Tedium 7

[SKIAK]

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?

 

[ctopher]

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)

 

[KENAT]

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...

 

[KENAT]

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 course;-).

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

 

[SKIAK]

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.

 

[HgTX]

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

 

[KENAT]

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...

 

[HgTX]

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

 

[SKIAK]

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.

 

[ctopher]

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)

 

[jgailla]

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

 

[ewh]

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. - [small]Thomas Jefferson [/small]

 

[Jmadamek]

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.

 

[jmw]

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

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[SKIAK]

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.

 

[jmw]

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

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[TheTick]

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.

 

[SomptingGuy]

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

 

[GregLocock]

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

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[btrueblood]

"... 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.