Whilst checking through his old emails he discovered he still had unread emails dating back to 2003 and 2004.

Upon starting my email client on Friday at work. A helpful hint was shown on my email application. Stating that the email client would run quicker if the in and out trays had less emails and creating another folder to store these emails in, would be a good idea.

I use Eudora which is an excellent email client if you receive lots of emails. I receive my fair share on my own accounts. Also lots at work. So my first choice is always Eudora. Next would be Mozilla’s Thunderbird email client, also a worthy choice.

So I created new folders one for 2003 and then one for 2004. Yes, I still have emails lurking from back then. I then created in and out trays, moved the relevent emails. Out of curiosity I wondered what type of emails I had received back then. I realized I had a fair amount of emails which I had not bothered reading >_< guess there is always next year for those : )

We had another manager arrive today. He was sympathizing with me. He said he had been in my position where the business is growing and everything is getting passed onto the one person because they’re the only person who can do the tasks at hand.

He arrived armed with some flow diagrams and has asked that we map the ideal process of the way we work. I see it has a method of business process modeling. He described it as an idiots guide. So any one could follow exactly what should happen. This will in turn allow auditors to turn up at anytime armed with the diagram they can see exactly what should be happening.

He came up with some interesting ideas. Of how in the past they’ve managed to stream line certain process’s etc. Also told us how in 2001 they had 100 staff then suddenly exploded to 500. How they had to manage.

I got a call this morning while I was trying to get myself out of bed this morning >_< I always struggle to get out of bed in the morning. I was going to leave the call, but thought I best check. It was my boss telling me to get in earlier and that there was going to be a meeting at 9. Obviously that fool hadn't slept the night.

Well, that provided me with motivation to get out of bed. But there is no way I can get in early. Its one of those things which isn't going to happen. Anyway...

I ran into work, went to one side opened up, lucky I thought to myself, boss hasn't arrived! Ran to the other and the floor manager is getting told off in unkind words >_< I just had to walk in.

After a few words I went to my office. The manager from our parent company was to arrive at 2 ::groan::

I’ve met him before he was actually the stock manager when I first started work here 2 years ago. Thinking back he used to get taken for a ride on more than a few occasions. He was always asking for my stock file which I never sent. Things changed when they got there new system.

He arrived had coffee, went to all our sites and gave pointers. In the meeting he hinted at killing the work coming in if the next check doesn’t go well. Also the next stock take may run into the weekend. May even be a four day one.

I suddenly got promoted in the meeting after. Or should I say, sh!! passed onto me with no extra talk of $$.

Never mind, I can do that in my sleep.

So the stock check started off poor, as mentioned yesterday. Of course I knew it wouldn’t be perfect. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect the stock manager to think ‘screw this I’m outta here’. Which is what happened.

I heard a few heavy sighs from him. Which is something I tend to do without realizing (tends to be pointed out to me now and then). I’ve worked with the stock manager before and I’ve never heard him sigh before.

In the end he just stopped his team and was out of there.

My boss was apparently pretty pissed from what I heard. Although seemed optimistic to resolve the issues which were pointed out. I still don’t think its hit home exactly what needs to be done. He seems to be falling short, I don’t think he understands at all. I’m just going to sit back and watch from a spectators view point. I’m interested to see the pressures of owning ones own business.

The stock manager is off to the Bahamas next week. Can’t be all that bad I guess.

So things have been a little up in the air recently. Our parent company have become, lets say a little concerned about our adequacy shall we say. I don’t know even myself why things have been going slightly up in the air for the last month, but they have. I guess if I really want, I could point a finger at the cause. But that would make me someone who cared enough.

We get three monthly stock checks. Ever since the new stock manager was promoted into his position. He’s a fairly nice guy, I can get on with him now. He taught me quite a few skills with excel, which I’m quite proud of.

The last two checks I’ve really panicked about and ensured things went smoothly. Being honest, I did correct up lots of issues this time around which surely will help us both.

We’re currently in day one. Things aren’t looking too good. In fact its looking like the worst of the three. Which is odd because things should have improved. But things change they move around. Only quality people can ensure good practices and consistent results. Surely ad hoc management results in un-even results. Which I’m seeing.

