Closet Extremist

Back to work blogging.

So...A couple of weeks ago, Ford and I were installing the first of the newest iteration of the TKE controlled elevator, and we got a visit at the jobsite from the boss. No big deal. It's his business, so if he wants to step out and see what's going on it's his perrogative. We were talking about the new ICON controller, and he stated that he had a little computer that could be plugged into the mainboard of the elevator that would allow him to control nearly every aspect of what it was doing. While he was describing it to me, he stated that "With this thing, I'm gonna make you an Adjuster. I know that you know computers, so it sholdn't be any trouble."

I kinda blew it off as a left-handed joke, at the time. Even Ford an I joked that he was gonna make me an adjuster. The joke was in that the adjuster is the most highly trained, anally retentive, attention to detail oriented, rules knowin', bitchin' about what went wrong, individual in the company. He's the guy who comes out after a job has been "roughed in", and smoothes all the edges out to get a good running elevator, that will pass a state inspection. I've only been doing this type of work for about eight months, so it's kind of absurd that he would be grooming me for this sort of thing.

After Ford and I got done installing that elevator, we met at the shop to see where we were going next. Ford was sent out to install a four-stop, in ground elevator, and I was sent out with the adjuster. Hmmn. Interesting that. Luckily, Phil is a great guy, and we can get along with each other, so working with him has been a breeze. Two of the three elevators that we worked on over the last two weeks were ones that I had a hand in installing. He would some in and start talking about what was wrong with the processes (and results of same) that we used to install the thing, and I would set to work (in conjunction with him) to correcting these little niggling things. It was a lot of fun, to see the things that I'd missed in a new light. It's not a personal criticism that Phil brings to the job, but a general idea of what is wrong, and what should be fixed. I like that.

After riding with the adjuster for almost two weeks, I've learned quite a bit about what we've been doing incorrectly, and it's my aim to fix it. It would seem that the boss man has other plans for me. Myu sole ambition is to be the guy who "roughs in" the elevator, and when the adjuster arrives, the only thing he's got to do is say "Good Job". An honorable goal. I'll be given a helper within a week's time, and sent out to put one in on my own.

Damn, I'm looking forward to it.