Good to hear from someone who can relate to the guys on the shop floor. I just left a shop where upper management had no floor experience but only offered criticism. It crushes shop morale when this happens. I'd rather make less money and be happy going to work than make more money and dread waking up every morning.
I'm pretty flexible on time needed off. like you said. One shift shops are open during regular business hours. So it is hard to take care of certain appointments. Making up if wanted is there .5 in the morning or .5 in the evening. Working thru lunch is a no-no. Honestly in the last 30 years people just don't do it. Sitting on the toilet with machine running isn't working. I'm not keen on someone setting there own hours and disrupting the apple cart. Machinist can get petty, jealous & resentful pretty easy. Discipline has a role in the shop. Not the boot camp attitude, but certain guidelines are needed to keep the flow of work going.
My boss is a tightwad with pay and he loses good people because of it BUT he retains some really good older guys (like me :0) because he is SUPER FLEXIBLE with hours. For some (again mainly older) guys this is a big deal. I can run almost any machine we have but the one I mainly work on just croaked and has to be replaced. Since we are slow right now and I know my boss will drag his feet for months buying a replacement machine, I asked if I could take off the summer to work on my rental income property. Yes he said, thinking about saving money. His cheapness is a win for me! Plus it actually gives the guys that work there a disproportionate amount of power, in a way, because he can not replace us for what he pays us; not even close. I am writing this to explain the powerful benefit of schedule flexibility; not to endorse being a penny pincher boss!!!
You pretty much hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. I have an associates degree in automated manufacturing as well as 3 years additional experience in 4 different shops from aerospace to medical to napkin drawing parts with 4 holes in a block of steel. The problem I've seen in this industry is all of these owners tell me all this crap of how great my life is going to be and how much I'm going to do for them and all of the great tasks I'm going to do on a daily basis, and I get in and they throw me on production with thousands of parts and that's where I'll stay for 40 years if I let them. There is a time and a place but I genuinely believe based off of my experience I'm past that. I specifically said I didn't want to do this sort of thing in the place I work now in my interview (decent pay, amazing great benefits) yet I can't stand the job because it's nothing but politics. They use technology from 1980 in a shop full of new machines that the coorperation that owns them bought. I have nowhere to go and the job is an absolute bore not to mention I'm not doing anything I talked to the owner about in the interview. I absolutely love this trade and how much technology and knowledge there is out there, but near where I live it seems to be the same mediocre shops producing medoicre work. I just bought my first haas and am about to go into my own business. I think in my local area there is a need for something new. Off topic now, but anyway, great points.
I hear a lot that if you're going to criticize you should begin with the good. I actually think this is the wrong way round. It just makes people expect that the only reason you're saying anything good is to get ready for the real message. If someone screws up, just say it. I'd rather know that praise means praise and not just the old "hey you look good, did you get a haircut? And, uh... BTW, I totaled your car."
I’m 2 days in at my first machine shop job which I know isn’t a lot. But at this shop the machines are all pretty old 80’s/90’s and the place seems disorganized and not clean. There’s always fluids on the floor and metal chips everywhere, to clean the machines they just broom them off and blow air everywhere sending chips and fluid everywhere. No one wears gloves for any task, hydraulic fluid and chemicals all over these guys hands all day and constantly brushing off tables with bare hands the one guy’s hands were all cut up it made me cringe the whole place seems a bit jacked up...Anyone been in a shop where they felt this way or is this standard for shops...?
I’ve seen it a lot, but that doesn’t make it right. Always take your own safety as your own responsibility. No job at any one shop is worth getting hurt / sick over.
I'm in my first shop after finishing one career and after completing my education in machining. The shop is great, hours... well not so much, the other machinists are great and knowledgeable and sups are great but the owners.... well, that's something entirely different. The owners don't reinvest in their company and reinvesting does NOT have to be monetarily. Simply knowing who is on the floor or conversing with the operators and knowing by first name (company is less than 25 ppl) and introducing yourself might help. They do walk the floor but not once have they introduced themselves. It's a simple sign of 'giving a fuck' and saying "hey, thanks for making me money today". It is the colloquial equivalent of 'happy wife, happy life'. If the owners don't show signs of care in me, why should I care what jobs are rolling in (or out)?? I'm not looking for weekly praise or any special treatment... nothing of the sort.
Totally agree about the flex hours. In the Bay Area, workers often have to arrive an hour early, so they won't be late just in case there is heavy traffic.
