Productivity award is a way to motivate employees and I noticed many aiming to get awards now and then. People used to apply and try to get as many Productivity awards as possible as they find their way into the HR records. I looked stupid as I never applied and the awards are given to those only who project themselves/ apply for the award.
As a Manager, I realized, even if you are not interested, you need to project your colleagues as innovative ones. Hence, even if only one person does the good work, we add two or three names to that to make it appear as a team work!
As a challenge I started filing for Productivity awards and covered many of my colleagues so that they can get benefited too! I received around 14 and then stopped applying.
I did not enjoy doing just for the sake of doing ....and I stopped applying for awards ! There shall be a some other way for the Management to identify the hard workers and recognize their efforts, instead of asking them to project themselves.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Purchase(d) officer
As a Material Planning person, our work was to identify the material requirement, generate the Purchase Indent, co-ordinate with Material Management department, ensure that the good material reaches the Holding stores and then issue the material to the production.
I used to raise a purchase indents for Current Transformers and Voltage transformers and send to the concerned Purchase Officer. This Purchase Officer sends the Purchase Enquiry to the known suppliers and their offers are forwarded to me for getting them technically cleared. And we used to request for the dimensional drawings wherever the offer looks technically suitable and price wise reasonable. Then the Purchase Officer would get the required drawings from the suppliers.
Once, when I walked into the Materials Management department, my friend, this purchase officer, called me and gave me the file for my clearance. I cleared and asked for the drawings. To my surprise, he took out a set of drawings from his storage rack, got them photo copied and filed in the Enquiry file and asked me to comment on the file. As that drawing was relevant, I cleared the same.
When I enquired this strange enthusiasm to clear the enquiry and release the PO on a supplier, I was told that our friend’s way of PO release! He has a new ‘payment term’ –innovative--- ‘Purchase Order release on Payment’ ; you pay the margin against the Purchase Order value to this ‘Purchased Officer’ and take the Purchase Order !
Actually we can never prove these! If they are not true, consider them fiction and don’t file a case on me!
I used to raise a purchase indents for Current Transformers and Voltage transformers and send to the concerned Purchase Officer. This Purchase Officer sends the Purchase Enquiry to the known suppliers and their offers are forwarded to me for getting them technically cleared. And we used to request for the dimensional drawings wherever the offer looks technically suitable and price wise reasonable. Then the Purchase Officer would get the required drawings from the suppliers.
Once, when I walked into the Materials Management department, my friend, this purchase officer, called me and gave me the file for my clearance. I cleared and asked for the drawings. To my surprise, he took out a set of drawings from his storage rack, got them photo copied and filed in the Enquiry file and asked me to comment on the file. As that drawing was relevant, I cleared the same.
When I enquired this strange enthusiasm to clear the enquiry and release the PO on a supplier, I was told that our friend’s way of PO release! He has a new ‘payment term’ –innovative--- ‘Purchase Order release on Payment’ ; you pay the margin against the Purchase Order value to this ‘Purchased Officer’ and take the Purchase Order !
Actually we can never prove these! If they are not true, consider them fiction and don’t file a case on me!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Innovations in Corruption
Personally I like this the most. Innovation and co-operation from all!! Certain numbers of Current coils are required for production. We issue say 10,000 numbers and it is an acceptable fact that some may not work during the final testing though it was OK in the goods inwards testing. These non-working coils are set aside in pallet in the shop floor. Additional coils are issued to production. The suppliers collect these, rectify and return back. Intension is good and practice was good till some people ‘liked’ the system to exploit. Good coils were placed in the pallet by the employee claiming them to be not working, which were collected by the supplier for rework. He would then return back some non working coils and some working coils as replacement. The supplier would supply the good coils he collected ( as non working coils from shopfloor) as new lot against the Purchase order and get paid for that as well!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Innovations in Corruption
There is another interesting case where the store keepers of the customers demand money when thousands of Energy meters were delivered. If not paid, they may ‘show’ hundreds of glass covers broken in the consignment. As a policy company can not pay bribes. So a third party is identified to ‘fix’ the damaged meters at site. The third party visits the site, ‘checks the damage’ (negotiate with store keeper) and ‘replaces the broken glass windows’ (really??) at the site and claims the bill, which is paid by the company for the ‘service’!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Innovations in Corruption ... contd
And I realize that many are innovative in cheating the system. Here a few, that I came across.
