I hate my job because.....
Discussion
... I'm getting totally pissed off with having to make up for the problems caused by every other 
in the sales/delivery/support process!
My company sells equipment to the rail industry. Everything to do with track maintenance from simple rail saws and wrenches to fit to bolted joints up to multi-million pound machines to move pre-made track and switches and kit to install/tension the catenary cables.
My little area of this is ultrasonic equipment to test for defects. cracks and bad welds.
In theory, I'm supposed to carry out presentations to potential customers, commission new equipment and train operators to use the kit. I was told at interview that it would be a rare thing for trips to be any longer than fly out Monday, fly home Friday.
In practice, I'm involved in the development of new kit, testing on receipt from our (Russian) suppliers, translation of the manuals, installing, sorting out electrical/electronic/mechanical problems and having to train customers, who have no interest or experience how to use it.
The majority of my input is at the end of the manufacturing/sales process which results in my never having any time to do my job/check out the equipment because it has to be delivered on schedule.
A typical example is the project which I'm on now. I had a two week slot to test the kit (from Russia) which arrived two weeks late then had a fault which took two weeks for the supplier to sort out.
My time for testing in the uK was totally lost and the kit was shipped to our factory ion France to integrate into a rail vehicle. I was due to travel there and spend a week setting up and testing. The week turned into a day as there were problems getting a crane to lift the vehicle onto track.
This ended up meaning that I was trying to set up, outside, in France, in January until 10 at night in freezing conditions ready for customer acceptance the next day.
Strangely enough, for many reasons, the customer would not sign off the factory acceptance test!
Hoorah! This would give me time to iron out the bugs before e the next test!
No!
For some reason, it was shipped to Bangkok for the factory and site acceptance tests to be carried out together. Unfortunately some prise plum shipped it before I could spend any time fixing the bugs!
I came out to Bangkok in February to .attend the acceptance testing, sorted out most of the bugs, found a couple more and was ready for the acceptance testing... The relevant persons from the customer's company decided that they wouldn't attend!
I'm out here again now, sorted out all problems and found a new one, which I have a solution for, and was preparing to come back in two weeks to sort out (customer decided not to attend acceptance testing again!0
I was ready to return today but was told by MD that I should stay on until the job was finished!!!!
Problems are:-
1) Some items I need are nigh on impossible to obtain in Thailand.
2) There are National holidays in Thailand Monday, Thursday and Friday this week
3) The customer has still not confirmed if/when they will attend for testing.
Bearing in mind that I am on a flat salary (and not particularly high) is it unreasonable that I'm getting a bit pissed off?
in the sales/delivery/support process!My company sells equipment to the rail industry. Everything to do with track maintenance from simple rail saws and wrenches to fit to bolted joints up to multi-million pound machines to move pre-made track and switches and kit to install/tension the catenary cables.
My little area of this is ultrasonic equipment to test for defects. cracks and bad welds.
In theory, I'm supposed to carry out presentations to potential customers, commission new equipment and train operators to use the kit. I was told at interview that it would be a rare thing for trips to be any longer than fly out Monday, fly home Friday.
In practice, I'm involved in the development of new kit, testing on receipt from our (Russian) suppliers, translation of the manuals, installing, sorting out electrical/electronic/mechanical problems and having to train customers, who have no interest or experience how to use it.
The majority of my input is at the end of the manufacturing/sales process which results in my never having any time to do my job/check out the equipment because it has to be delivered on schedule.
A typical example is the project which I'm on now. I had a two week slot to test the kit (from Russia) which arrived two weeks late then had a fault which took two weeks for the supplier to sort out.
My time for testing in the uK was totally lost and the kit was shipped to our factory ion France to integrate into a rail vehicle. I was due to travel there and spend a week setting up and testing. The week turned into a day as there were problems getting a crane to lift the vehicle onto track.
This ended up meaning that I was trying to set up, outside, in France, in January until 10 at night in freezing conditions ready for customer acceptance the next day.
Strangely enough, for many reasons, the customer would not sign off the factory acceptance test!
Hoorah! This would give me time to iron out the bugs before e the next test!
No!
For some reason, it was shipped to Bangkok for the factory and site acceptance tests to be carried out together. Unfortunately some prise plum shipped it before I could spend any time fixing the bugs!
I came out to Bangkok in February to .attend the acceptance testing, sorted out most of the bugs, found a couple more and was ready for the acceptance testing... The relevant persons from the customer's company decided that they wouldn't attend!
I'm out here again now, sorted out all problems and found a new one, which I have a solution for, and was preparing to come back in two weeks to sort out (customer decided not to attend acceptance testing again!0
I was ready to return today but was told by MD that I should stay on until the job was finished!!!!
Problems are:-
1) Some items I need are nigh on impossible to obtain in Thailand.
2) There are National holidays in Thailand Monday, Thursday and Friday this week
3) The customer has still not confirmed if/when they will attend for testing.
Bearing in mind that I am on a flat salary (and not particularly high) is it unreasonable that I'm getting a bit pissed off?
AW111 said:
"I need a minimun of two weeks to test and comission in this new piece of equipment we are designing".
Ok, that sounds reasonable.
Design is delayed
Manufacturing is delayed because other things jump the queue
Next step :
"The customer wants it NOW, and we have just finished building it, so we have booked freight for pickup in two days.
It will take 1/2 day to pack, so you have a day to do the test and comissioning"
@#%&*/*%%#&&%@&&#@&%@%
I feel your pain!Ok, that sounds reasonable.
Design is delayed
Manufacturing is delayed because other things jump the queue
Next step :
"The customer wants it NOW, and we have just finished building it, so we have booked freight for pickup in two days.
It will take 1/2 day to pack, so you have a day to do the test and comissioning"
@#%&*/*%%#&&%@&&#@&%@%
elanfan said:
OP sounds like they'd be in trouble without you so. Surely you are in a strong position to renegotiate your job description and reward package. I'd fly home if you cannot get an agreed sign off date! When they want you back make sure you aren't available!
I'm having similar thoughts at the moment! 
0000 said:
PoleDriver said:
elanfan said:
OP sounds like they'd be in trouble without you so. Surely you are in a strong position to renegotiate your job description and reward package. I'd fly home if you cannot get an agreed sign off date! When they want you back make sure you aren't available!
I'm having similar thoughts at the moment! I hated having a job that sent me all over, never getting to experience places or spend time with anyone you give a toss about. And that was before having kids and with an agreement that I wouldn't be away at weekends, ever. Keeping you out there is a lot cheaper if they're not having to fly you back on a Friday and out again on a Monday.
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