tedium
7

Tedium

Tedium

(OP)
As a fairly new engineer my boss feels its necessary to have my do all of my own drafing for my projects.  I understand the importance of drafting and detailing so I'm not complaining.  I actually used to like drafting now and again.  The more I do the more I get really, really, bored.  I've tried listening to my iPod, which really helped keep my mind busy while my hands were occupied with circles, lines and hatches, but I've gotten more than a few dirty looks from the PE's.  Now I find myself browsing the internet (around quality sites like this of course) and getting up just to walk around, stretch the legs and clear the mind.  This doesn't happen when I'm engaged in designing/crunching numbers or anything else, just drafting.  Is there any way to combat the tedium of drafting while staying productive?

RE: Tedium

Is it board or CAD drafting (I assume CAD). Seems like you are working in 2D. Maybe learn some solid modeling in between drafting drawings? Learn something new when you get bored.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: Tedium

You know, I used to find detail drafting a bit of a drag but the more I got into it the more I realized I had to learn and could improve etc so I probably find it more interesting now than when I started.

Then again, maybe it's rose tinted glasses 'cause anything has to be better than checking other peoples stuff, thankless task if ever there was one.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Tedium

Sorry forgot the suggestion part, how about deciding to be the best drafter you can be and working toward it?  Consult any relevant industry standards to better understand why you do things the way you do, learn the CAD as best it can.

At the end of the day, when you have job duties you don't like either suck it up and do them to the best of your abilities, or find a new job.  No point just whineing about it, not that it stops me of coursewinky smile.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Tedium

(OP)
Yes, sorry ctopher, using AutoCAD.

I agree with the idea if it needs to be done, might as well do it well.  I've started doing 3D models and creating isometric details for a few limited situations.  I've also gone though and found the shortcut keys for all the commands I use to try to speed up and make me more efficient.

I suppose it is what it is, the fact that its been raining all week (and the weekend doesn't look good) doesn't help my disposition much either.

RE: Tedium

What do they care if you're listening to your iPod, as long as you don't have it turned up to where they can hear it too?

Hg

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Tedium

HgTX, this was considered unprofessional at a previous employer of mine too.  Various reasons such as missing phone calls, conversations that you should have been part of and others I can no longer recall.

Of course this was somewhere that for the first year or 2 I was there I always wore a tie & I'd put my suit jacket on before leaving the office.  In some ways I miss that, though my current uniform of button shirt and Jeans/Chinos is a bit more comfortable.

However, here it's common place, I still don't do it much though as it just doesn't feel right.

When in Rome...
 

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Tedium

If you've got it so loud you can't hear the phone ring, you're asking for deafness.  That's a safety issue, not a question of professionalism.

The notion that one should always be prepared to overhear is one of the charming aspects of cubeland we're supposed to think is an asset; instead, for many people it reduces productivity.  Workers with their own offices aren't necessarily going to overhear the right conversations either.

I guess it comes down to style.  The old guys think having a couple wires coming out of your ears makes you look like a teenybopper, and besides, they wouldn't do it, so it must be bad.  I bet classical music playing softly on the stereo in someone's private office wouldn't be considered "unprofessional" by nearly as many, and yet what's really the difference?

Hg
 

Eng-Tips policies:  FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Tedium

(OP)
I agree, it should be turned down enough so you can still hear the phone or people trying to get your attention.  As far as professionalism goes, I see their point but I don't see any problem with listening to music as long as you're getting your work done and not playing the air-guitar all day.  There is actually a drafter (old school drafter that now works in CAD) in our office that has a radio turned down playing in his cube.  I thought the iPod was a better idea than that.

