Obsessive musings

After two hours sleep, I feel much better - still not good, though. I'm hungry and thirsty, and still tired. Not going to get much done today, the day is a complete write-off.

Oh, and there's no chance for experimenting with cheese making anymore - I've had to drink the milk 'pure' so to speak, and couldn't 'stretch' it by blending it with fruit. There's nothing left.

The weather isn't helping, either - it's oppressively hot, while at the same time overcast with yet another thunderstorm in the air. In my bedroom, I've got the curtains closed and the ceiling fan going - stepping outside is like stepping into an oven!

I'm still thinking about what I should do regarding work. My biggest concern is: we've already reached the point of retrenchment, and we're still not out of the woods. In my opinion, we seriously need to make an integrated effort to implement systems to at least achieve some measure of consistency; at the same time we absolutely must gain some measure of control ... if we continue to rush around mindlessly, 'just quickly ...' getting production out, with no control over the losses incurred ... I'm afraid we'll hit the end of the road one of these days ...

On the other hand, I have made such a lot of attempts to communicate - to absolutely no avail. Nobody cares what I'm doing. Nothing I have provide is ever used by anyone else. For example: When we receive a purchase order, we need to calculate the raw material required. So, our planner walks to the store, checks how much raw material is in our store, then calculates (using a calculator) how much raw material will be needed to complete the job, adds a 'scrap allowance' and then informs our HR Lady the quantity to order.

I have a spreadsheet, that automatically calculates the raw material required, taking not only the raw material stock, but also all work-in-progress currently in stock, into consideration. All I have to do, is enter the finished good code and quantity required. No need to walk to the store, no need to physically count stock, no need to look up the figures to calculate, and no need to punch a multitude of numbers on a calculator (prone to a typing error, which would go undetected).

Nobody uses the spreadsheet.

I've tried talking to the Operations Manager, he doesn't want to be bothered. I've tried talking to my boss, he's weighed down by the burden of the financial situation and not really able to focus on - what, I'm afraid he considers - insignificant details.

I really have only two options: keep trying or give up. I'm sorry to say, but after nine months of futility, I'm inclined towards the latter. Just sit in my little store, do the bare minimum - like everyone else - and ... what?

Bugger that!

I keep trying to put together a report, that I can present regularly, calling attention to some of the grosser negligence ... yet, every time I think I'm getting close, I hit another stumbling block! Maybe I should write a report on that? Put it in a nice, simple flow diagram. That actually sounds like fun!

Yeah, I'm weird!

I'm not thinking perfectly straight today. After all, I've only had a total of four hours sleep over since yesterday morning!

Oh, and last night I tried an experiment: I let the mippies out AFTER they'd had their treat! I had hardly any problem getting them inside, when I first tried to go to sleep. Only Mewthos gave some trouble - because Ginger was around. I had to wait twenty minutes before he was ready to come in.