The supplies to a particular product used to be in great volumes and the suppliers would need a fork lift in the goods inwards area to deliver from the truck. Typically we provide the services of the fork lift. The ‘strict’ and ‘idealistic’ suppliers may have to wait for the fork lift operators to go and fetch the forklift and it takes time as they are busy. Even if the fork lift operator is available, suddenly the pallets are not available!! And the guys at that level are so innovative; the ‘resourceful’ supplier gets the fork lift and the pallets immediately. The guys share the money then and there! When this was cracked, they started entering code words in their pocket books and then ‘manage’ outside the premises. And the forklift would start, again only for the 'resourceful' suppliers who would pay. Else the forklift does not start !! Can we do something? The suppliers were requested to bring to the notice of management if they face these issues and I was told that it stopped altogether now.
The supplies to a particular product used to be in great volumes and the suppliers would need a fork lift in the goods inwards area to deliver from the truck. Typically we provide the services of the fork lift. The ‘strict’ and ‘idealistic’ suppliers may have to wait for the fork lift operators to go and fetch the forklift and it takes time as they are busy. Even if the fork lift operator is available, suddenly the pallets are not available!! And the guys at that level are so innovative; the ‘resourceful’ supplier gets the fork lift and the pallets immediately. The guys share the money then and there! When this was cracked, they started entering code words in their pocket books and then ‘manage’ outside the premises. And the forklift would start, again only for the 'resourceful' suppliers who would pay. Else the forklift does not start !! Can we do something? The suppliers were requested to bring to the notice of management if they face these issues and I was told that it stopped altogether now.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Innovations in Corruption
Corruption is a great topic. One can write many volumes on this. While I was giving a lecture, one fresh Engineer Trainee was bold enough to as if it is true that Material Management function allows people to earn some ‘extra’ !
I smiled and told them this story.
There was this corrupt employee in the treasury of a King's court. Every body complained that he makes money illegally. King transferred him to Maintenance. Again people complained that he is making money. King got annoyed and posted him to just ring the bells every hour in the night shift. The work is only from 6 PM to 6 AM.
Again people complained that he is making money! King got frustrated and asked him the trick. our man requested for granting pardon and reminded that the King had two wives. And the King understood.
If you don’t know how to see the opportunity, here is the key:
King used to stay with one wife till 12 Midnight and goes to the second after midnight. Our man went to the first wife and told that he will ring bells slowly 12 midnight bell will be rung at 2 AM. She gave him the money. He went to the second wife and told her the reverse that he will ring 12 midnight bell at 11 PM itself so that King will come early.
... and he did not deviate from the actual timing !!
Moral of the story is, the people who want to cheat the system get innovative and you take time to understand their modus operand.
I smiled and told them this story.
There was this corrupt employee in the treasury of a King's court. Every body complained that he makes money illegally. King transferred him to Maintenance. Again people complained that he is making money. King got annoyed and posted him to just ring the bells every hour in the night shift. The work is only from 6 PM to 6 AM.
Again people complained that he is making money! King got frustrated and asked him the trick. our man requested for granting pardon and reminded that the King had two wives. And the King understood.
If you don’t know how to see the opportunity, here is the key:
King used to stay with one wife till 12 Midnight and goes to the second after midnight. Our man went to the first wife and told that he will ring bells slowly 12 midnight bell will be rung at 2 AM. She gave him the money. He went to the second wife and told her the reverse that he will ring 12 midnight bell at 11 PM itself so that King will come early.
... and he did not deviate from the actual timing !!
Moral of the story is, the people who want to cheat the system get innovative and you take time to understand their modus operand.