RE: Tedium

I listen to my iPod all the time. It drowns out all of the annoying stupid computer sounds...I'm less stressed, and get more work done.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: Tedium

It irks me to no end when I see people in the office with the earphones.  It just doesn't look professional and I hate the little pause to wait while someone takes them out to listen.
On the other hand, I realize I do not have a reasonable expectation and there's really nothing wrong with it, especially if you're stuck in a cubicle.  So basically I try to get over it and keep my mouth shut.
Still bothers me though, and I'm only 33.  Hate to see what these little pet peeves are going to turn me into in a couple decades when everyone's a cyborg :)

RE: Tedium

I find that I am much more productive with the tedious tasks, such as detailing, listening to my ipod - much easier to focus on the task at hand, and somewhat enjoyable.  It was never a problem when the phone rang or someone wanted my attention.
With the more administrative tasks (which are ever increasing), I find it to be a hindrance and don't listen to it as much as I used to.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
 

RE: Tedium

I would much rather have someone with headphones than someone with a radio/etc.  Of course I may be biased as I often use headphones, especially when working on tedious things.  Though I keep them low enough to hear the overhead paging system(even though I know I will never be paged), and even with my back to the entrance to my cube, I am able to pick up on when someone enters.

though for those times when a favorite song comes on and I want to turn it up a little, I usually pop one earphone out to keep aware of my surroundings.

RE: Tedium

If you've got the headphones on, make sure you have a mic as well and then your excuse is that your using VOIP - to save the company money.
Now they've no way to know what you are actually listening to if you have the volume adjusted appropriately and media player minimised. (Can you playback Ipod through the PC? I'd guess so.)

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Tedium

(OP)
Haha, good suggestion jmw, that would also cover me when I start talking to myself in my cube (which apparently happens more often I realized after I brought up the subject with my cube neighbors).

Unfortunately you need iTunes to play your iPod on the computer, and to get iTunes I have to get my suppervisor's permission for the IT guy to install it... bummer.

RE: Tedium

OK, so have a collection of CDs available (I guess DVDs would be pushing your luck)

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Tedium

2
Drafting is especially tedious when one is not giving it proper attention.  This is usually due to a lack of comprehension and respect for the amount of detail required to successfully implement even a simple project.

I suspect your boss wants more from your drafting than just techniclly correct drawings.

RE: Tedium

My job involves synthesizing engine noise, so I naturally need to have some high quality headphones attached to my PC.  Nobody ever questions me.

- Steve

RE: Tedium

I pointed out to the PHB that the constant drone of conversation in our new cube-farm really affected my concentration, so he could either give me a quiet space to work or I'd wear my headphones.

I WIN

Noise cancelling headphones.

Brandenberg concertoes in the morning, Talking Heads in the afternoon. Dark Side of the Moon if I really need to think. There are a couple of people's voices that do cut through the electronics, that is what the volume control is for.

Coming next year... a big sign that says "If I've got my headphones on then I'm not ignoring you, it's just that I can't tell that you even exist".

I agree, it looks unprofessional, and it works directly against the idea of sitting us together in little clumps of mutual misery. Sadly large parts of my job do require intense sustained concentration, and after a two minute interruption it can take me half an hour to re-sync.

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: Tedium

"... and after a two minute interruption it can take me half an hour to re-sync. "

And here I was worried that it was just me.

RE: Tedium

No, it's my excuse & I'm sticking to it.  The important thing is making sure I get interupted twice every hour so I have an excuse for doing nowtwinky smile.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Tedium

Don't joke, I occasionally have a couple of consecutive days when that is literally what happens - usually when t'management are going into headless chicken mode. It makes it impossible to get any serious work done, so I just throw my hands in the air and join the fun.  

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: Tedium

(OP)
I knew if I waited long enough the REAL solutions would present themselves.  I knew I joined this forum for a reason!

Joking aside, I'm getting the picture that so little of engineering actually has to do with "engineering."  I must have slept through that lecture.  Hmm... anyways after talking to my supervisor we are having a drafting competition in the department.  Now its no longer about being productive its about getting a week paid vacation!  Problem solved.

RE: Tedium

Does your supervisor have a new job to go to? will he stay long enough to ensure that the company delivers the promised rewards?
HR and higher management have a "better" incentive scheme... no prizes for the winner but the worst performer gets to help them with their restructuring/rationalisation program... i.e. a lifetimes unpaid holiday starting today.

JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
 

RE: Tedium

"Unfortunately you need iTunes to play your iPod on the computer"

I don't understand that statement.  Why not attach your headphone directly to the iPod?  Also, you can charge your iPod with your computer without installing iTunes.

Another solution is to burn MP3 files onto a CD or DVD.  You can fit a LOT of music on a disc that way.

If I'm busy I listen to instrumental music.  If I'm not, then maybe a podcast.

