“Mike, you’re the 17th boss I’ve had in seventeen years and each time I’ve had to adjust to a different management style.”
That was the start of my “getting-to-know-the-staff meeting” with Rigoberto, the maintenance supervisor. I could sympathize with him because we all go through a moment of uncertainty, whenever a new boss takes over. But I was about to make it simple.
“Give me “zero down–time” on all the machinery in the plant and don’t worry about my style.”
Zero downtime was a target of course; perpetual motion machines are yet to be discovered. I asked Rigo to spend a few days thinking about how he would approach accomplishing that target. When he was ready, we sat down and to go over the plan. It was an ideal time to do this since operating budgets were being prepared and we could include whatever he needed. Oddly enough, in those seventeen years he never participated in developing the budget for his department.
We reviewed everything from the manpower he would need to what kind of screwdrivers each of his employees would have. He decided that it would be a good idea to move his men from the shop to the production floor. Each product line would have a mechanic with a workbench on site. He would have to add one more mechanic to his staff. I put in for two more. He would need a complete set of tools for each mechanic, previously mechanics borrowed tools from each other or get what they needed from the tool-room. Having their own set would save time for each mechanic. The savings from reducing downtime would more than cover the cost of what we added to the budget. The budget that included what Rigo felt he needed was approved.
It took him a while to realize that he had freedom to do his work in the way that he thought best. Occasionally he would check with me for approval. While available to discuss the mission and offer suggestions, I would ask two questions: “Will your plan help us get to zero down–time?” and “Is there money in the budget to pay for what you want to do? If the answer was yes to both questions then there was no need for my approval.