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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 254
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 254 |
Being a machinist of 44 tears I’ve seen mega technology changes in tooling and CNC equipment. The saddest thing is seeing a skilled machinist go from a respected tradesman to a machine operator on the same level as a button pusher. Management now only sees college educated office types as skilled and goes to them for advise. The attitude now is anyone can do my job. So in 7 more days they can get anyone to do my job. I’m retiring.
jimjr
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,203
Campfire Savant
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OP
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,203 |
Being a machinist of 44 tears I’ve seen mega technology changes in tooling and CNC equipment. The saddest thing is seeing a skilled machinist go from a respected tradesman to a machine operator on the same level as a button pusher. Management now only sees college educated office types as skilled and goes to them for advise. The attitude now is anyone can do my job. So in 7 more days they can get anyone to do my job. I’m retiring. Good luck to you! I hope you have a long healthy retirement
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 211
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 211 |
I started land surveying in 1990. We had a minimum of 3 guys on a field crew. Now with GPS and robotic total stations, I survey alone most of the time.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,776
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,776 |
Jealous as heck on you guys who have had A career.
I have just had jobs all my life.
Farm, auto detailing, construction, farm, logging, truckdriving,
mechanic, security guard, construction, dump truck, hauling fuel,
factory, hauling fuel, factory for the last 11 years.
And I'm 50.
Is that a list of jobs? Maybe.
It's also how my work has changed.
Really hope there aren't anymore changes.
But I miss driving trucks!
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653 |
Milk cows to beef cows. Husqvarna chainsaws to Stihl Corn, beans and alfalfa...looking at doing hemp. 
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,194
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,194 |
I started remodeling full time in 1981. I started with electric drill, and nails. We didn't even have a nail gun for several years. We used to install nice cabinets made out of wood. 3/4" plywood for the sides and such. We used to install nice real hardwood floor. Now it is nail guns most of the time but I do swing a hammer a bunch yet , it is mostly plastic panel flooring made in China and the cabinets are so cheap they are made of sawdust and OSB. As for doors, they used to be compressed sawdust with vermeer over it, not it is leterally called MDF? It is ground up brown stuff and the boss said it is made of paper. The case and base used to be wood , now it's the MDF pre painted . It looks nice but for how long. The door frames are so thin sometimes that even a pin nail blows it apart sometimes. Just wish I could put in doors that had wood for jambes, even finger jointed would deb an upgrade.
But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,785
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,785 |
You gentlemen have documented some great work experiences. In some ways I am a bit envious of the knowledge out there. While I have done many jobs over the years (timber faller, farm hand, concrete worker, tire service, gunsmith), my main career is what has paid for most of life's expenses.
I started my career in 1984 wrenching on small and large aircraft, which progressed to various positions in quality assurance, manufacturing, product development, and finally went to work for the feds inspecting others performing those tasks. I served in two foreign postings, then came back to the U.S. and specialized in repair stations and regulation enforcement. Now I am a technical specialist doing drone (UAS) certifications under an Executive Order signed by Mr. Trump. The companies like Google, UPS, Flirtey, Amazon, etc. have to go through an extensive testing and evaluation before they can use drones for deliveries, which is what my team does. I used to drive into the office every day, but now I telework full time. 17 years civilian aircraft experience, 18 years in federal service.
While I have had struggles, I have also been extremely blessed and thank God each day for my life, liberty, and freedom.
"I didn't realize we had so many snipers in this country." by J23
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,380
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,380 |
At my job (44 years), more work expected out of fewer workers. Two guys are expected to do what 6+ guys once did. And I bet you that it is the same two workers that they always rely on to do the workd of the other six. You're spot on. Bosses know who they can lean on to get the job done right.
"No good deed shall go unpunished!"
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,053
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,053 |
Education - prior military. Biggest change DISCIPLINE in the schools, that and EARNING a high school diploma is not a priority.
We've gone to babysitting and trying to keep the little schitts out of trouble, and we get reprimanded when a little schitts doesn't "do right".
Too many "educated" stupid people making the rules and decisions.
And these zombies line up and eat from the media’s trough
Cowards CANNOT be free. Nor should they be.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 11,497
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 11,497 |
I used to sell process control systems to the continusous processing industries.