RE: Tedium

(OP)
Connecting the iPod to the computer would let me listen to music with my headphones attached to the computer (so I could play it off as VOIP) so it doesn't look like I'm listening to music as jmw suggested.

Fortunatly I have a good relationship with my supervisor, he was an adjunct professor for my steel design class as well as involved in extracurriculars.  Also work for a small enough firm that we don't have an HR department!   

RE: Tedium

dgillie,
You weren't singing along with the Ipod were you?
Slightly off track, it reminds me of a joke -

An elderly couple is attending Mass. About halfway through, the wife leans over and says to her husband,

'I just let out a silent fart; what do you think I should do?'
He replies, 'Put a new battery in your hearing aid'.

Regards,
Bill

RE: Tedium

At this point in your career you should be focused on looking good.  You should concentrate on doing a thorough, professional job on all of your assignments, and doing so in a professional manner.  By that, it should be in a professional manner w.r.t. the judgment of your boss.  His is the opinion that matters right now.

If you spend your days looking bored and unmotivated, don't be surprised if that's how you're labelled.  Wait until you are well established before taking liberties.  Don't play reindeer games until you are sure you are one of the reindeer.

RE: Tedium

Greg, I too get that situation - that was the inspiration for the joke.  Combined with the fact I frequently have to pick up general Design Tasks rather than dedicated checking; some months I'm lucky to get double digit number of drawings checked, which is pathetic.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Tedium

3
I think your problem may be that you already think detailing is tedious.

It's important to remember that as Engineers the only form of communication we have with the outside world is what's on that drawing.  Many of the people who see your drawings will never meet you so it's the only thing they know about you.  A few missed dimensions or a drawing that is hard to read and interpret is a real black eye to yourself and the company.

Detailing drawings should get the same focus and attention as an other aspect of your job/responsibilities.  I realize many don't think that making drawings is real "Engineering" but the days of the dedicated drafter, especially in smaller companies, are over and now being an Engineer means making drawings.

I'm a PE and I do wear headphones while I work, sometimes.  I don't wear them to keep my mind busy, since my mind is always busy no matter what I'm doing.  I mostly wear them to drown out the grumblings from the other cubicles from the people who don't think Engineers should need to detail their own work.

On a side note I have always believed that the guys who don't like to detail drawings dislike it because it's a lot harder than it looks.  You then add in that they are not very good at it and the complaints about "It's not really Engineering", or "I don't have time to do this" and of course my favorite "The guys at that shop are a bunch of morons that they didn't understand what I wanted" start to fly.

RE: Tedium

Star for you JamesBarlow, I agree with what you put.

One thought, even if Engineers shouldn't be doing their own drafting surely they need to know enough about drawings (or MBD if applicable) to know if the Drafter/Designer has actually detailed what the Engineer believes is needed.  I'd have thought this was even more the case in industries where you have to 'stamp' the design for approval and have some legal liability.

Given the above assumption, and my belief that the best way to learn how to read a drawing is probably to spend time creating them under suitable supervision (ideally in addition to some more formal training), then as a relative newbie doing a lot of drafting doesn't sound a bad idea.

Of course the OP more or less acknowledges this and is just looking for ideas to help overcome the fact he finds it tedious. Sounds like they may have found one.

dgillie, how's the contest going?

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

RE: Tedium

I second that star.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. - Thomas Jefferson
 

RE: Tedium

(OP)
Training is going well, next week we'll have our test.  I'm having my doubts if I'll win since we're also competiting against the structural drafting departments from both offices (I'm getting close to their productivity level, quality is probably a different story)... but I'm going for fastest EIT.

In hind sight, I think the competition was exactly what I needed.  We get 30min of one-on-one training a week and 2 hours available per week devoted to practice.  I've gotten a lot faster in my drawings and I'd like to say there is also an improvement in the quality.  I'm starting to agree with JamesBarlow that its not so much to keep my mind busy but to keep everything else out of my mind.  I'm quickly understanding that drawings can't just be drawn, there is a lot of foresight, understanding and planning that needs to go into the detail.  Thanks for the replies!

RE: Tedium

Well said, JamesBarlow.

V

RE: Tedium

Star to you dgillie, I like your attitude about the whole thing, more refreshing than the usual.

thread730-221206: I Hate Drawings!!!

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

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