The morning's busyness was like a wound - up clockwork, until the news from the Quality Inspection Institute exploded
From the moment of clocking in, time seemed to be on fast - forward. At 7:50, I rushed to the warehouse to check the batch numbers and supplier qualifications of three batches of soybean raw materials. By the time I finished filling out the acceptance form, the clock on the wall pointed to 8:30. Immediately afterwards, I grabbed the samples and ran to the sensory evaluation room. I smelled the aroma concentration of the soybean powder, checked whether the color and luster met the GB standards, and tasted the smoothness of the brewed powder. Playing the role of the "jury", I finished writing three sensory evaluation records. It was just past 9 o'clock. Then I turned around and plunged into the analysis room. I prepared the buffer solution, conducted acid - base titration, and measured the protein content. After recording five sets of physical and chemical data, the time in the lower - right corner of the computer jumped to 10:40. Just as I was about to take a sip of warm water, the alarm in the microbiology room went off - it was time to count the colonies cultured yesterday. I squatted in front of the incubator for 20 minutes. After filling the results into the record card, it was already 11:20.
I was rubbing my shoulders while entering the last set of physics and chemistry data into the system when the door of the office suddenly burst open. My colleague, Xiao Zhou, clutching a folder, shouted, "The people from the Quality Inspection Institute are here! They're waiting in the meeting room for the inspection materials!" The click of my gel pen echoed as I pressed it all the way down. It felt as if a wad of wet cotton was stuck in my throat - all the unfinished reports, un - checked parallel samples, and borrowed record cards rushed into my mind.
The moment when one asks for materials, all those "incompletenesses" pop up
I stared at the raw material inspection report that was only half - written on the computer, my head buzzing. Last Tuesday, because the production department was urging an urgent order, the sensory evaluation records of three batches of wheat flour only stated "normal color", without attaching the specific data from the color difference meter. For the physical and chemical parallel samples tested on Wednesday, the difference between the two titration results was 0.12 mL, and there hasn't been time to repeat the experiment for verification. The temperature and humidity record card in the microbiology laboratory was borrowed by Lao Zhang from the production department yesterday to check the temperature in the fermentation workshop and hasn't been returned yet. These "unfinished" details are like the threads hidden under the carpet. Once you pull one, they'll all be exposed.
The information checked by the quality inspection institute has always been "timely". Last time, the neighboring factory was ordered to stop the production line for rectification for three days because one temperature and humidity record was missing. Last month, my colleague was publicly criticized because no photos were attached to the sensory record. I felt the crumpled record paper in the drawer, and my fingertips were all sweaty. If they want to check last week's sensory data, what can I use to make up for it? If they ask about the differences in parallel samples, how can I explain it? If they turn to the temperature and humidity record with missing pages, do I have to take the blame?
My position is like a "four-in-one" basket, holding the work of four positions
Actually, my job has long lost its original flavor. In my previous company, the raw material inspection was the job of the material quality inspectors, so I didn't have to go to the warehouse. For sensory evaluation, three staff members would score together, so I didn't have to taste myself. The physical and chemical tests were done by dedicated personnel in the analysis room, so I didn't have to prepare reagents. There were dedicated people to monitor the incubator for microbial culture, so I didn't have to sit there counting colonies. Now, I've become a "jack-of-all-trades":
I go to the warehouse at 8 a.m., arrive at the sensory room at 9 a.m., immerse myself in the analysis room at 10 a.m., and head to the microbiology room at 11 a.m. At noon, I eat takeout while inputting data. I continue this cycle starting at 1 p.m. After a whole day, the total time I sit down is no more than an hour. Last Wednesday, I worked overtime until 8 p.m. just to complete the microbiology records from the previous day, but there are still some blanks to fill in today.
Yesterday I did some calculations: Just for raw material acceptance, I had to fill out 5 forms; for sensory evaluation, I had to write 3 records; for physical and chemical testing, I had to record 8 sets of data; and for microbial counting, I had to fill out 4 cards. In one day, the handwritten records could fill up half a notebook.
To make matters worse, I have to "cross the border" to manage production today
I hadn't recovered from my anxiety when a message popped up in the work group on my phone. Minister Li from the production department said, "The goods have been delivered to the distribution center. Please keep an eye on the filling temperature of the production line." Staring at this message, I recalled the scene this morning - Minister Li patted me on the shoulder and said, "Minister Wang is on annual leave. You're the only one we can count on today." At that time, I was running to the analysis room with samples in my arms. I just gave a vague response and didn't take it seriously at all.
Now it's okay. The people from the Quality Inspection Institute are waiting in the meeting room. There are unfinished reports piled up on my desk, and I haven't checked the filling temperature on the production line. If the Quality Inspection Institute asks about the production records later, I won't even know the situation of the production line. If the temperature on the production line exceeds the standard, do I have to take the responsibility together? If the inspection materials aren't complete and I haven't kept a good eye on the production, I'm afraid I'll have to stay in the office to write two self - critiques after work today.
I stared at the blinking cursor on the computer screen and glanced in the direction of the meeting room. Suddenly, I remembered the glass of warm water I hadn't drunk that morning—it was now completely cold, just like my mood at that moment.