44 hours a week 😊 37 in the uk 🇬🇧 anything over is 2x rate...Most important thing in my experience is everybody needs to get along and have a laugh @ work sounds basic but solidarity and the ability to take and have a joke goes a long way, selecting the right character and personality for your company is just as important as skill and experience
You're one of the lucky few to have a 37 hour week, a lot of factory jobs in the UK are now expecting 44-50 as standard, it's an absolute joke how this can be any sort of work life balance, I'm happy to put in those sort of hours or even more if it's my business but if it's someone else's no way, I'd rather earn minimum wage working for myself sweeping leaves or digging ditches!
ARE you guys hiring? I agree with letting people think for themselves. I'm the kind of guy that thinks outside the box dont have that at a lot of shops anymore.
A book that I found a lot of value in as it relates to employees/company success: “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. A common point he makes is about finding the right employees, traits and desires of those employees, fueling their success/company success. Morale is a byproduct. A motivated person is usually self motivated and looking to make a difference.....a “clock watcher”/“Deputy Downer” is an employee that will drag a company down...apathy in work and likely life. It’s a fantastic book, quick read.
yeah i had my yearly review, and was told she wasnt going to pay me to keep so. ill be looking for another job when i eventually get the call from them. shes not going to know about me leaving till i just tell her straight up 2 weeks notice. that shit pissed me off.
Don't give them two weeks. Find a new job and just leave. If the current shop is not going to give you a raise then they probably just tell you to leave right away if you give them the two weeks notice.
I use to work for someone that was very unappreciative and now I work for myself. Just a bit of an insight, I diagnosed an interior fan that needed replacing, my stupid then boss payed $80 to get a second opinion that turned out to be the same diagnosis as mine. The attitude in that place is unbelievable After I left I was told morale in that place was like as if someone had died. They have now earned themselves a very good reputation and because of this they can’t find any replacements. It’s been 20 months since I’ve been working there and I’ve estimated that they have lost at least 160k in turnover.
I like the flex hours. It works great if upper management is on board with it too. Keep up the great work Ian. Question: Have you ever given/had an opportunity to give your employee's straight time "in lieu hours" for hours worked overtime after 44 hrs sometimes called "booked hours"? What"s your opinion on this?
Great video, Ian. Here is a topic for a future video. Should management have set-up men be responsible for one or two machines only, or should they be required to set up any CNC machine in the shop.
Good to hear from someone who can relate to the guys on the shop floor. I just left a shop where upper management had no floor experience but only offered criticism. It crushes shop morale when this happens. I'd rather make less money and be happy going to work than make more money and dread waking up every morning.
I'm pretty flexible on time needed off. like you said. One shift shops are open during regular business hours. So it is hard to take care of certain appointments. Making up if wanted is there .5 in the morning or .5 in the evening. Working thru lunch is a no-no. Honestly in the last 30 years people just don't do it. Sitting on the toilet with machine running isn't working. I'm not keen on someone setting there own hours and disrupting the apple cart. Machinist can get petty, jealous & resentful pretty easy. Discipline has a role in the shop. Not the boot camp attitude, but certain guidelines are needed to keep the flow of work going.
My boss is a tightwad with pay and he loses good people because of it BUT he retains some really good older guys (like me :0) because he is SUPER FLEXIBLE with hours. For some (again mainly older) guys this is a big deal. I can run almost any machine we have but the one I mainly work on just croaked and has to be replaced. Since we are slow right now and I know my boss will drag his feet for months buying a replacement machine, I asked if I could take off the summer to work on my rental income property. Yes he said, thinking about saving money. His cheapness is a win for me! Plus it actually gives the guys that work there a disproportionate amount of power, in a way, because he can not replace us for what he pays us; not even close. I am writing this to explain the powerful benefit of schedule flexibility; not to endorse being a penny pincher boss!!!
You pretty much hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. I have an associates degree in automated manufacturing as well as 3 years additional experience in 4 different shops from aerospace to medical to napkin drawing parts with 4 holes in a block of steel. The problem I've seen in this industry is all of these owners tell me all this crap of how great my life is going to be and how much I'm going to do for them and all of the great tasks I'm going to do on a daily basis, and I get in and they throw me on production with thousands of parts and that's where I'll stay for 40 years if I let them. There is a time and a place but I genuinely believe based off of my experience I'm past that. I specifically said I didn't want to do this sort of thing in the place I work now in my interview (decent pay, amazing great benefits) yet I can't stand the job because it's nothing but politics. They use technology from 1980 in a shop full of new machines that the coorperation that owns them bought. I have nowhere to go and the job is an absolute bore not to mention I'm not doing anything I talked to the owner about in the interview. I absolutely love this trade and how much technology and knowledge there is out there, but near where I live it seems to be the same mediocre shops producing medoicre work. I just bought my first haas and am about to go into my own business. I think in my local area there is a need for something new. Off topic now, but anyway, great points.
