Friday, 18 November 2011
I am employed at a corporation that promotes a culture of lean. This doesn’t refer to promoting being fit (though my employer does promote that as well), but to eliminating waste, striving for efficiency, and saving money. They encourage us to look for ways to make various aspects of our jobs lean.
Today, I pushed through a lean initiative that will now save each of my co-workers who utilize this aspect of the job 35 cents. It’s was a thankless task, but I am proud to have stayed the course and accomplished the goal.
Now for the details…
Earlier this week, I ventured over to the vending machines in the main cafeteria. Finding myself desiring a bag of Gardetto’s, I inserted a dollar, which was quickly devoured by the machine. I pressed the letter-number code for the Gardetto’s, and was surprised to see the screen flash “$1.25.” This was unexpected because the little label under the Gardetto’s said “$0.90,” so I was expecting not just my snack, but also a dime in change. Instead, the machine castigated me for coming up a quarter short. So I bought a bag of pretzels (costing 75 cents) instead.
As I passed the vending machines today, there was, coincidentally, a vending machine employee with the vending doors open and boxes of snacks sitting out everywhere. He was busy restocking, but I felt it incumbent upon me to say, “Excuse me, did you know that the Gardetto’s are lists as 90 cents, but when I put in a dollar, the screen tells me I need another quarter?”
He mumbled something, and then stood up and pressed the Gardetto’s code. Verifying that I was correct, he said, “Oh, I’ll have to correct the price. Thank you, sir.”
Yeah, he really called me ‘sir.’ Can you believe it? I can’t believe it. I’m not sure what, exactly, about me exudes the word ‘sir,’ but about once every other year (or so), someone calls me sir. It’s weird.
But getting back to the matter at hand:
I assumed the vending machine man was going to replace the signage so that the Gardetto’s were listed as $1.25. However, later in the day, when I again walked by the machines, I saw that he had kept the Gardetto’s at 90 cents. Out of curiosity, I punched in the code, and saw that they were now, indeed, 90 cents.
To all of my co-workers, including my bosses: You’re Welcome.
It’s thinking like this that will fix the deficit. You, sir, are a Supercommittee of One!
Well done. Your co-workers save money plus the vending company will sell more snacks. It is a Win-Win!!
Thanks for the commendations, Mikes! I hope my efforts prove a win-win for everyone involved.