Innovations in Corruption
Corruption is a great topic. One can write many volumes on this. While I was giving a lecture, one fresh Engineer Trainee was bold enough to as if it is true that Material Management function allows people to earn some ‘extra’ !
I smiled and told them this story.
There was this corrupt employee in the treasury of a King's court. Every body complained that he makes money illegally. King transferred him to Maintenance. Again people complained that he is making money. King got annoyed and posted him to just ring the bells every hour in the night shift. The work is only from 6 PM to 6 AM.
Again people complained that he is making money! King got frustrated and asked him the trick. our man requested for granting pardon and reminded that the King had two wives. And the King understood.
If you don’t know how to see the opportunity, here is the key:
King used to stay with one wife till 12 Midnight and goes to the second after midnight. Our man went to the first wife and told that he will ring bells slowly 12 midnight bell will be rung at 2 AM. She gave him the money. He went to the second wife and told her the reverse that he will ring 12 midnight bell at 11 PM itself so that King will come early.
... and he did not deviate from the actual timing !!
Moral of the story is, the people who want to cheat the system get innovative and you take time to understand their modus operand.
I smiled and told them this story.
There was this corrupt employee in the treasury of a King's court. Every body complained that he makes money illegally. King transferred him to Maintenance. Again people complained that he is making money. King got annoyed and posted him to just ring the bells every hour in the night shift. The work is only from 6 PM to 6 AM.
Again people complained that he is making money! King got frustrated and asked him the trick. our man requested for granting pardon and reminded that the King had two wives. And the King understood.
If you don’t know how to see the opportunity, here is the key:
King used to stay with one wife till 12 Midnight and goes to the second after midnight. Our man went to the first wife and told that he will ring bells slowly 12 midnight bell will be rung at 2 AM. She gave him the money. He went to the second wife and told her the reverse that he will ring 12 midnight bell at 11 PM itself so that King will come early.
... and he did not deviate from the actual timing !!
Moral of the story is, the people who want to cheat the system get innovative and you take time to understand their modus operand.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Turing around Energy Meters into Profit making!
We looked into various systems to plug the ‘leaks’ (accidental or intentional) and automated many processes. This brought in discipline and accountability, though we made many enemies. Many people in Energy Meter department gave their suggestions to improve and were implemented.
While automating and checking through the material consumption we found what was wrong with the profit/loss of Energy Meter division. The energy meter had two covers- One top and one bottom. We get the raw covers and store in one of the stores. Then these are issues for a project. Depending on the paint required these were drawn from the stores and sent for painting. The painted covers were then deposited into the stores again on another Material Code Number, which were drawn by the Production department for assembling the Energy Meter. Both Unpainted cover and painted cover were stored on different code numbers and the same were accounted twice, instead of only painted cover! In one stroke, our AGM Mr. Vijayakanth declared Energy Meters as profit making!
While automating and checking through the material consumption we found what was wrong with the profit/loss of Energy Meter division. The energy meter had two covers- One top and one bottom. We get the raw covers and store in one of the stores. Then these are issues for a project. Depending on the paint required these were drawn from the stores and sent for painting. The painted covers were then deposited into the stores again on another Material Code Number, which were drawn by the Production department for assembling the Energy Meter. Both Unpainted cover and painted cover were stored on different code numbers and the same were accounted twice, instead of only painted cover! In one stroke, our AGM Mr. Vijayakanth declared Energy Meters as profit making!
Deputation to Energy meters
One of the products manufactured by Electronics Division was Energy meters and traditionally that unit was reporting losses. The then Executive Director Mr. K C Chetty, posted me to Energy meters on a special assignment to see how we can automate and plug the loss (as well as see how and where the corruption is taking its toll). This was an interesting experience. Reluctance of employees to follow new processes and systems was the biggest challenge. People simply would not use an automated system and complained that due to Ramesh Kumar’s intervention, things are not moving. However, my new boss, Mr. Vijayakanth, put his foot down and gave me complete support.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The revolution
While I was busy computerizing the Purchase Indent, other like minded people like Venkateswar Rao of Purchase Department, Thamendran of Finance were working on their computerization and EDP under Banerjee’s guidance, a campus wide computerization was under progress. Slowly and steadily we integrated all computerized applications and by 1989 we had achieved campus wide integration.
