Sighs in the early morning: The "sandwiched" daily life of frontline quality control staff
As soon as the morning alarm rang, I stared at the ceiling and let out a sigh first. It wasn't that I hadn't slept enough; it was just that the thought of the "battlefield" I had to face made me feel listless. As a front - line supervisor in the Quality Control Department, my daily work is like unpacking a "Russian nesting doll". Just when I've resolved the rework complaints from the production team, I have to deal with the blame - shifting from the full - inspection team. Just after arguing with the sales team about "re - inspect before shipment", I have to submit a "Quality Anomaly Report" to my boss. Previously, my boss patted me on the shoulder and said, "Either don't touch management; if you do, aim higher." At that time, I just thought it was nonsense, but now I understand. Front - line managers are like buffer pads sandwiched between "rules" and "human feelings". The higher - ups want the result of "zero defects", while the subordinates want the consideration of "don't make trouble". I'm not in the good books of either side. What's tiring isn't my body, but my mind, constantly feeling that "whatever I say is wrong".
The "charge" for rework: It's not that I want to "make trouble", but the quality can't be "just about okay"
The most frustrating moment last week was dealing with the burr problem of a batch of battery cases. The team leader of the production group waved the work order and complained, "Do you just not want us to get off work early? You can just rub the burrs with your hands. The customers won't notice at all!" I took out the quality agreement with the customer and slapped it on the table. It clearly stated in the agreement that "burrs ≤ 0.1mm", but he just pretended not to see it. Then, the aunt from the full - inspection group blocked my way and said, "This is the job of your OQC sampling inspection. Why should we do the rework?" I pointed at the sampling inspection record and explained, "Your full - inspection group missed checking this batch. According to the process, you have to conduct a supplementary inspection." She slammed the door and left with a comment, "You're just so fussy."
They all say I'm "addicted to rework", but who on earth would want to look for trouble? I want things to be "peaceful" more than anyone else. If the molds could be well-prepared during production, if more attention could be paid during the full inspection, and if everyone took "quality" seriously, would I have to be like someone "looking for others' faults" every day?
The "power and responsibility game" of OQC: "Shifting blame to each other" under the same roof
What's even more of a headache is the "unclear division of powers and responsibilities" within OQC. We are divided into two groups: the full - inspection group and the shipping group. Nominally, they are under the same supervisor. However, when real problems occur, the division of powers and responsibilities is finer than a hair. Last week, 10 defective products with loose headphone cables were found during spot - checks. The full - inspection group said, "We only check the appearance. Checking the functions is the job of the shipping group." Then they pushed the problem to the shipping group. The shipping group said, "We only check the packaging. Checking the functions is the job of the production department." When the problem was further pushed to the production department, the production department rummaged through old scores and scolded, "What are you guys in the full - inspection group good for? What were you doing earlier?"
I'm caught in the middle and have explained until my voice is hoarse, yet both sides think I'm "shifting the blame". Once, the boss came over to mediate and only said, "Everyone should show mutual understanding." - Understand what? Should we understand the "laziness" of the full inspection team? The "perfunctoriness" of the production team? Or should we understand the dilemma I, the "middleman", am in?
The "tacit understanding" of the couple group leaders: When rules clash with human feelings, it's always the "rule - abiding person" who loses
Coincidentally, the team leaders of the battery group and the earphone group are a couple. Last week, I rejected their goods for approval. The encapsulation glue of the battery group was not fully applied, and there were scratches on the microphone shells of the earphone group. Now when I pass by their workstations, they both turn their computer screens away and even avoid getting water from me. Actually, it's not personal; it's against "people who follow the rules". They always say "that's good enough", but when it comes to quality, a 0.1mm shortage of glue means a risk of liquid leakage, and a single scratch means customer complaints. Can I just "make do"?
