The new customer I thought was going to increase sales 25% instead more than doubled them. We slipped behind bit by bit until finally we were shipping product next day air to make it to the production line an hour before it was due to be installed. We were probably 48 hours away from losing the account for good and thereby crippling my company's ability to expand. My distributor and I were yelling at each other on the phone, and every time I thought "What an asshole!", I had to remind myself that he's in a very difficult position that *I* have put him in by not meeting my commitments. Then I remind myself that part of the problem is that he bungled the sales projection by a factor of about five. So enough blame and it's time to solve the problem.
So I told my guys we were working Saturday and Sunday and ten-hour days. They racked up 29 hours of overtime in two weeks. I hired two temps, interviewed four more people, fired both temps, and hired a keeper. I worked until somewhere between 7:00 pm and 1:00 am every night this week setting up tooling and basically getting them the tools and materials they need to do their jobs. 70 nor 80 hours for me in the shop this week.
Part of the problem is that we could not possibly meet production with the space we had. I rented a larger unit in the same business park and this whole herculean effort took place while moving to a larger space. While my guys are flying through the product, I am bustling around and viola! A compressor system and hoses for our new pnuematic tools. Then the network magically reappears, and internet access, due to a 1:00 shift Thursday night and some more effort today.
We did it. We doubled production. We are back from the brink of next day air and into a moderate comfort zone of 2nd day air, and making further progress. They love the product. If I can continue to get it to them in a timely manner then this customer is a keeper and we can go after the next one.
I am exhausted. This is the worst year for hay fever and the asthma it triggers in about a decade. I need to see a doctor, because my lung volume has grown tiny and the inhaler isn't cutting it, and to get some Zyrtec because the 24 hour Claritin tabs hold me about five.
I am loving it. I haven't been this happy in years. We are playing the radio loud, cracking jokes, and throwing donuts at each other. We are zipping back and forth between the shops on my kid's razor scooter. And we are doing our best, with better tools, and reaping the rewards. What more could I ask for?
I am also due for another routine CT scan. Coming out of remission now would TOTALLY suck.
So I told my guys we were working Saturday and Sunday and ten-hour days. They racked up 29 hours of overtime in two weeks. I hired two temps, interviewed four more people, fired both temps, and hired a keeper. I worked until somewhere between 7:00 pm and 1:00 am every night this week setting up tooling and basically getting them the tools and materials they need to do their jobs. 70 nor 80 hours for me in the shop this week.
Part of the problem is that we could not possibly meet production with the space we had. I rented a larger unit in the same business park and this whole herculean effort took place while moving to a larger space. While my guys are flying through the product, I am bustling around and viola! A compressor system and hoses for our new pnuematic tools. Then the network magically reappears, and internet access, due to a 1:00 shift Thursday night and some more effort today.
We did it. We doubled production. We are back from the brink of next day air and into a moderate comfort zone of 2nd day air, and making further progress. They love the product. If I can continue to get it to them in a timely manner then this customer is a keeper and we can go after the next one.
I am exhausted. This is the worst year for hay fever and the asthma it triggers in about a decade. I need to see a doctor, because my lung volume has grown tiny and the inhaler isn't cutting it, and to get some Zyrtec because the 24 hour Claritin tabs hold me about five.
I am loving it. I haven't been this happy in years. We are playing the radio loud, cracking jokes, and throwing donuts at each other. We are zipping back and forth between the shops on my kid's razor scooter. And we are doing our best, with better tools, and reaping the rewards. What more could I ask for?
I am also due for another routine CT scan. Coming out of remission now would TOTALLY suck.
Good luck staying remissed, man. My ex just survived a bout of peritoneal cancer that decided to hang out and pretend it was ovarian. She made it through too, but I know that crap isn't easy.