The system had enough checks and balances and one could generate a material requirement or initiate procurement only if the Commercial department assigns a Manufacturing Order (MO) number in the system and the Design Department creates Bill Of Materials (BOM) or Material Requisition (MR) or Device List (DL) is issued through system!
We were not aware of Material Requirement Planning-MRP, Manufacturing Resource Planning –MRP II or Enterprise Resource Planning- ERP that are happening elsewhere in the world in 1989. (I wish we had Internet then !)
The system had enough checks and balances and one could generate a material requirement or initiate procurement only if the Commercial department assigns a Manufacturing Order (MO) number in the system and the Design Department creates Bill Of Materials (BOM) or Material Requisition (MR) or Device List (DL) is issued through system!
We were not aware of Material Requirement Planning-MRP, Manufacturing Resource Planning –MRP II or Enterprise Resource Planning- ERP that are happening elsewhere in the world in 1989. (I wish we had Internet then !)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Online Purchase Indent – Bold step
Then we addressed online Purchase Indenting system to replace the manual process, print and send the hardcopy to Purchase Department for procurement. This was intended to help Material Planning and we could generate Purchase indents after consolidating the total requirement.
We did not tell the boss about this till the system was ready and tested. When we were sure that it will run without failure, we informed the boss in March and suggested to roll in new online system from April. He, as expected, said “NO” as I was suggesting Online Purchase Indenting for my group as I wanted to roll mine first and then convince others to roll out theirs. But, Boss said, he will not allow only mine. I convinced other executives. Still boss was reluctant.
I learnt hard way that creating program is one thing and rolling out is another thing. First thing we did was to remove all those Printed booklets used to type Purchase Indent on type writers. We hid them in an almirah safely, so that no one uses manual process. All were forced to use online system. And then I realized that we should train people first, prepare them for change and then roll out. People refused to use the new system, saying that earlier they used write on a paper and the typist used to type the Purchase Indent, and now they have to enter the details themselves to create a Purchase Indent. They avoided generating the purchase Indents during April and May. I too adamant and did not budge. Then a time came when the material planning guys were supposed to report the material flow and they did not have Purchase Indents to start the procurement action. Due to the pressure, all started using the system and Online Purchase Indent became a reality.
We did not tell the boss about this till the system was ready and tested. When we were sure that it will run without failure, we informed the boss in March and suggested to roll in new online system from April. He, as expected, said “NO” as I was suggesting Online Purchase Indenting for my group as I wanted to roll mine first and then convince others to roll out theirs. But, Boss said, he will not allow only mine. I convinced other executives. Still boss was reluctant.
I learnt hard way that creating program is one thing and rolling out is another thing. First thing we did was to remove all those Printed booklets used to type Purchase Indent on type writers. We hid them in an almirah safely, so that no one uses manual process. All were forced to use online system. And then I realized that we should train people first, prepare them for change and then roll out. People refused to use the new system, saying that earlier they used write on a paper and the typist used to type the Purchase Indent, and now they have to enter the details themselves to create a Purchase Indent. They avoided generating the purchase Indents during April and May. I too adamant and did not budge. Then a time came when the material planning guys were supposed to report the material flow and they did not have Purchase Indents to start the procurement action. Due to the pressure, all started using the system and Online Purchase Indent became a reality.