I just pay my nieces and nephews with pokemon cards, they work hard!
I hear a lot that if you're going to criticize you should begin with the good. I actually think this is the wrong way round. It just makes people expect that the only reason you're saying anything good is to get ready for the real message. If someone screws up, just say it. I'd rather know that praise means praise and not just the old "hey you look good, did you get a haircut? And, uh... BTW, I totaled your car."
I’m 2 days in at my first machine shop job which I know isn’t a lot. But at this shop the machines are all pretty old 80’s/90’s and the place seems disorganized and not clean. There’s always fluids on the floor and metal chips everywhere, to clean the machines they just broom them off and blow air everywhere sending chips and fluid everywhere. No one wears gloves for any task, hydraulic fluid and chemicals all over these guys hands all day and constantly brushing off tables with bare hands the one guy’s hands were all cut up it made me cringe the whole place seems a bit jacked up...Anyone been in a shop where they felt this way or is this standard for shops...?
I’ve seen it a lot, but that doesn’t make it right. Always take your own safety as your own responsibility. No job at any one shop is worth getting hurt / sick over.
I'm in my first shop after finishing one career and after completing my education in machining. The shop is great, hours... well not so much, the other machinists are great and knowledgeable and sups are great but the owners.... well, that's something entirely different. The owners don't reinvest in their company and reinvesting does NOT have to be monetarily. Simply knowing who is on the floor or conversing with the operators and knowing by first name (company is less than 25 ppl) and introducing yourself might help. They do walk the floor but not once have they introduced themselves. It's a simple sign of 'giving a fuck' and saying "hey, thanks for making me money today". It is the colloquial equivalent of 'happy wife, happy life'. If the owners don't show signs of care in me, why should I care what jobs are rolling in (or out)?? I'm not looking for weekly praise or any special treatment... nothing of the sort.
Totally agree about the flex hours. In the Bay Area, workers often have to arrive an hour early, so they won't be late just in case there is heavy traffic.
When I get to work, the first thing I say is ", Good morning. "
44 hours a week 😊 37 in the uk 🇬🇧 anything over is 2x rate...Most important thing in my experience is everybody needs to get along and have a laugh @ work sounds basic but solidarity and the ability to take and have a joke goes a long way, selecting the right character and personality for your company is just as important as skill and experience
You're one of the lucky few to have a 37 hour week, a lot of factory jobs in the UK are now expecting 44-50 as standard, it's an absolute joke how this can be any sort of work life balance, I'm happy to put in those sort of hours or even more if it's my business but if it's someone else's no way, I'd rather earn minimum wage working for myself sweeping leaves or digging ditches!
ARE you guys hiring? I agree with letting people think for themselves. I'm the kind of guy that thinks outside the box dont have that at a lot of shops anymore.
A book that I found a lot of value in as it relates to employees/company success: “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. A common point he makes is about finding the right employees, traits and desires of those employees, fueling their success/company success. Morale is a byproduct. A motivated person is usually self motivated and looking to make a difference.....a “clock watcher”/“Deputy Downer” is an employee that will drag a company down...apathy in work and likely life.
It’s a fantastic book, quick read.
Thanks man. Would love to see more videos from you when time permits. Keep on grinding on man. Cheers
yeah i had my yearly review, and was told she wasnt going to pay me to keep so. ill be looking for another job when i eventually get the call from them. shes not going to know about me leaving till i just tell her straight up 2 weeks notice. that shit pissed me off.
Don't give them two weeks. Find a new job and just leave. If the current shop is not going to give you a raise then they probably just tell you to leave right away if you give them the two weeks notice.
I use to work for someone that was very unappreciative and now I work for myself.
Just a bit of an insight, I diagnosed an interior fan that needed replacing, my stupid then boss payed $80 to get a second opinion that turned out to be the same diagnosis as mine.
The attitude in that place is unbelievable
After I left I was told morale in that place was like as if someone had died.
They have now earned themselves a very good reputation and because of this they can’t find any replacements.
It’s been 20 months since I’ve been working there and I’ve estimated that they have lost at least 160k in turnover.
I like the flex hours. It works great if upper management is on board with it too. Keep up the great work Ian.
Question: Have you ever given/had an opportunity to give your employee's straight time "in lieu hours" for hours worked overtime after 44 hrs sometimes called "booked hours"?
What"s your opinion on this?
Great video, Ian. Here is a topic for a future video. Should management have set-up men be responsible for one or two machines only, or should they be required to set up any CNC machine in the shop.
Nice pep talk can I come in late weds