Scar Tissue

A shorter musing today about why we remember the little things that'd we'd otherwise remember at work: it's not because of diligence, it's because those memories represent scar tissue.

During my first stint in Supply Chain as an Analyst, I was impressed with the Supply Chain Managers because they would rattle off part numbers at the drop of a hat. "Did you hear about [Supplier]? They're behind on the ABC123 and DEF345 part numbers!" "Well, as long as GHI678 is holding its commits, I'm happy." They seemed to have developed superpowers where they knew the entire bill of material for the company and could talk about each part in minute detail. Now, many years later, I also can rattle off part numbers at the drop of a hat, but they're different part numbers. Because ABC123 might never have hurt me, but I've laid awake at night wondering if the machine shop could complete JKL999 without any more quality issues.

Anyone who has been responsible for delivery in a manufacturing environment encounters these: the part numbers that lead to weekly or daily calls with the end-customer, threats of liquidated damages, and constant reading and writing of reports on where those parts are in the manufacturing process. Do you know that [part number] is made from a 10" bar of [raw material], which we consign to [supplier] for them to machine? And the lead times for the raw material and machining for that part? Because I do. I've lived and breathed a subset of my bills of material: the quality problems that set us back months, the difficulties prioritizing the parts through outside processing, the questions on whether a final assembly really needs a part or whether we can have a technician install it in the customer's factory. And those part numbers are burned into my brain like scar tissue.

So when you hear someone in your business rattle off a part number without looking it up, you have to ask yourself: "How did that part hurt them?"

Let me know in the LinkedIn comments: how did that part hurt you?

Ever had something blow up in your face?

 

If you have any comments, please reach out to me at blog@saprobst.com or this page is cross-posted at LinkedIn and you can leave a comment there.