391. Machine Set Up

"Do you know anything about machine set up?" asked Sudhkar, Production Executive.

"Yes, sir. I do" said Mani.

"Are you aware that you are just a trainee?"

Mani didn't reply to this.

"If you don't know something, you should ask me. You can't act presumptuous!"

"Sir, I didn't do anything at all. I just asked the Machine Operator why he didn't do machine set up before starting a new batch."

"That's what I described as presumptuous. If you have any doubt, you should ask me. Don't ask the Machine Operator about it."

Mani moved away quietly.

"What, Neelakantan?" asked Murthy, the Production Manager, looking at Neelakantan, the Machine Operator, who came to meet him.

"Sir, I want to bring an issue to your notice. You shouldn't mistake me!" said Neelakantan, reluctantly.

"Go ahead and tell me" said Murthy, encouragingly.

"One Engineer has joined our company recently."

"Yes. His name is Mani. He is a trainee. What about him? Is he creating any problem?"

"No, sir. Yesterday, he came to me and asked me why I didn't do machine set up while starting a new batch."

"Why? Did you not do it?"

"Sir, we function as per the instructions of the Production Executive. Earlier, we were doing machine set up for every batch. After the present Production Executive had joined, he told us that doing machine set up for every batch would result in waste of time, leading to decrease in production. He advised us to do machine set up only once in a month. So, we have been doing accordingly."

"Okay. What is the problem, then?"

"For quite sometime, the number of pieces being returned by the Quality Control department for doing rework has been increasing. I had a doubt that our not doing production set up for every batch could be the reason for the increase in rejections. After the new Engineer asked me why I didn't do machine set up while starting a new batch, I thought that my doubt could be valid. I am not sure whether the Production Executive will listen to me, if I take up this issue with him. That's why I wanted to bring this to your notice" said Neelakantan.

"Ok. I will look into it" said Murthy.

On being summoned, Mani entered the Production Manager's cabin feeling nervous.

"In which Engineering college did you study?" was the first question asked by Murthy.

When Mani mentioned the name of the college, Murthy said, "That college is not one with a good reputation." After a pause, he added, "But you seem to have studied well!"

"Sir!" said Mani, perplexed about what the Production Manager had meant.

"You were right in asking the Machine Operator why he didn't do machine set up before starting a new batch. But where did you learn this?"

"Sir, it is mentioned in the Production Manual!""

"To my knowledge, of all the people who joined this company, you are the only person who read the Production Manual thoroughly. I have not read it myself! I will talk to the Production Executive. I called you only to congratulate you on your thorough learning. Well done!" said Murthy

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 40
Education

Verse 391 (in Tamil):

kaRka kasadaRa kaRpavai kaRRapin
niRka adhaRkuth thaga.

Meaning:

Learn what is to be learnt, with no flaws; After learning, act as per what you you have learnt.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'adhikap pirasangi' by the same author.)

Verse 392
Verse 390