Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

[Twidget]

I got 'wonderful' news this weekend. Some bean counters have gone over my inventory and decided what I need to do my job. <br /><br />Back in the day, we carried all the parts we needed to do the job. A few years ago, they got the idea that we could probably do the job if they cut our inventory and overnighted us parts. My quesion..Isnt that expensive?. A few months later, they decided it was too expensive, so they would ship ground. It takes 5 business days for me to get a part that way.<br /><br />Now they have come up with the brilliant idea to cut my inventory further and 'stock' what I need at the corporate depot. For reference, that is 5 business days away as FedEx drives.<br /><br />My customer uses two servers per location. A primary and a backup. My company agreed to a two hour response for their servers. One of the parts they are going to 'stock' for me is hard drives. How in the heck am I going to adequately repair their servers without hard drives and boards???? <br /><br />This is exactly the crap IBM was pulling when we took the account away from them.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Wouldn’t be an issue here. California has a state law that requires manfs of electronics goodies to maintain a warranty repair facility in the state, and a repair facility local to any company store that retails. All of those warranty repair facilities are required to have PARTS ON HAND to fix ANY problem, for a period of 3 years after the sale of any electronics goodie, even if out of warranty. The manf must maintain parts availability (i.e. can be shipped into the state) for a period of 7 years after the sale. If the manf doesn’t, the manf is required to buy back whatever electronic goody needs repairs, even if out of warranty.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Looks like the lawyers read the service contract.<br />2 hour response time doesn't mean 2 hour repair time.<br />2 hour response time means:<br />Get there, make an appearance.<br />Order parts.<br />Wait 5-6 days for parts.<br />Make another trip to repair.<br /><br />Happy job hunting.

 

[heycods]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Lets go back to the old paper and pencil world. NOT!!!

 

[Laddies]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Its the bean counters that have decided to outsoures most jobs in this country they are for the most part very narrow and short sighted

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

That's a marketing decision; bean counters don't make marketing decisions. Outsourcing jobs, same thing, not a decision made by bean counters.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Perchance the bean counters have some IBM stock in there 401K?

 

[Twidget]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

I dunno JT, we were told that our profit margin should be approximately 20%. As it sits now, its about 15%, which would seem to me to be pretty good considering a lot of our work is warranty.<br /><br />Speaking of marketing, we were really low, until it was discovered that the sales department was taking some of our revenue.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

ahhhh...Wall Street wants 20%, interesting, that same figure was mentioned at our last management conference...a conspiracy?...I think so. <br /><br />Still, a bean counter can tell you "reduce inventory, save millions," but he can't (or shouldn't) be the one to say what is an acceptable level of customer service (or lack thereof).

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

In my occupation I cannot afford to have the newest,latest ,updated technology installed. If the "Main Office" gives me one more time saving device,software or procedure I won't be able to complete any task assigned.<br />What used to take me 2 minutes now takes 15 minutes thanks to newest, latest, etc.. Oh how I love to be more efficient!!

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

We just deleted a couple of items here at work because of low sales volume. The bad part it, when we have a problem, you need those slow moving items.<br /><br />Guess next time I can tell the customer, I know your problem, and I know how to fix it, but we no longer sell the fix.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Ken

 

[Twidget]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

UPDATE. Evidently there was a mass revolt on the part of our customer base nationwide. <br /><br />The latest story is that there was an input error by a clerk. The 75% or so of my parts that I was to send back are now to stay with me. I went from having about 150 items to ship back to having 6 items(that I really dont need) sent back.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Originally posted by Twidget:<br /> UPDATE. Evidently there was a mass revolt on the part of our customer base nationwide. <br /><br />The latest story is that there was an input error by a clerk. The 75% or so of my parts that I was to send back are now to stay with me. I went from having about 150 items to ship back to having 6 items(that I really dont need) sent back.

No doubt the originator of the iniative is also the one who discovered the "input error" [nudge-nudge-wink-wink], and gets a nice promotion out of the deal?

 

[PW2]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

I'm sure a good share of Ford's current problems start at the bean-counter level.<br /><br />We make X number of dollars on SUV's? Let's make more of them! Forget new product development.<br /><br />2 years later: Why we can't sell all of these SUV's?? Let's blame the union contracts for Ford's woes.<br /><br />Years ago, I was involved in management of a pulp mill which at the time was making a ton of money. Word came down from upper management (read beancounters) "No strike under *ANY* circumstances.<br /><br />Several years later, when results were not so good, several people were fired for previously negotiating unfavorable contracts. Yep, not a bean counter among the casualties.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

PW2, your Ford analogy is also a marketing decision (product mix). No bean-counter would take responsibility for making a marketing decision. At least not while employed in a bean counting capacity. Your beancounters would calculate "X" for you, and stop there. If Ford is hiring CPA's to run their marketing organization, then they (the CPA's & the ones what hired 'em) ought to be taken out back & flogged.<br /><br />

upper management (read beancounters)

- in most cases, beancounters make up a relatively small percentage of upper management. You would not put your accounting department in charge of negotiating a labor deal. You would have them advising you of the cost implications of various alternatives.<br /><br />Not to say that it didn't happen the way you described at your company.

 

[Twidget]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

I was under the impression that the last few heads of both GM and Ford came from the Accounting area. Maybe Im wrong though.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: Bean counters can be a real pain(rant) (UPDATE)

Stupid things are done over and over because the young pups who come into the business world seem to think they are the first ones to have ever thought of "this" or "that." Kinda like the first original thought that ever pops into a 14-year old kid's head: "hey, I am thinking and no one else can do that---I am the first human to ever think!"