Automated Material Issue – first step
My role model in systems and process and in programming is Udayan Banerjee, an IIT Kanpur alumni, gave me the encouragement and support. He was instrumental in designing the Stores Automation. We extended Material planning system to issue material online instead of Material Requisition Slips (MRS) to Production Department, which were produced in the stores to collect the material for the project. This proved an instant success as the issue was smooth and the stores people used to get a list with the requirement with BIN locations to retrieve easily and quickly.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Curious about computers
It was papers, pencils, erasers all the time. There was a Electronic Data Processing center (EDP) and a big machine called ICIM 6000 with all those punch card systems etc. I just got curious and enrolled myself with some computer training institute – Bangalore Institute Of Computer Application (BICA) in Malleswaram. I don’t know if that exists today! I learn something about COBOL and started writing programs. My favorite was to write an allocation program considering the requirement, Inventory, material in pipeline (Purchase Indent, Purchase Order, Goods-Inwards) and then consumption. Wrote some code and got the punch cards, fed to the computer, only to wait for two days to see any result. And then we find the bug, redo the program, get the punch cards again and re-run. And after 4-5 attempts, I surrendered and prayed god to make programming easier.
God seems to have heard my prayers a bit late, but did gave us plat form in the guise of ICIM Quattro where we can connect 4 computers as a ‘local area network’. It allowed us to work of that new DBase database software.
We learn programming in DBase and later FoxPro. I did lot of programming and encouraged my sub-ordinates to use computers and some even became expert programmers. Can I ever forget P.Chandrasekhar -PC ( now in Honeywell, Bangalore), Ravindran and Nanda Kumar Kamat ( still at BHEL, Bangalore)
We used to do the Material planning work during office hours and tried our hand at computerization in the evenings. Slowly and steadily we developed different application.
God seems to have heard my prayers a bit late, but did gave us plat form in the guise of ICIM Quattro where we can connect 4 computers as a ‘local area network’. It allowed us to work of that new DBase database software.
We learn programming in DBase and later FoxPro. I did lot of programming and encouraged my sub-ordinates to use computers and some even became expert programmers. Can I ever forget P.Chandrasekhar -PC ( now in Honeywell, Bangalore), Ravindran and Nanda Kumar Kamat ( still at BHEL, Bangalore)
We used to do the Material planning work during office hours and tried our hand at computerization in the evenings. Slowly and steadily we developed different application.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
BHEL - the journey begins
23 Dec 1981 – The day I joined BHEL, I did not realize that I would learn so much in my life! Be it be in the personal or professional. I owe most of my learning to BHEL.
Initial struggle!
I was thrilled that with my experience of installations on Coal Handling and Ash handling projects, I can do much better in designs department or commissioning. Unfortunately (fortunately, as it would change my life) I was posted in Material Planning department, which I did not like. The work was to calculate the Material required for production. We sit with a huge paper with a matrix of items required month wise for all projects. Generate a Purchase Indent and monitor till it is received and issued. I fought with management to get into design or installation. But it was of no use.
I had no choice, but to accept it as it is and I started looking into ways to improve Material Planning.
Initial struggle!
I was thrilled that with my experience of installations on Coal Handling and Ash handling projects, I can do much better in designs department or commissioning. Unfortunately (fortunately, as it would change my life) I was posted in Material Planning department, which I did not like. The work was to calculate the Material required for production. We sit with a huge paper with a matrix of items required month wise for all projects. Generate a Purchase Indent and monitor till it is received and issued. I fought with management to get into design or installation. But it was of no use.
I had no choice, but to accept it as it is and I started looking into ways to improve Material Planning.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Another dream job !
Mahindra Spicer was looking for Engineer trainees and I joined their Mumbai office. Here is where I learnt how much respect is given to Executives and how they are respected. One of the executives claimed the cab fare and the finance guy objected saying that the actual cost to that destination was less than that claimed and did not accept the executive’s claim of traffic jams. Our Senior Manager took it up seriously and the Finance guy was advised not to question the Executives. I love that, though I did not think that time, that even executives may try to cheat the system and claim more than actual. Finance guy was doing his work. Hence, I don’t find fault with him either.
During the first week of m appointment, suddenly I noticed lot of fun and commotion. A man sitting on the table was talking and others were listening to him and cheering. He was being treated as a hero. Then I realized, he was a Site Engineer, just returned from a site after 1 year of work. All the employees appreciate the site engineers as they lead a tough life in the sites.
