Shop Drama

"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
08/18/2017 at 09:46 • Filed to: work stuff, shop drama

Ugh.

pic related: A seat sitting in the shop.

So the guys in the back work piecework with a base hourly rate as backup. If a leather installer produces four rows of seats per day, they typically make about 30% higher than their fallback hourly wage - what they were paid per hour before piecework started.

It’s been good for both the shop and the installers because they can do 10 cars in a day, only working about 6.5-7 hours.

Yesterday, all but three guys left at about 3 because their scheduled work was done for the day. One of the cars that was scheduled for today arrived at 3:15, so the three remaining installers did the whole car.

This took money - 2 hours worth of work - from the two guys who left when their scheduled work was done.

Huge drama. I’m glad I didn’t have to play bouncer. The three guys who stole work from the other two are headed home.

So - those of you who work in a production environment: How has your shop drama been lately?

DISCUSSION (24)

Mattbob > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 09:51

How is that taking money from the guys who left? They got their money from the jobs that were scheduled for them, and they weren’t at work when the work was done. What would they have liked to be done, wait till the next day so everyone could get a piece, while the customer waits?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 09:52

Our manufacturing crew has been rightfully pissed off lately since the company has cut a lot of people but provided no replacements. Our most senior chemical blender with 25+ years was fired for a really stupid and petty reason. We all know it’s because he asks questions and wants to make sure we have a good, safe work environment. Meanwhile our supervisors do jack shit and are idiots to boot. COrporate finally gave the manufacturing department head the boot this week, as well as two of the idiot supervisors. And there was much rejoicing. The remaining supervisors are busting ass to look busy and avoid the axe.

So the drama level is decreasing.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Mattbob
08/18/2017 at 09:53

Yeah I’m not seeing how anyone “stole” work from anyone else, seeing as they chose to leave early.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 09:53

That’s a great looking seat.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Mattbob
08/18/2017 at 10:01

We schedule 8-10 cars a day, and set the expectations for dealers as to when the car will be back. Typically we pick up a car for a leather installation in the morning. The owner of the car was scheduled to pick it up from the dealer on Saturday. It does no good to the dealer or the customer to have the leather installed early. The guys who were there yesterday afternoon acted opportunistically, and the ones who finished their work missed out on money they were expecting to make today.

For example, this was yesterday’s schedule:

Kinja'd!!!

The installers added an 11th car and pulled it off of today’s schedule, thus taking expected work from the guys who had already left.

Mattbob > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 10:04

I see, so it wasn’t an extra car, but one that was scheduled for the next day, so they actually did have a legitimate expectation of working on it. That makes more sense.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 10:24

We’ve been having to offer incentives to customers to get them to reschedule because we’re so backed up

awmaster10 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 10:37

What car is that seat from?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > awmaster10
08/18/2017 at 10:50

13-17 RAV4 XLE. The Ash interior is black and gray cloth, so this is made to match:

Kinja'd!!!

jimz > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 11:06

as an aside, do you (or know who does) offer a premium/nicer cloth seat cover upgrade? I hate leather, but also dislike the burlap junk cloth in my truck.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jimz
08/18/2017 at 11:12

What kind of truck is it?

awmaster10 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 11:18

The dash on that interior looks great but the seats a little lacking. The new ones will tie it all together nicely.

jariten1781 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 11:18

I’ve never worked piece work, but wife is a Veterinary Technician and the actual doctors (DVM) do (LVTs are hourly or salary, thank god). The backstabbing, client theft, and just general drama is absolutely hilarious to me. I get like an hour rundown each night because it’s so intriguing...like my own personal Soap Opera.

Hint, do not become a Veterinarian in one of the big consortiums unless you’re a cold-callous-calculating-sociopath or you’ll be eaten alive by the ones that are. Single doctor or small group practices are better but they’re all being chased out due to the economies of scale and sweetheart deals the big consortiums get from the drug and other manufacturers.

jimz > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 11:20

‘11 Ranger

jkm7680 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 11:38

How much would that exact color combo cost for a ‘14 Tacoma SR5 Double Cab?

I was thinking about doing that exact same thing on my truck. Can’t decide what colors I want though because the interior is black and light grey.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jimz
08/18/2017 at 11:43

That cloth is built for durability, not comfort for sure. You’d probably have to go to a custom shop to have it de-seamed and sewn up. You’d be out of a truck for a week and spend $2 grand or more...

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jkm7680
08/18/2017 at 11:51

At our shop, $1075 plus tax for black with gray centers and matching gray stitch.

jkm7680 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 11:53

Thanks! How about all black with perforated black inserts?

I’m actually seriously considering it, Toyota stock cloth is the suck.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jkm7680
08/18/2017 at 12:00

$1025.

Our base price (single-color) is $999 for a two-row vehicle.

Add $50 for 2-tone
$25 each for perforation or contrast stitch

CaptDale - is secretly British > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 13:46

Always management trying to help the shop be more efficient and just frustrating the tech cause they fuck up diags and order the wrong parts.

jkm7680 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 20:29

Alright great, thanks. y’all are located in NC, right?

And for heating/cooling?

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jkm7680
08/18/2017 at 20:53

We are in Charlotte.

Heaters are another $400 installed for both front seats. We stopped doing the cooled seats because they kept coming back. Seriously. it was about twice the price of heated leather and more than 1/4 were replaced. Plus it took an extra day of labor. So home office said “no more. Until we have a better supplier, we are done.”

jkm7680 > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
08/18/2017 at 23:04

Ok gotcha, appreciate it! I’m seriously considering getting it done soon

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jkm7680
08/19/2017 at 08:34

So based on your truck shopping chronicle I should put you on the schedule for some time in March 2019?