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Worked on a million dollar machine once because one RF function did not work. Determined how to rewire the entire subsystem so that everything worked. Then sent marked up prints to the engineer in charge of that machine.
Some months later, a duplicate machine arrived with the same problems. They called me in. Did a long diagnosis. Then suddenly realized it was the exact same screw ups. The engineer had never bothered to update any prints.
Somehow my boss and his boss went up the line to the president. Normally I never see that. That engineer was fired. So many people came running up to me with what was generally regarded as good new - to everyone but me. He was making the mistakes. But he was not where the problem should be solved. I felt real bad about it. He was making those mistakes because that was the attitude in that engineering department. He was only a victim - from my perspective.
So many did not understand that by constantly identifying failures traceable to him, I was not accusing him. He was not a best worker. But he did his job. Instead, I was accusing a system that had him doing what he was doing. He was only doing what they wanted him to do. Attitude and knowledge.
I so remember so many people running up to me with smiles on their faces because he was fired. I remember how sad I considered it. Did not realize until then that so many people did not see as I saw it.
Fixing a system by fixing the prints may be equivalent to stopping a flood. Solution must start at the reason why those prints are wrong or confusing. Some politics cannot be changed from below. Be prepared for much frustration. Good news would be that you know what need be done before attempting it. That at least gives you a good shot.
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