The results of strategic communication and the consequences of reactive communication.

It is understood that communication is the most basic and commonly used tool for human interaction. I realize that there are a lot of management groups that take the concept of communication for granted and create a reactive communication environment. It is understood that in the current market, all workers communicate with one another. The technique that is absent in several establishments is the importance of what needs to be communicated and how is communicated and to ensure that whoever we are communicating to, understands the objective.

What I came to understand is that useful and feasible information and wise decision are the most important aspects of communication. In the engineering design world, when a customer is looking for a custom product then it has to be feasible. It is obvious that a company will not be able to deliver a product that cannot be made with the current technology. So understanding current limitations is vital for development and success. Customer requirement(s) is a form of useful information. We, as a design company, must deliver a product that will meet or exceed the customer’s expectations. In order for a company to do so, customer’s requirement must be documented and relayed to the design and manufacturing group so that the product can be built to customer’s specifications. Finally, making wise decisions during the implementation, manufacturing and delivery of the product must be present. For example delivering a known non-conforming product to the customer, just to meet deliver date, can and will damage customer’s relations and eventually this reputation will drive the business to failure.

GD repair and return mission statement

This message is intended to the General Dynamic’s repair and return organization. Our primary focus is to manage, repair and deliver customer product at the lowest rate, fastest turn around and with a minimal defect percentage. Our company is threatened by missing delivery dates, delivering non-conforming product and by other corporations that can perform the same work at a lower rate. Our vision is to capitalize on all the repairs available in the special strategic program (SSP) of the US military. Our main challenge is to increase the capability to manage an increasing number of products as rapidly as possible. Under the cognizant of lead manufacturing managers, vice presidents and president, the senior engineers and supervisors will be in charge to implement and execute all the plans required in order to adapt as the company increase the ability to support all the branches of SSP. All personnel in the repair and return facility are vital for the company’s success. As a military contractor, we should all take pride in what we do, since our main goal is to support those who protect this country.

Best and/or worst examples of organizational communication

With my previous employer, I experienced the result of poor communication implemented in a production process. This resulted in a short circuit in the system, causing damages to the assembly and next higher assembly. As the Engineer assigned to investigate the problem, I found several errors within the product’s drawing and router sheet. The router did not required inspection on component orientation. The device had several components with reverse polarities and the power connector was reversely wired. The drawing showed ambiguity in the orientation of the positive and negative terminals. Thus, the item was wired with respect to the assembler’s understanding of the drawing.

When I finished my investigation, I discussed these issues with the Operations Manager for Manufacturing. I explained that the error was caused by inefficient documentation. During the assembly process, the router shall specify the correct orientation of each mechanical and physical component and it shall reference the adequate assembly document(s). During the inspection process, the router shall specify that the unit should be inspected per drawing and for the inspector to verify that all electrical and mechanical components meet correct orientation. Finally, prior to system test, a certified technician shall perform a continuity test of the power circuits per drawing and schematic. My solution was to improve the drawing and router so that all these steps are reflected in the common process. The result of our conversation concluded on the following statement “If we write all the necessary steps in the router and drawing then, we can just find people off street and pay them ten dollars an hour to perform the job”.

 

My understanding of this comment was “Have a crew of well paid workers that can perform “guess work” while we will employ Manufacturing Engineers that will develop bogus work instructions”.