I was disassembling a Minitrix Krocodile the other day in hopes of locating a binding issue in the gear train and began to wonder how locomotives, especially steamers, are assembled en masses at the factory. Is there a large room full of work benches and optivisor clad employees toiling away? What a tedious job working day after day trying to get all those tiny pieces put together. I can see why there could be QC issues.
Probably one of the reasons most manufacturing is done outside the US............One thing that stuck out to me on the MT tour, was 2 ladies siting at work stations assembling couplers and I remember thinking " I hate assembling them in ones and twos, and these ladies are doing it for 8 hours at a stretch".
I watched the MT video this morning and was telling THE WIFE just that same thing at breakfast. I don't mind make up couplers a few at a time...but 8 hours a day 5 days a week...I don't think so. Those people working at MT have a lot more patience then me.
It's like any other assembly line type job, though Once you master the process, it becomes second nature. It's not like us when we need to do work on very small parts/assemblies, once in a while or even fairly often. I used to write procedures when Telex made hearing aids and the people following them, after they had the procedure down, became "automatic", in spite of the work on those being equally intricate. It's the same with the trades. Once those guys learn a craft, it's nothing for them to do it whereas, for the average person, it can be almost impossible. Doug
The same goes for being a machinist, advancing to CNC machinist, programing those CNC machines and then training to be a quality technician. But then in 20000 with a new VP loosing everything. It's just a job.
They could rotate those people along the production line on a weekly basis. (or monthly, daily) give them a little job variety. It also would afford fresh eyes on each job , increasing the chance that people observe areas to improve processes.
