tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post1257848062167338617..comments2024-03-27T08:40:31.785-06:00Comments on Clayton Cramer.: When in Doubt, Build a JigClayton Cramerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807403883562053852.post-7387298807960278482016-08-16T01:08:26.651-06:002016-08-16T01:08:26.651-06:00When I first started working in high tech/Silicon ...When I first started working in high tech/Silicon Valley, I was surprised at how often I discovered that there were no real jigs or other types of special tooling for the low volume manufacturing areas. If you want consistency, and want to lessen the requirement of depending on the variable talent found on the production floor, you have to put some effort into tooling that will enhance the ability to make a predictable assembly.<br /><br />I ended up specializing in that sort of thing, to some extent. Tooling and fixtures, and re-designing parts and assemblies to be easier to build, and work better. The R&D engineering groups usually ended up hating me, because I made them look bad. Partly that was due to them not being willing to work with me on my ideas, so they had no ownership when it got to higher levels. Really stupid lack of thinking on their part. All ego, no logic. Idiots. I would have been happy to collaborate with them, but since I didn't have the sheepskin, and rarely the appropriate title, they felt that it was ok to defend their "turf". The fact that it was costing the company lots of money never seemed to bother them. <br />The fact that I was a better mechanical designer than any of them was evident, so they retreated to the Not Invented Here position. Ran into that in nearly all the companies.<br /><br />Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.com