How to address a problem in new job? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: wilmer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2021, 12:57:25 pm
content: Hi Guys,I recently start a position in a company doing automation. In the first days , I check an electrical cabinet that has a linear controller( a beauty of controller) inmediteatly I notice that there was no emergency button. Also they didnt isolated neutral line and only isolated live line. I race the question to my manager and then we send an email. They respond that It will be an extra cost to put an emergency button. how in hell they didnt put the button? do they dont know that building and designing the cabinet makes them responsible?I am in a problem because I want to address that this is a stupid error that it is from a stupid design. But I am new in the job and I dont want to start to create friction with the suppliers.Any suggestions an hints in how to talk and address this are welcome.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 22, 2021, 01:26:47 pm
content: If you have raised the problem with your supervisor and are sure you have communicated the issue properly, then there is not much more you can do. There is a skill you will need to develop - and it's commonly called "a thick skin". This is because you will come across a number of situations that are less than ideal, but you will not be in a position to do much about them.The cost argument against correction is a common one and is nearly always supported by history - i.e. that the system has been working fine, without incident. The disaster whichcouldeventuate has not been encountered and is not seen as likely.If you are new in a job, becoming a champion of such matters has the potential to severely affect your future there - especially if you push too far.

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2021, 01:53:34 am
content: The advice given above is very sound. The real world doesn't work perfectly or much like it. Most of the world operates with less than optimal designs and solutions and luckily there is enough margin that it works mostly. When you get a task, do a clean, safe job and don't cut corners. Backfitting and repairing things that work but aren't quite right generally don't get priority. Good luck in your job.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2021, 02:31:53 am
content: I think you have taken it as far as you should. It's good that you have created a paper trail to void you of any responsibilities if something was to happen, but like others have said it's up to the management to act on it

author: Tomorokoshi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2021, 02:51:12 am
content: In some fashion there are construction and safety standards that apply to the product. Find out what they are. They could be specified by the customer, required by local regulations, etc. Determine which parts of the design fall under which parts of the standards. It's possible that those items are not required due to some detail with voltage, power, current, temperature, installation location, or some other factor.

author: emmawarner96
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 26, 2021, 06:44:11 am
content: Workflow inefficiencies and personality clashes are common office issues. Employees are often on the front lines of such drama and system breakdown, but they do not feel encouraged to raise concerns with supervisors or executives who have the authority to interfere.Expert members of the Society for Human Resource Management advise having faith and tact while discussing organisational issues. They share their thoughts about how straightforward, thoughtful communication can make difficult conversations easier and more efficient in the following section.And, no matter what the problem is, "be prepared to bring a solution" before bringing it to your boss's attention.

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2021, 02:20:14 am
content: Universities seldom touch on the subject of how to deal with corporate politics; but they seem to think you will learn on the job. Corporate politics for the new kid in town takes a lot of tact and tolerance, but can be played to one’s advantage by knowing when to speak up and when to shut up.Now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak, you have pointed out the possible future problem and if asked, have solutions prepared. Don’t push it when management pushes back.Don’t try to be the big shot until you have paid your corporate dues to be able to pull off things like that. Whatever you do, don’t be the finger pointer that finds someone else to blame when the fireworks start; instead watch the show while formulating solutions that would have prevented the catastrophe; ready to submit when management asks what went wrong.I used to keep a list of possible failure points etc. on a thumb drive that I would write at home after discovering them. A little distance of time away from the daily grind gave me a chance to look at such things with a better perspective and with the thumb drive not in sight of corporate eyes, I had a ready set of calmly composed sentences that I could cut and paste to quickly prepare a report that wouldn’t raise management ire.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2021, 06:13:23 am
content: Quote from: wilmer on April 22, 2021, 12:57:25 pmThis can be tricky, and it's hard to give a concrete answer because it depends on the situation.I don't think you should drop it entirely, but don't be the guy just going on and on about this one thing. But if you are polite about it I think you can bring it up again.First, it's always good to be humble and check your assumptions. Missing e-stop and insufficient isolation both could be serious issues, but depend on the situation. You are probably right, but do try to make sure that these are real issues -- "the way it should be" or is it just "nice to have"? Or maybe there is some alternative protections that they didn't actually explain to you? This can also help frame your conversations -- rather than saying "this is what you have to do" you can explain the types of systems you are used to and why they have certain safety features, and be asking how this system handles it.If there are relevant standards or documented industry norms that you can point to, that also will help. It's a lot easier for a manager to do something to decide to comply with an industry standard rather than "because the new guy said so".You might also need a bit of time to figure out the right person to talk to at the new organization. It's possible that your first email just didn't go to the right person. In any organization there are people who are actually motivated and empowered to fix things and there are those who aren't. It's not necessarily anything to do with their job title.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2021, 06:43:17 am
content: As someone who has been in this situation before, companies that operate without standards and on a cost basis make mistakes. Big ones. Cover your arse lest thy end a scapegoat. If you have a concern raise it as stated but create a paper trail and keep your own copy of it. If you are asked to do something, raise a concern and keep a copy of it. That’s all you can do.If anyone is at risk or in danger directly I’d look elsewhere ASAP and report them to whatever safety standards board you have there.However don’t expect competence everywhere. It’s a rare thing really.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2021, 02:18:48 pm
content: +1 on the paper trail ...While dated material such as memos or emails are obvious, even your own personal notes have value, especially if recorded at the time of the event. Include names, dates, times along with the subject matter.Oh... keep hard copies of everything, just in case the email server has an "accident".

