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... > > > > *************************************************************************** > * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * > *************************************************************************** > * To unsubscribe from this list at any time, send a message to: * > * [log in to unmask] with <subject: unsubscribe> and no text. * > *************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To unsubscribe from this list at any time, send a message to: * * [log in to unmask] with <subject: unsubscribe> and no text. * ***************************************************************************