Then, the executives were assigned complete work from getting the design/drawings approved by clients to identifying local contractors to the final installation. I did just that and realized how to get the signatures and stamps as required without wasting time. Yes, the ‘friendly’ attenders were always useful, when we give them money for ‘chai (coffee/tea)’
I was asked to report to Bhusawal Thermal Power station to execute Ash Handling Plant. I landed there and was provided with an apartment. Then I was expected to set up a site office and identify the local contractors to lay the slurry pipe line of few miles. The food was the major problem at site. Though I am not a great foodie, I can not forget how I longed to easy a full meal.
While I was busy with this, I got a call from India’s biggest Power generation company – Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Though I loved Mahindra Spicer, I thought I can do much better as BHEL does complete turn key projects of Power Generation and Ash handling was only a small part.
I packed my bags and reached Bangalore.
During the first week of m appointment, suddenly I noticed lot of fun and commotion. A man sitting on the table was talking and others were listening to him and cheering. He was being treated as a hero. Then I realized, he was a Site Engineer, just returned from a site after 1 year of work. All the employees appreciate the site engineers as they lead a tough life in the sites.
Then, the executives were assigned complete work from getting the design/drawings approved by clients to identifying local contractors to the final installation. I did just that and realized how to get the signatures and stamps as required without wasting time. Yes, the ‘friendly’ attenders were always useful, when we give them money for ‘chai (coffee/tea)’
I was asked to report to Bhusawal Thermal Power station to execute Ash Handling Plant. I landed there and was provided with an apartment. Then I was expected to set up a site office and identify the local contractors to lay the slurry pipe line of few miles. The food was the major problem at site. Though I am not a great foodie, I can not forget how I longed to easy a full meal.
While I was busy with this, I got a call from India’s biggest Power generation company – Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Though I loved Mahindra Spicer, I thought I can do much better as BHEL does complete turn key projects of Power Generation and Ash handling was only a small part.
I packed my bags and reached Bangalore.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Second Job – molding steel
I do not remember how I went to this company called Partap Steel Rolling Mills near Hyderabad. I joined them as a Trainee in 1980. The work was simple- maintenance of electrical equipment.
Then I started learning life quickly. There was a strike and the factory was closed under lockout. We, the executives were required to go to our Chairman’s (or who ever) house in Banjara hills, sit in their lawns (I don’t know why we were not sitting in their drawing rooms !!) for 4-5 hours and then go home! One day the big boss without telling us anything packed all the executives and took us to the factory. The workers as usual made a big scene against us entering and the police escorted us in.
Once inside, we were assigned duties to patrol the compound wall in batches through night. It went on for few days. Management wanted to take out production without workers and using only the executives. I don’t know if it is right or wrong, but morally and personally, I thought, I am becoming party to something which I don’t like. One day dad called the office (remember the old days without mobiles!!) and asked me to come for a day as there was some personal work. My immediate boss refused to grant any leave as we are working under emergency situation. I quietly penned down my resignation and asked him to relieve me with immediate effect. He was shocked and told me that I can not come back for job, I am arrogant etc. I agreed and told him that I am leaving. I sneaked out around 1:00 AM walked 5 km to the nearest bus terminal to get into a bus that goes to Hyderabad. I reached home around 4 AM.
The company was good but I realized that maintenance jobs are not my cup of tea. And my sympathy for workers probably was stronger than my views of management tactics to handle workers on strike.
Whatever, this created a steel determination to do something I like better.
Then I started learning life quickly. There was a strike and the factory was closed under lockout. We, the executives were required to go to our Chairman’s (or who ever) house in Banjara hills, sit in their lawns (I don’t know why we were not sitting in their drawing rooms !!) for 4-5 hours and then go home! One day the big boss without telling us anything packed all the executives and took us to the factory. The workers as usual made a big scene against us entering and the police escorted us in.
