Are understaffed departments and unrealistic project deadlines the norm? 57

[LukeBizzy]

Hello,

I work for a mid size OEM. I feel like my work environment is extremely stressful. If anything it just gets worse as the years go on. Our company has been busy for years. New large scale projects pop up all the time and we make no realistic effort to schedule them. They just get thrown on the pile and often share the same deadlines as the projects we already have. Our manpower is much less than the workload, so we all just run back and forth between projects, putting out the fires of the day. The only way we survive is by cutting corners and releasing minimally checked and subpar designs. I would say that our overall quality of work is not that great, but luckily we haven't had any catastrophes. Our sales numbers increase each year, but our staff levels remain the same or even shrink (i.e. people leave and never get replaced).

I make due working in this environment, but it's takes its toll. I've read many threads on eng-tips and I feel like this topic pops up every once in a while. It seems like a lot of other people are in the same boat. I especially saw a lot of structural engineers complaining about this sort of thing; which shocked me. I naively assumed that companies would not skimp on designs with so much at stake.

Do you guys feel like this is the norm these days? Is this something you'd expect to see in certain industries and not in others? Do you feel like company size plays a role?

I'm looking forward to an interesting discussion.

Thank you.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Companies are in business to make money for their shareholders... if that requires putting out sub-par designs for short-term gains, they'll do it. If they get away with it time and again, they'll continue to do it. It's your choice to deal with it and continue working there or move along.

The only real issue I can see is if these sub-par designs are somehow safety related... then you need to get the proper authorities involved.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[Jboggs]

In my experience most companies are owned and run by people that are there for one reason: profit. Don't misconstrue that statement like I think that's a bad thing. I don't. Not at all. The bad thing is that these folks generally have NO IDEA what is involved in the engineering process. In their mind it is some magical formula that produces an answer to their questions. As a result they see no need to allocate much time or money to it. In fact some resent having to allocate ANY to it. I have even seen this in managers who came up thru the engineering ranks.

Over the years I have come to a better understanding of their world. Necessarily EVERYTHING in the business is seen as a cost. Everything, including engineering. We can bitch and moan about never being given enough time or money to do a job right, but in the end we enable that very mindset by getting the job done anyway.

Of course every company is different, as well as every manager. So this phenomenon will be much worse in some companies than others. A few managers are intent on "getting it right" while some really do not care if its right or not as long as it gets the immediate result they're after, and screw next quarter or next year.

I've also learned that many businesses are run by managers who never really got out of the "we're on the verge of failure" mode that accompanies all startups. They see themselves always walking right on the cliff's edge no matter how good the balance sheet might be. They run their businesses that way, personally scouring each purchase order to see if someone ordered a box of pencils they might not need. For these folks any investments in engineering personnel or tools are nothing more than a necessary evil.

 

[TheTick]

Engineers make machines. Companies sell products.

 

[jgailla]

Engineers should run engineering companies, not MBAs. Profit is necessary, but it's not the most important thing.

 

[SNORGY]

An anonymously assigned star to the immediately above post.

 

[IRstuff]

"but it's not the most important thing."

It is to the shareholders; if you are not doing a "buy and hold" then what happens two years from now is irrelevant to you.

TTFN
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[moltenmetal]

There's a huge difference between working hard and smart as part of a true team, and being WORKED hard for profit that is not shared with you. A lot of people, especially engineers, confuse "professionalism" or a salaried position with indentured servitude.

One thing I've noticed about engineers is that we have a poor toleration for failure. When loaded more and more, we tend to just work harder and smarter rather than letting the thing go off the rails, or slowing things down. We SAY to management that "if you cut corners too much, something is going to give and someone is going to get hurt!", but when that warning is tested, it fails to come true. We prove ourselves to be liars- 'fraidy cats. It becomes viewed as "safe" to ignore us.

Here's what I suggest: work 40 hours per week. Encourage your colleagues to do the same. If that causes deadlines to be missed, so be it- but don't let anything ship until it's done properly and safely. Don't work a second more than that until and unless a slice of the extra profit being generated from working you and your colleagues to the bone, is being shared with you in the form of either ownership or a meaningful profit sharing scheme. If that is forthcoming, by all means- work harder, and smarter, because there is a reward for doing these things- but still you cannot let dangerous stuff go out the door. These things are not forthcoming? Find another job where your contribution is better respected. Most importantly, find a place where you can get a better sleep-at-night factor out of knowing that the work is being done under conditions where people aren't so stressed and rushed that an error or omission possibly causing a big failure isn't likely just around the corner. It could be your failure- or the thing that fails could be you.

Not every employer is a sweatshop. Some do truly view their employees as members of a team, share the profit fairly, and have a proper understanding of liability. All businesses exist to make money, but not all of them are mills that grind up people and materials both in the process for the generation of short-term gains.

 

[2dye4]

Let deadlines go missed. Do your work at a reasonable rate, suppress your worries, roll with the chaos, let managers get red faced and scream.

They won't do a damnd thing as long as we are pulling our hair out and saving their arses.

Do good work at a reasonable rate, leave the crap in the office when you leave at 5:00.

Life expectancy today is around 29200 days. Think about that each day.

 

[moltenmetal]

2dye4- amen.

 

[TheTick]

Detachment is not apathy.

 

[zeusfaber]

My quote from September, overheard in a quarterly review:

"We have stopped firefighting. All we are able to do now is a bit of boundary cooling".

A.

