Sign of the Times

[eastside]

For anyone looking for signs on how well the economy is doing, here's one: a Colorado coal mine cannot produce fast enough to come even close to filling orders. There's one small problem, however, the UP can't stop by to pick up the coal for delivery:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/16/national/16coal.html

[Mookie]

Good timing eastside! I was wondering where to enter this blurb from the paper this morning.

UP is creating a position of VP for continuous improvement.

Richard McClish, chief processing officer and interim chief information officer at printing & logistics firm RR Donnelly & Sons in Chicago is the new man.

He will concentrate on making the best use of locomotives, train cars and crews and maybe putting more rail lines down.

And the executive vp for network design and integration will retire in July (R Bradley King) He has been responsible for rr business planning, corridor development, financial planning and use of assets and productivity.

Hmmm...

[mudchicken]

Hope McClish spends the time and talks to/ learns from the folks around him. Placing a non-railroader in a "guru" position on a large railroad can also backfire if not managed properly and the guy becomes just another "yes-man".

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Hope McClish spends the time and talks to/ learns from the folks around him. Placing a non-railroader in a "guru" position on a large railroad can also backfire if not managed properly and the guy becomes just another "yes-man".

But then isn't that the way business works. Don't ask the "help". Just bull your way thru with "Your" ideas and be sure you grab a golden parachute on your way out.

Cynical Citty

[garr]

Mookie,

You are close. First you ask the "help." Then if the manager or vp is closed minded or arrogant, or a combo of both, he/she will bull thru his/her original idea without regards to what the "help" suggested.

Jay

[rrnut282]

Sounds just like Uncle Pete, don't it????

[coalminer3]

Continuous improvement?!? Egad.

Information is important, but it won't get the stuff over the road and meet the needs of the shippers. Well, maybe they will be able to find where the missing cars and locomotives are. It's enough to make you weep!

work safe

[jeaton]

Well let's see. about 200K for salary plus benefits and options.

1. Get the empties spotted for loading with the highest revenue freight.

2. Put engines on to meet needed HP/tonnage ratios.

3. Put an engineer and a conductor on the lead unit of the train.

4. Order the crew to move the train forward.

5. Take the rest of the day off.

Memo for tomorrow: Tell the engineering department to lay some more track.

Our Motto: CONTINOUS IMPROVEMENT!

[Anonymous]

FOFLMAO...

LC

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton

Well let's see. about 200K for salary plus benefits and options.

1. Get the empties spotted for loading with the highest revenue freight.

2. Put engines on to meet needed HP/tonnage ratios.

3. Put an engineer and a conductor on the lead unit of the train.

4. Order the crew to move the train forward.

5. Take the rest of the day off.

Memo for tomorrow: Tell the engineering department to lay some more track.

Our Motto: CONTINOUS IMPROVEMENT!

Dear Continuous Improvement Man-Guy:

(1) Nobody left here.....Your predecessor downsized us out of existance during the starving and stupid phase to cook the books and suck-up to Wall Street.

(2) If there was still somebody here, show us the money! (You know, the stuff you're supposed to order materials and manpower with, but always seems to never be available except for more shiny new locomotives, trainmen, stock dividends and dispatcher consoles?)

Signed,
Shadow of an Engineering Department

[jeaton]

Mudchicken,

Oh, I know the reason. Engineering departments don't make good photo OP's?
Or maybe all that engineering stuff has already been done and we don't need any more? What the heck-spread out a little rock, lay down some wood, nail in some track, hook up some wire and lights. VP's don't need anybody to tell them what to do.

First questions to be asked. "Why do we have send out a car to pick up train crews in the middle of no-where? Aren't they supposed to drive the train all the way to a terminal? Oh. Could we give them a tent and sleeping bag?"

[mudchicken]

Um, lets see here.

So far behind trying to get the main track into acceptable condition that any improvement was something that was on the capital budget 40 years ago. Sidings are so ancient that all of the rail and some of the ties are from the first quarter of the 20th century. Branchlines?- we still have some of those? Yards? - What are those? We're gonna improve our dwell time so yards are not in our plans! Deferred maintenance?, never heard of it!

[ Looks like our $200K Continuous Improvement Man-Guy has cast his lot with the 15 Watt dim-bulbs in operating management and never will get out and around on his own (or get his boots dirty....I said steel-toed boots, not Gucci's, bubba) Oh my!]

[banghead][banghead][banghead]

[Hugh Jampton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeaton


First questions to be asked. "Why do we have send out a car to pick up train crews in the middle of no-where? Aren't they supposed to drive the train all the way to a terminal? Oh. Could we give them a tent and sleeping bag?"

Maybe take a tip from the truckers (washes mouth out with soap) and build a sleeping compartment behind the cab.
Then some entepeneur could build a chain of train stops next to the tracks. "The 825th Wheel" would be a good name

[Mookie]

MC - I could mirror your experiences right here in my little hovel - but gonna be a good kitty and keep my big mouf shut! (department from 5 to 1.....Mookie is the 1)

Hugh - I rather like that idea. What a great way to spend my free time - from one train stop to the other!

Mook

[CShaveRR]

Gee, you guys are cynical this morning!

We need those shiny new locomotives, too, 'cause they don't stay shiny for long!

It wouldn't take much to make a believer out of me...just get UP's portion of the Chicago improvement plan in place and build a third track between Proviso and Nelson (in places where there isn't one already), maybe a second track down the Peoria Sub to a connection with BNSF for our hot pig trains.

[mudchicken]

Understood Carl, but...Ever wonder what railroad would be like if some frustrated trainmaster at the top was replaced by either the Chief Mechanical Officer or the Chief Engineer and the "good 'ol boy" glass ceiling was reversed for a few years?[}:)][}:)][}:)]

[jeffhergert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Understood Carl, but...Ever wonder what railroad would be like if some frustrated trainmaster at the top was replaced by either the Chief Mechanical Officer or the Chief Engineer and the "good 'ol boy" glass ceiling was reversed for a few years?[}:)][}:)][}:)]

The railroad would be the same, only the names on the big bonus checks would be changed.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm. Continuous improvement. Sounds like something the UP really needs. Look at their recent ups and downs...lol....

LC

[zardoz]

Does not the word "continuous" imply that there has been some improvement previously?

(Other than the shiny new locos with the flag painted on the side [which is there because.....?])

[rrnut282]

Sounds like our 'Continuous Improvement Guru' is more like an unemployed 'spin doctor' from inside the beltway (D.C.) than someone who can find a better way. The first improvement would be to use A.C. on the rail they get run out on.

[Anonymous]

i still think they need to buy the old rock between omaha and chicago [C):-)]