Yesterday when I was waiting in line to get food in the cafeteria, I stood behind them and heard the head of the earphone group say to the person next to him, "That girl surnamed Lin is so stubborn." The head of the battery group chimed in, "In two months' time, she won't be able to hold on and will leave on her own." I carried my plate and found a corner to sit down. Suddenly, I remembered my enthusiasm when I first started working as a quality control inspector. At that time, I thought "Quality is the lifeblood of an enterprise." Now I understand that sometimes, "lifeblood" can't compete with "favoritism."
The "blame - shifting tactics" of the sales group: The eternal contradiction between "speed" and "accuracy"
The sales team is even more outrageous. Yesterday, they were in a hurry to deliver a batch of foreign trade orders. Xiao Wu from the sales team shouted across the workstations, "Release the goods first. The customer can't wait!" I stopped them and insisted on a re - inspection. He rolled his eyes and said, "We'll take the responsibility if there's a problem." As a result, the customer reported that the batteries were leaking today. The sales team immediately shifted the blame. The supervisor slapped the complaint email on my desk and said, "How did the Quality Department conduct the inspection? The customer is asking for compensation!"
I dug out yesterday's re-inspection record. It clearly stated on it that "the sealing of the battery compartment did not meet the standard and rework was required", but the sales group insisted on "releasing the goods first". However, no one looked at the record. Everyone only looked at the "result": since the customer complained, it was the fault of the Quality Department. They wanted "speed", while I wanted "accuracy". This contradiction is like a thorn stuck in my throat, neither able to be spat out nor swallowed.
The "liberation" of wage - earners: There's nowhere to escape, so they can only "endure"
Sometimes, on the way home from work, I stare at myself in the subway window and see bloodshot eyes. I also wonder, "Should I change my job?" I open the recruitment app and browse for half an hour. All the job requirements are like "need to coordinate across departments", "strong stress resistance", and "able to handle emergencies". Oh, so it's the same for quality control jobs everywhere? For those who work for others, there is no option of "liberation". It's just about moving to another place and continuing to be the "sandwich" in the middle.
I don't want to be a so - called "strong woman", nor do I want to earn a fortune. I just want to go to work every day without having to be overly cautious, without someone slamming the table as soon as I sit down, and without lying in bed at night still thinking about "Did I offend someone again today?" I just want to improve the product quality, reduce rework in production, and minimize customer complaints, so that I can have a cup of hot coffee in peace. Such a simple wish, why is it so difficult?
Finally: The "happiness" I want is simply "not having to compromise"
I called my friend yesterday. She asked me, "Why haven't I seen you post on Moments recently?" I was standing on the balcony, holding my phone. The smell of steamed buns from the breakfast shop downstairs wafted in the air. Suddenly, my nose felt sour. I said, "I'm just tired and don't want to talk." She sighed and said, "Why don't you quit?" I smiled and said, "If I don't do this, what else can I do?"
Actually, what I mean by "happiness" is very simple. It's not about getting a pay raise or holding a high - ranking position. It's about being able to openly follow the rules without being isolated for "following the rules". It's about making everyone understand that "quality" is not "being fussy" but a way to protect everyone's livelihood. It's about being able to smile and say "See you tomorrow" to colleagues when leaving work every day instead of walking around them with one's head down.
But now it seems that even such "happiness" has become a luxury.
Lying in bed tonight, I felt the quality certificate in my pocket. I obtained it last year and used to stick it in front of my desk, thinking, "This is my confidence." Now looking at it, I suddenly remembered what the boss said, "Either move up." Maybe I really should give it a try? It's not that I want to be a "high - ranking official", but I want to stand at a higher position, making "rules" more important than "favors". In this way, can I suffer less grievances? Can I get a bit closer to "happiness"?
The streetlights outside the window went out. I held the certificate and slowly closed my eyes. I still have to go to work tomorrow and face those complaints, those attempts to shift the blame, and those "that's good enough" remarks. But at least, I haven't given up on "following the rules".
That's enough.