WD-40, DUCT TAPE, AND PERSONNEL
We recently had a gear malfunction in our press folder when the teeth on a plastic cog became worn and no longer meshed with others. After asking ourselves why they would install one plastic cog among the other metal ones, we began to problem-solve.
We initially thought we were completely shut down, but our most experienced press hand, Dennis, was able to nurse it back into operation, with no guarantee of a fix lasting more than a few months (Weeks? Days? Hours?). In addition, we were uncertain if we would have only ½ fold capability, or the usual ¼ fold functionality required by several customers. That was Friday, and I’m happy to report that after a full day of printing Monday it’s all systems “go”.
The point here is that every mechanical and human cog is important to your operation. If not for the “farmer ingenuity” Dennis possesses, who knows what we would have done. From the owner and publisher on down, every person has a role to fill. If any of those cogs are missing or doesn’t mesh with the others, you will have a problem on your hands.
Mechanical cogs are easier to maintain or replace than personnel; you simply repair or replace and move on. When the cog has a heart and head, diagnosis and repair/replacement can be a challenge. Perhaps the issue stems from job dissatisfaction, pay, hours, working conditions, a better offer, stress, problems at home or with their health, retirement… the list is endless.
Likewise, maintaining human cogs is easier than repairing or replacing them. While budget constraints and handbook policies often limit an obvious fix, addressing personnel issues once detected will save you both time and money in the long run. Communication is the WD-40 of personnel cogs. If applied regularly and liberally, you won’t need to break out the duct tape and repair or bush-fix a personnel issue.
Sometimes averting a problem with communication is simple. A generous dose of “please” and “thank you” in the workplace can go a long way. Other times it’s much more involved, needing to pull in two or more people to talk through an issue. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s better than losing good people when it could be avoided. Along with communication, don’t forget to document problems and potential solutions in case litigation looms.
Take care of your cogs. Customer service representatives, reporters, salespeople, management, bookkeepers, mail room workers, press operators, graphic designers, etc. all play a hand in producing a great product your customers will continue to read. The smoother they mesh, the better your operation will perform.
Mike
We initially thought we were completely shut down, but our most experienced press hand, Dennis, was able to nurse it back into operation, with no guarantee of a fix lasting more than a few months (Weeks? Days? Hours?). In addition, we were uncertain if we would have only ½ fold capability, or the usual ¼ fold functionality required by several customers. That was Friday, and I’m happy to report that after a full day of printing Monday it’s all systems “go”.
The point here is that every mechanical and human cog is important to your operation. If not for the “farmer ingenuity” Dennis possesses, who knows what we would have done. From the owner and publisher on down, every person has a role to fill. If any of those cogs are missing or doesn’t mesh with the others, you will have a problem on your hands.
Mechanical cogs are easier to maintain or replace than personnel; you simply repair or replace and move on. When the cog has a heart and head, diagnosis and repair/replacement can be a challenge. Perhaps the issue stems from job dissatisfaction, pay, hours, working conditions, a better offer, stress, problems at home or with their health, retirement… the list is endless.
Likewise, maintaining human cogs is easier than repairing or replacing them. While budget constraints and handbook policies often limit an obvious fix, addressing personnel issues once detected will save you both time and money in the long run. Communication is the WD-40 of personnel cogs. If applied regularly and liberally, you won’t need to break out the duct tape and repair or bush-fix a personnel issue.
Sometimes averting a problem with communication is simple. A generous dose of “please” and “thank you” in the workplace can go a long way. Other times it’s much more involved, needing to pull in two or more people to talk through an issue. While it can be uncomfortable, it’s better than losing good people when it could be avoided. Along with communication, don’t forget to document problems and potential solutions in case litigation looms.
Take care of your cogs. Customer service representatives, reporters, salespeople, management, bookkeepers, mail room workers, press operators, graphic designers, etc. all play a hand in producing a great product your customers will continue to read. The smoother they mesh, the better your operation will perform.
Mike