Thanks, Jerry, for the chuckles.  I needed that.

Fred J. Paul, Sr. Process Engineer
PCB Operations, FLUKE CORPORATION
direct:  206 356-5734  fax:  206 356-6070
[log in to unmask]	


On Tue, 26 Nov 1996 08:12:36 -0800 Jerry Cupples wrote:

> From: Jerry Cupples <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Tue, 26 Nov 1996 08:12:36 -0800
> Subject: Re: SMEMA and other organizations (silly)
> To: Paula Ryan <[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Paula Ryan asked:
> 
> >Does anyone know where I could obtain a copy of a standard called;
> >
> >SMEMA
> >
> >It is associated with input and output conveyors (I think)
> >
> >Thank you for any information that you can supply.
> 
> 
> Of course, the official name is Surface Mount Equipment Manufacturers
> Association.
> 
> But after doing this work a few years, you may find the real organizational
> structure more like this:
> 
> SMEMA = Selling Machines Everywhere Money is Available.
> 
> They write standards and other fictional depictions of the miraculous
> nature of their products, the more technically obscure; the better.
> 
> Then you have two other shady organizations:
> 
> STIGMA = Subscription Technical Information Gazette - Mainly Advertising
> 
> The SMEMA communicates with the target market with STIGMA. You will get
> piles of these in the mailbox every month full of nifty pictures and
> smiling people. If you believe STIGMA, SMEMA can solve all your problems
> for approximately $2.5 million, and everyone else in the world has already
> purchased and installed all the stuff to make production a piece of cake.
> There are confusing little stories included every month, which explain how
> your problems could all be solved by contacting SMEMA.
> 
> Then when you buy any of the SMEMA stuff and try to make it do what the
> STIGMA claimed, you will become:
> 
> SMEGMA = Struggling Manufacturing Engineer, Going Mad Alone. Members of
> this organization automatically become President of their own chapter and
> attend meetings daily where they wonder what they did wrong and curse their
> fate for not being part of SMEMA or STIGMA.
> 
> Even SMEGMA members usually deny the shortcomings of the SMEMA stuff, as it
> can be dangerous to let anyone know that the STIGMA was not true. After
> all, it is eventually going to be SMEGMA's fault even if they were gullible
> in their review of SMEMA STIGMA. Sometimes, a SMEGMA will even write some
> technobabble for STIGMA. This is usually to reinforce the allegation that
> the SMEGMA was correct in choosing which SMEMA to spend a fortune with.
> 
> It can get complex, but just remember SMEGMA members rarely drive BMW's,
> play golf, attend trade meetings in Hawaii, or leave work at 5 PM.
> 
> 
> ;-) happy holidays
> 
> 
> Jerry
> 
> p.s. that's a wink, I'm only joking...
> 
> 
> 
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