Once inside, we were assigned duties to patrol the compound wall in batches through night. It went on for few days. Management wanted to take out production without workers and using only the executives. I don’t know if it is right or wrong, but morally and personally, I thought, I am becoming party to something which I don’t like. One day dad called the office (remember the old days without mobiles!!) and asked me to come for a day as there was some personal work. My immediate boss refused to grant any leave as we are working under emergency situation. I quietly penned down my resignation and asked him to relieve me with immediate effect. He was shocked and told me that I can not come back for job, I am arrogant etc. I agreed and told him that I am leaving. I sneaked out around 1:00 AM walked 5 km to the nearest bus terminal to get into a bus that goes to Hyderabad. I reached home around 4 AM.
The company was good but I realized that maintenance jobs are not my cup of tea. And my sympathy for workers probably was stronger than my views of management tactics to handle workers on strike.
Whatever, this created a steel determination to do something I like better.
Monday, June 1, 2009
My Proffessional Life - begins!
Life is interesting. It denies what we long for and gives something good which we may not ask for. Whatever, I always believe that whatever happens is for your good. I take life as it comes.
While doing my under graduation in Electrical Engineering at Regional Institute Of Technology –RIT, Jamshedpur ( now – National Institute of Technology –NIT) during 1975-80, I never thought I will land up in Software sector. I remember how our professor who taught us Power Systems let us have a glance of his latest baby – a computer covered in sheets through a small glass opening on the door!! We had a glance, but it did not give us any spark to pursue life in Computer age.
After completing the graduation, came out with great confidence as I got 73.4% marks, which was considered good those days. I got my highest score in Switchgear and wanted to do Post Graduation in Indian Institute Of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India. Unfortunately, I could not get through as I had only 59.5% marks in my Std X, while minimum requirement was 60%. Though I was disappointed, I started looking out for jobs.
First Job – The dream job
This is the best job I ever had in my life. Immediately after graduation, I joined Tata-Robins-Frazer as their site trainee at Vijayawada Thermal Power station, Ibrahimpatnam. When I joined, they had already commissioned Conveyor stream –A and I was asked by my boss to handle stream-B. I enjoyed every moment of life there. I was amazed at the control desk / Kiosk.
I used to be called late in the nights for trouble shooting. One day I was called at 1 AM as the conveyor was not working on top of the coal bunkers. I went up with enthusiasm, checked and cleared the problem by 1:30 AM and the coal started flowing into the bunkers. I felt proud to be called midnight!
Though I loved the job, some one in the company told me that a Mechanical Engineer may finally become a Project Manager as lots of mechanical structures are involved. I was not sure if it is true, but felt convincing that it may be true. And I wanted to become a Project Manager handling all and not just the electrical stuff. I started looking out for jobs
While doing my under graduation in Electrical Engineering at Regional Institute Of Technology –RIT, Jamshedpur ( now – National Institute of Technology –NIT) during 1975-80, I never thought I will land up in Software sector. I remember how our professor who taught us Power Systems let us have a glance of his latest baby – a computer covered in sheets through a small glass opening on the door!! We had a glance, but it did not give us any spark to pursue life in Computer age.
After completing the graduation, came out with great confidence as I got 73.4% marks, which was considered good those days. I got my highest score in Switchgear and wanted to do Post Graduation in Indian Institute Of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India. Unfortunately, I could not get through as I had only 59.5% marks in my Std X, while minimum requirement was 60%. Though I was disappointed, I started looking out for jobs.
First Job – The dream job
This is the best job I ever had in my life. Immediately after graduation, I joined Tata-Robins-Frazer as their site trainee at Vijayawada Thermal Power station, Ibrahimpatnam. When I joined, they had already commissioned Conveyor stream –A and I was asked by my boss to handle stream-B. I enjoyed every moment of life there. I was amazed at the control desk / Kiosk.
I used to be called late in the nights for trouble shooting. One day I was called at 1 AM as the conveyor was not working on top of the coal bunkers. I went up with enthusiasm, checked and cleared the problem by 1:30 AM and the coal started flowing into the bunkers. I felt proud to be called midnight!
Though I loved the job, some one in the company told me that a Mechanical Engineer may finally become a Project Manager as lots of mechanical structures are involved. I was not sure if it is true, but felt convincing that it may be true. And I wanted to become a Project Manager handling all and not just the electrical stuff. I started looking out for jobs
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