Need resources and training 1

[ieshadover]

Does anyone know of a good way to get a company to put out some money for training and/or technical information, like ASTM standards we could us.

My problem is I'm growing more and more frustrated with not having access to information. And the QC and tooling personnel have information and training older then mine. As time passes new technology and standards are being implemented by both suppliers and competition our standards and process aren't up to snuff.

For example our supplier would no long supple the spec tube we wanted at a reasonable price, because the tolerance we had where like 20 years out of date and it was not cost effect to hold them. Now the supplier certainly told us the spec of what they would supple us but as we got into new product design it didn't always tell me what the standard would be or if I went with another supplier. So we really needed the ASTM 513 standard to reference to. But my Boss didn't want to pay for it. In the end I bought it with my own money and consider it my personal property.

But I can't afford to keep doing that and it's not like I'm asking for the $1000 package or anything just a few more standards for the material and process we use. So I don't have to spend endless hours tracking down different supplier's information.

Plus my boss wanted me to act as a Process/MFG engineer now and wants improvement to all the manual assemble lines, wood room and metal mfg. (All my past experience and training has been for Mechanical design.) So when I asked to go to A local MFG Assembly Convention, just to walk the floor free (On day trip, only cost is my 2 hours travel time, Lunch and 1 day away from the office). I told them I wanted to go, why I wanted to go and gave my boss a copy of the brochure. But in the end he said, "No" because the main display feature was NASA's space station and a robotic electrical harness set up. Granted we don't make parts for NASA and we don't do any electrical but those where only the show Special draws. The convention of course covered all kinds of MFG assembly and vendors. It's not like I'm going to find a show or training class that is going to special feature our product line. (We make small misc medical stuff but nothing to high tech or special.)

So short of finding a course in "More efficient Stone chisel mfg" I don't know how to get some of the training and resources I need.

Any ideas?

 

[ewh]

Update your resume?

 

[RDK]

Some places simply are not worth working at.

If they are too cheep to even buy an ASTM code ($100??) then they simply are not worth the bother of coming to work every day.

Do the best you can with what they give you. If you need a standard to does your job then make them buy it or say that you cannot write the specification without access to this document.

Update your resume and move on. Life is too short to waste in this sort of frustration. (I know I did it for 2 years and have regretted not walking as soon as I found out what sort of place it was in my first week there.)



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[Ashereng]

Anyone else that can benfit from the current ASTM code at your company? You can go as a group to ask for its purchase.

Some cost justification numbers also don't hurt. For example: The code book costs $500. It takes me 3 hours to search for the ansewer each time. I do this once a week. I make $50/hr. In about a month, the code has paid for itself.

There is safety in numbers, and it also shows that this is not just benefitting you, but lots of other people in the company as well.

My daughter whines and nags me. I don't suggest you try that ... but ...

 

[CarolinaPE]

I agree with RDK on this one. If they are too cheap to get the proper materials and too much of a tight-wad about letting you go to a local convention what do you think it will be like when it comes raise time? I have worked for places where the mentality was "cut, cut, cut" and not expand anything. Get off the sinking ship while you can but be patient enough not to jump from a sinking ship to another that is taking a torpedo in the side!