You make some good points, Steve, and thanks for taking the time to respond.
At previous companies I have had close relationships with vendors and we
would talk periodically all throughout different projects about how we could
make the other person's job easier and more efficient and less prone to
error, and being fairly new in the industry I learned a LOT from them. Now I
have moved to a small company in a small town, and its kind of like when we
finish a job we tell the purchaser, she calls the vendors and then tells me
where to send the data, and we NEVER talk to each other unless there is a
problem and the board gets put on hold until it is resolved. I wish there
were a little more discussion with manufacturing, but not sure how to
approach it without "going around" people or stirring up resentment (who is
this new guy, anyway?) So, I am a LITTLE bit frustrated but I didn't mean to
sound condescending. I really enjoy talking to vendors about designs. (Sorry
you have to deal with people like the "Well, if you can't deliver the way we
say, we'll just find someone else" jerks. sheesh... )
Anyway, Keep up the good work!

Jack, the new guy

                -----Original Message-----
                From:   [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
                Sent:   Wednesday, August 18, 1999 6:13 PM
                To:     [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
                Subject:        Re: [TN] Via Fill...(I know ya'll are sick
of this! BUT...)

                Hello Jack,

                Just to let you know, I did...and they did appreciate my
concerns, but told
                me to go ahead with the build anyway even after sharing all
the replies that
                I recieved from all the technetters...they got to see a
variety of views and
                made the final decision. I learned something with this whole
episode that I
                remember for the future...

                But I sense from your email a condescending reply that comes
across like we
                (EMS companies) never keep our customers informed about
their products. I
                would love to work with someone like you, one who really
takes an interest in
                what is happening with how their products are built, and
would like to be
                able to have some input on improving your product
manufacturability and
                changing things to improve reliability, but more times than
I can count, that
                is not always the case...those of you out there that work in
contract
                assembly can attest to what I'm saying....

                Many times, the sales guys will take on jobs where they
don't have the
                where-with-all to make commitments to certain jobs without
overlooking
                things. They miss the little nuances about assemblies that
create nightmares
                on the production floor. Then you have the sort of customers
that don't want
                to hear about the manufacturability issues, all they know is
that your sales
                people commited to a certain delivery date and come hell or
high water, it
                better happen. So guys like me try to build the thing, and
do it reliably,
                all along trying hard as hell to make some money, or at
least break even on
                the whole deal...it sometimes can be a very daunting task.

                But I really do try to work with our customers when they
allow me to do that,
                but like I said, more times than I like to see it's really
just a bottom-line
                thing..."don't tell me what I need to change with these
boards, because I
                won't...and you said you would deliver the boards this week.
If you can't do
                it we'll find someone else who will..." Sorry if I sound
jaded, but for many
                of us EMS guys...that's life.

                But believe it or not, I think I like working for contract
assembly companies
                (get the white jackets guys, Steve's losing it..) I get
exposed to a variety
                of products, new technologies, and all the different
(hoo-boy!) ways that
                different companies do things...be it silly, or really cool,
I see it
                all...and everyday is a new adventure...(boy, I'm laying it
on thick, ain't
                I?...hehehe)

                -Steve Gregory-

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