If I’m really to confess I lost heart, when my friend was fired. I know he did a really good job and between us we had the place down to a tee. There are different types of workers, the bums, people who just work and the others who perform. I guess I’ve just dropped a grade.

My job role has slowly evolved into a position where I have two people who actually work for me. To offload some of the every day tasks I do.

Although I already work with various levels of management, I prefer once all the talking is done, to work on my own. Something about the peace and quite I quite like. Minus the phone calls. I really hate phones. And I have three around me. Although its not a call related job. More email communication.

What I’ve slowly realized is that. Even to have people who are to finish of work which you are unable to do due to other commitments. It takes quite a bit of management and team play skills to ensure that sufficient work is passed on. Then the work needs to be done at some standard so that you yourself don’t have to redo work which has already been done.

So in essence if particular work is passed on, its never 100% passed on. But a percentage lingers. Small enough to make it a non issue. Its worth a thought to maybe, eradicate x amount of tasks where its never needed to be brought into ones attention.

Obviously this is where the can of worm situation can arise where something isn’t being completed in its entirety, leaving a mess which will come back to haunt. I wonder what the be happy solution to this is, I assume it will vary from one individual to the other.

Heard a classic at work today. We get truckloads of stock arriving everyday. And the morning truck failed to arrive. So our management rang the people who book these trucks in. The response was:
“We’re really sorry. We’ve managed to make a rare error and have booked it in for this time next year.”

Another way of wording this would be “We fcuked up! big time”

ok so I had a suprise visit for further checks.

And I got taken to school. Serves me right for being so cocky.

Its not over yet.

So after the six man team came to stock check the entire warehouse. Three manager level staff turn up out of the blue. What the heck they wanted became apparant quite soon.

One of them was carrying a sheet with a list of stock which was showing on my stock sheet but wasn’t seen by any of their staff when they spent a week counting up. Of course I was slightly worried but more curious.

Anyway he read out the list of stock whilst I jotted them down and checked on my system to see where they were. The stock was showing on my stock and to my surprise I knew exactly where some of the stock was.

Obviously they wanted to see the stock for themselves.

So armed with the list I walked around pointing out each one in the end I had a full sheet with ticks next to them.

Their more senior manager just shrugged and said well we just came to check.

Well they ended up looking like a pair of t@ts with a spare nipple. ^_^

So the financial year is drawing to a close. Its been an interesting week I have to admit. For the last two weeks I have been managing most of the work coming into my firm. Boss was away for two weeks on holidays. So I was actually glad to see him back. He had injured one of his legs playing football and was in a bit of pain when he arrived back to see if everything was OK.

There is quite a bit of pressure dealing with our parent company for two reasons 1 the company is pretty large with lots of staff and 2 because there so freaking stupid. And them being slack has repercussions for us especially as far as money is concerned.

Anyhow the parent company decide “You know what, lets go stock check those guys”.

Oh fcuk, basically my ass was to go on the line. Anyway the boss was in pain with his foot so he went into the hospital for a routine check up. They didn’t hesitate to put a pot on his leg.
“How long do I need to keep this on for?â€?
“Six weeksâ€? the doc replied as as if he should be thankful.

So there’s me back in action and getting stock checked.

This is probably the only week I have been on time in the morning. First day of the count I walk into work and the guys are racking away units on rails. 13 units on a rail. Talk about unlucky. I asked why they were putting thirteen on a rail they just shrugged and carried on working. I was asked to put together a team of people to help. I decided to be part of the team from our side. Now our team was very weak. After 20 minutes I’d had enough. I walked off and made myself busy. With me out of the team, our team was non existent.

What pissed me off most was how they looked down at us. I called all my team off and let them carry on with the count. I messed with one of the supervisors head, I told him some of the counting on the floor wasn’t very good. This was a mistake in hindsight. He called some pretty hefty manager level staff. Who got right in there to check the counts. Damn! Means I have less room for excuses.

In the end the stock take was up 30,000 from what they thought we should have. But I was so called 13,000 down from my stock sheet. I can account for 8,000 of that. Will get feedback the following week so will see how it goes.

I knew 13 was an unlucky number to start the week with.