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2021, 06:30:45 pm
content: Yes definitely with the email server thing.I recently had an issue with a local school here and they blamed their failure to submit some important paperwork on an IT problem when they had actually said it was sent 6 months before. They said they had no record of doing it and couldn’t be responsible for the issue. Immediately formal complaint was raised with email print out with headers and the staff member mysteriously left the week after. Hmmmmmmmmm.First step of all issues start with trying to hide it. This is followed by finding someone to blame it on. Eventually when those options run out the issue is dealt with. Never be a part of the first two steps.Also watch out for career assassins who will shit on anyone to be the last person out of the door.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2021, 07:59:10 pm
content: It pains me to point this out, but if you addressed your concerns to management in the same broken English as your post here, perhaps that's one reason why it wasn't taken seriously.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2021, 02:23:18 am
content: I don't think gramma has anything to do with a ECO switch, unfortunately for the paper pushers that notice such things.well two things can happen, one is funnythe 2nd is the fire department cutting off someones arm that got entangled with a shaft or such, and based on the grounding issues more likely 1 or more people being killed or injured by electricity. hey if you go home ill give you $500. just walk it off kidthis place sounds like its going to claim the employee attempted self injury for compensation (the usual). the reasonable solution is to find another job, because that workplace is lol. probobly just going to try to groom you into a scumbag. don't play russian roulette with industrial garbage

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2021, 03:37:40 pm
content: Quote from: Sal Ammoniac on April 27, 2021, 07:59:10 pmThat was my first thought as well. I even went back and looked at the OP's flag to see if he was from an English speaking country and he is.My advice to the OP: Unless you are specifically directed to find and report defects such as these then don't do it, at least for the time being. But the first thing that you NEED do to is that if you want to be takenseriously, then you need to be working on seriously improving your spelling and grammar skills! Unless you're going to be nothing more that janitor or something like that, those skills are going to be vital to your entire career and not just this one situation.Take this from someone who, in school, didn't think that those skills were important and that neglected them. I have to WORK everyday to correct my spelling and grammar. I ended up spending almost my entire engineering career writing systems requirements, engineering analysis and about a zillion technical manuals so bad grammar and speeling :-O, (and bad typing!) has been a real challenge!I'm sorry if English isn't your native language. It's tough enough even when it is!

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2021, 03:46:49 pm
content: Quote from: Stray Electron on April 28, 2021, 03:37:40 pmSoftware to detect/correct bad spelling exists and the red squiggly line feature under a mistyped word has been there for ages.English is not my native language either but there are plenty of ways to improve your english, more than ever before.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2021, 05:32:47 pm
content: Quote from: Refrigerator on April 28, 2021, 03:46:49 pmFor advanced English speakers onlyhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/rant-about-auto-correct/msg776086/#msg776086