LockeClone t1_ir1n2k9 wrote on October 4, 2022 at 5:59 PM

Reply to comment by F-21 in There’s nothing like maintaining high-quality leather. I bought my Occidental tool bag setup last year and I expect these to last for a big portion of my career as an electrician by Reaching4ThoseGrapes

I couldn't disagree more.

Look, I can totally appreciate the guys who get comfy and coast. That's the agreement and the job gets done. But it's myopic. There's a big world out there, and the climbers climb. Though your hourly rate at one firm might not reflect your effort, there are eyes in you, and in a few years there are going to be new bosses...

F-21 t1_ir1s0wm wrote on October 4, 2022 at 6:30 PM

True, but obviously you can't know what my work actually is...

I'm an engineer at a technical ceramic factory in Europe, producing stuff like ceramic fuses and heater cores. One of the largest global manufacturers we sell them to corporations like Eaton and Siemens and they're used all over the world. Specifically, I deal with the production technology of ceramic fuses meant for large electric trains and vehicles like busses (VW/Scania...). It is a very specific field, you can't really "copy" much knowledge cause automation of this hardly exists, the technology used to make the simple ceramic fuses that were common 50 years ago is still in use today but for the more special products it's all totally unique and specific... We use vacuum extrusion processes which is uncommon nowadays, technical ceramics are mostly made by presses (easiervto catch dimensions but totally different technology and you can't make long pieces anyway - we also have a press factory nearby but my work if on a very specific field of extruding ceramics). For example, classic old ceramic products were made from porcelain and steatite ceramics (these are widely known commercial names, of course our blends havevtheir own specifics and names...). The technology for producing those is well known. But the modern fuses are way more demanding - thinner walls, higher shocks... We make screw threads into the ceramic before its sintered ("burned" in the oven), we account for the contraction to bring them into tolerances etc... The materials are very different, high al2o3 content ceramics are way more problematic to deal with, wears out the tools faster, vibrations make it turn liquid (thixotropy), different sintering, different drying...

Anyway, we're missing capable workers. Don't wanna be racist like most people here but the production workers are paid the minimal wage and have very shitty work (ceramic dust, water when cutting etc...). 90% of the workers come from Balkan countries, especially Bosnia, many refuse to speak our language so... We deal with what we have. My work is to automate it and make it easier for the workers (besides developing new tools for production of new products) so dumb people can do that work.

When I came here I wws quite eager and quickly learned a lot. I only work here for a couple years but when problems occur in production, they call me...

Anyway, the "old" team of engineers is retiring which is a huge issue right now, in 5 years everything will turn around and I'll actually end up being in the "older" team. Me and another coworker know how things are running here, and that's basically it. New people come and go all the time, there are also engineers (but the two-year-university type, not really any real degree...) in production that are supposed to keep on top of maintenance but.... problem is that they're just not very competent so problems always end up coming to us (research/technology engineers).

Sorry wandered off a bit. I'm not worried for my position. If they'd somehow decide to discard me, I'd get a job without issues. I admit design engineer work isn't my strongest side even though that was what my degree was about, but I have lots of experience and know how to resolve issues, also have lots of experience with CNC and I'm very good in CAD. I work here because I'm genuinely wanting to support the local production that's been here for generations. My salary could be much better, but the other cause is that it takes me under 10 minutes to drive to work and I'm usually already going home at 13:30 (I do have flexible work time though). Also, I really love that it's not strictly a desk job. Most of my colleagues have a desk job. My boss won't mind if I'm at my desk all day, but I usually go around production in the morning (after coffee) and help with any daily issues, especially in my part of production.

Besides, being part of the team is very important. We got a new coworker for a couple weeks now. He isn't a very "practical" guy but he does keep on working all the time. Does not go on any coffee break, goes to lunch alone while most of use go together etc... I doubt he'll stay here for more than a couple months unless he takes a step back and sociallises a bit :)

Sorry for the long post haha

LockeClone t1_ir1uvlf wrote on October 4, 2022 at 6:48 PM

Please, no apology. That's was an interesting read.

I'm having some similar generational issues in my field, but the older guys aren't retiring so I'm in this middle gap where I've climbed to yhe top tier, but the best gigs still aren't available to me. I shouldn't complain too much though. I feel valued and respected, if not utilized properly.

And yeah, something of value for people in my field (entertainment rigging) is a sort of positive aggression. A move fast, think ahead and take charge sort of mentality, but this latest generation just doesn't have it.

They're not lazy, like I see a lot of politicians and news people claiming, but there's some sort of disconnect happening that's a bit frustrating to me and will certainly hobble them when they're mid career and want to start moving up where the work parameters are ill defined and you have to chase down problems and opportunities.

F-21 t1_ir1xjaq wrote on October 4, 2022 at 7:04 PM

Btw in terms of promotions, I don't think I'd want to have the position my boss has. He gets paid a lot more but he has so much responsibility and the nerves are getting to him (quite literally, he has a bunch of health problems related to stress and just turned 41). Fuck that, at the moment I'm totally fine with what I get, more is always nice but money ruins people.