 

[LukeBizzy]

Great posts everyone. Thanks for your input.

It sounds like this sort of problem is the norm; to some degree. I figured as much, but it was worth checking. It’s always good to know where you stand.

The comments about us being enablers were interesting. I never thought about it like that. It’s a shame that management thinks we are in a game of tug of war; as if I am trying to screw them and they are trying to screw me back. I just come in each day and do my best for the company; like I’m supposed to. Nothing more. I’m not trying to play any games. I hate when someone tries to take advantage of me. I find it offensive and it makes me angry. I put in a respectable amount of overtime each week, but I don’t go crazy. We have profit sharing, but it doesn’t motivate me to go beyond my usual limits because the rewards are not direct; they get spread throughout the entire company. Therefore, it’s not worth killing myself; while others don’t and collect the same rewards.

All in all, my job is bearable, so I’ll probably stay for a while. When I do leave, it will be to do a different type of work; not to escape my working conditions because it sounds like it’s just as bad everywhere else.

I think this thread will be a valuable read for someone early in their career.

 

[IRstuff]

Most of my management were engineers, so they know the score.

But:
> Necessity is the mother of invention, so unless we are pushed to the our limits, we won't necessarily know how much we can innovate
> The horse may talk

The latter refers to a fable about a man who is on the verge of being executed, but promises to make the king's horse talk in two years. When asked later about the impossibility of this task, the man replies, "I've gotten two years of life out of this deal; the king might die before then, or the horse may talk,"

Engineers are not strictly fee for service; some of us have a certain amount of investiture, because it's a PITA to be unemployed and to find a job that we like. To that end, ensuring the success of our companies is not strictly about enabling our management, but also to ensure a steady job. I've got a great hobby that they pay me to pursue, and it would be annoying to no end to actually have to work for a living.

TTFN
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[MikeHalloran]

No one in his or her right mind will leave a company that is run well, makes a profit, and treats its employees like real people, or even assets. ... unless the incumbent, or the company, dies.

The corollary is that almost any job that's available, is available precisely because the job is broken, or the company is broken, and no person in his or her right mind would stay there voluntarily.

The trick is to find a company that's at least heading in the right direction.

So far, all such have eluded me, or didn't want me because of all the broken jobs I've accepted.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[moltenmetal]

Too many profit sharing schemes are a joke. Too little of the profit is shared. If the business isn't profitable either because it's in a poor business sector or because it's managed poorly (too much overhead etc.), then of course there isn't much to be shared- but if so perhaps it's time to look somewhere else- they're probably on the downhill slope and you don't want to hang around in that case. Find out- that information is usually available, even for a private company- and yes, you should care about that stuff!

If profit sharing is done properly, it is definitely motivating. Sure, these programs are not transparent, so you can't easily know how you are compensated relative to your colleagues, but you should have a good idea of what your putative "market value" is in salary terms. Does the profit sharing put you into the high quartile? High decile? Or does it just bring you up to average? These things matter, because regardless what your boss may say to you, your perceived value to the company is reflected by your wages. That is, unless you're one of those schmucks who don't care about money and hence never ask for more of it, in which case you'll be paid a cost of living increase and no more- others will be happy to take your share if you don't ask for it.

You're getting some profit sharing- the amount should be a guide to a maximum amount of OT you should be willing to put in to meet their increasing deadlines. Otherwise, great advice has already been given. I love the line, "Detatchment is not apathy"- it's accurate, and great advice. I only wish a few more of us would learn it!

 

[controlsdude]

Cutting hours down on jobs and how to do it faster is the norm. This is one way they maximize profit. The other way is outsourcing, so it could of went that way. You could be managing people half way around the world and basically doing the same projects.

I stopped taking to heart "if a project is not done its my fault line". I will put forth an honest effort but I am not going to kill myself or work extremely long hours to get some impossible task done. Not worth the health issues it always brings to you.

 

[Compositepro]

Controlsdude does bring up a good point. Learn not to take criticism too personally. Whatever you do, there will always be criticism. Yet many engineers strive to be perfectionists and work to avoid any possibility of being criticized. This will result in unhappiness and unnecessary conflicts with bosses and co-workers (due to arguments about whether the criticism is fair, or who is at fault).

 

[LukeBizzy]

Compositepro,

I feel like you're onto something, but what is your technique? Do you just sit there and take it when under attack? I have no problem "taking it" when I am truly at fault. However, I find it hard to keep my mouth shut when the criticism is based on nonsense. Sometimes I feel I have a valid defense.

Over the years, I have recognized the value of keeping your mouth shut and choosing your battles. Although, I should probably exercise these virtues more often.

 

[Compositepro]

My technique? Save your money so you reach a point where you feel like you don't need the job. Then as you get older you start to realize how insecure other people feel and that this is often the reason that they criticize. Proving that you are right and they are wrong only creates an enemy. While large organizations often pay well, they are always bureaucracies and the only goal of a bureaucracy is to ensure compliance to rules. Keeping your boss reasonably happy is always required. Eventually you will get a real A-hole for a boss.
My goal since I was a teenager was to have my own business and be my own boss. I have always taken the attitude towards my work of 'what would I do if this were my business'? Often this was appreciated by my bosses, sometimes not. But it did allow me to learn and grow to the point where I now am my own boss running a manufacturing business. It did also require great persistence, which is another trait that you have to develop early in your life. If you are not persistent in achieving success early in your career working for a corporation, do you really expect to suddenly change when you are on your own?