Have you slacked off in the last weeks of a job?

[Engineer]

What type of plant?

Tooling plant. Built machinery for production. About 40 skilled trade machine builders/tool and die makers and Engineer/Engineering Techs there.

 

[Red Squirrel]

How is it to work in manufacturing? Every time I watch "How it's made" I can't help but think how boring those jobs must get after a while, doing the same thing over and over.

 

[Engineer]

How is it to work in manufacturing? Every time I watch "How it's made" I can't help but think how boring those jobs must get after a while, doing the same thing over and over.

Tooling plant is not a traditional manufacturing plant. We build the machinery for the various needs of production of the plant. Most of my working career has generally been involved in controls design / programming / debug for a machine that will never be built twice. Always something different for the most part.

Now if I worked in manufacturing as a general worker....that would be correct.

Currently, I work for a builder / integrator that builds equipment for many manufacturing companies. All types of equipment being built.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Oh I see, yeah that could be more interesting then. Basically build the machines that make things. So lot of robotics and stuff I'm sure.

 

[Engineer]

Oh I see, yeah that could be more interesting then. Basically build the machines that make things. So lot of robotics and stuff I'm sure.

Yep. Here's one that I did about 5 years ago (I need to really film more of my stuff, lol).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9vnwhBvbIc

The robot is both the material handler (i.e. moving stuff around) and the tool (precision positioning for the holes punched and flats). This is a machine to pierce, flatten and bend tubes for side impact airbags (along the roof line of the car).

 

[Leros]

I actually work harder because I'm trying to wrap things up and make the transition easier.

 

[Imp]

Yep. Sub-consciously. My first non-temporary job, I checked out mentally a month in advance. Even showed up for late over an hour late because I stopped double/triple-checking my shift schedule. Oh wait, I did this 2 times...

All the other jobs I held were temporary so I never really slacked off. I actually ramped it up near the end to finish stuff off.

Think I'm about done at my current job. Haven't found anything yet, but have just grown tired due to the lack of work. I found out a few weeks back that my supervisor has himself checked out. He's about to retire, just waiting for a "nudge" (retirement incentive). Usually, he sleeps for an hour at his desk with no attempt to hide it. I get pissed off when I actually get work now... I'm totally there just to collect a paycheck. Just gotta finish my master's.