The customers were ignorant and some treated our stuff like the Indians seeing Columbus's ships for the first time. Now the customers are very sophisticated.
On the road a lot, we used to know where every pay phone was that had a long cord and was in a quiet hotel lobby. Cell phones now.
It took a long time to prepare proposals, beause they were custom. We had to send them to company HQ to get prepared. Now everyone has a computer and a printer.
And, oh yes, at least half of my former customers have gone out of business. I'm glad I'm retired.
Don't blame me. I voted for Trump.
Democrats would burn this country to the ground, if they could rule over the ashes.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,943
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 14,943 |
Now that all the builders, contractors and homeowners are all connected with state of the art phones
and computers, no one still can answer a simple question.
--- CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE --- A Magic Time To Be An Illegal In America---
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,277
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,277 |
I retired in 2013 but saw some real advances in technology and also some hard headed ideas get pushed aside. There were open cabs and riding on tailboards on old brush rigs. Air conditioned cabs and automatic transmissions. I took my engineers exam in a double clutchin', mutha fuggin Pierce Arrow open cab. Our paramedic rigs got air conditioning in 1997, I became a PM in 1984. There were chiefs that thought AC would distract PM's and didn't want to order them with AC. SCBAs became lighter and more efficient. We learned a lot more about the science of fire behavior. After 911 we got into mass casualty incident control including mass decontamination and all the terrorism crap. We were issued body armor.
For better or not, our wages climbed substantially. Where this was a negative is that we would all get together and build walls or patios or paint a house or help do a valve job or clutch job. The better wages moved people into the ability to pay someone else to do it. It kind of diminished the team concept. This kind of tied in to the PC culture that got to us. Our dorms went from gladiator style barracks to private cubicles. People would put a TV in and then go hide in the evenings. I had to take a class in dealing with Gen X, I felt that they should keep their heads down and their pie holes shut while they were on probation and thank God out loud everyday for the the job they were fortunate to have. Some bitch from HR gave the class on sexual harassment and said if accused we would be going down. Everything became racial. You couldn't even fart out loud at the end. I never dealt with HR for almost 30 years. In the end I was in the "principles office" 3 times and retired as a subject of investigation. It was sad to contrast my early career enthusiasm with how bad I wanted out at the end. BINGO!! I'm at that exact crossroad in my career. These new millennials are something else. Camaraderie doesn't exist like it used to. Sad,,,,, teamwork.....what's that??
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,278
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 3,278 |
Our job has gotten way better , safety wise and equipment wise . The young guys do a bit of bitching that I find amusing and aggravating at times as they have no Idea how it used to be .
But never the less they are good men with good family values .
And did I mention the equipment , good Lord the physical work that used to be involved and the junk we had to work with .
Kenneth
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,635
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,635 |
The injection of lawyers into virtually every aspect of administrative management and professional practice. Can't set policy, make a decision, or take an action without consulting legal counsel.
Much of the time the lawyers don't really understand what they are dealing with, but that doesn't stop them from rendering opinions and telling others what to do.
A three year JD program doesn't produce omniscience.
Paul
Stupidity has its way, while its cousin, evil, runs rampant.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,155
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,155 |
I retired in 2013 but saw some real advances in technology and also some hard headed ideas get pushed aside. There were open cabs and riding on tailboards on old brush rigs. Air conditioned cabs and automatic transmissions. I took my engineers exam in a double clutchin', mutha fuggin Pierce Arrow open cab. Our paramedic rigs got air conditioning in 1997, I became a PM in 1984. There were chiefs that thought AC would distract PM's and didn't want to order them with AC. SCBAs became lighter and more efficient. We learned a lot more about the science of fire behavior. After 911 we got into mass casualty incident control including mass decontamination and all the terrorism crap. We were issued body armor.
For better or not, our wages climbed substantially. Where this was a negative is that we would all get together and build walls or patios or paint a house or help do a valve job or clutch job. The better wages moved people into the ability to pay someone else to do it. It kind of diminished the team concept. This kind of tied in to the PC culture that got to us. Our dorms went from gladiator style barracks to private cubicles. People would put a TV in and then go hide in the evenings. I had to take a class in dealing with Gen X, I felt that they should keep their heads down and their pie holes shut while they were on probation and thank God out loud everyday for the the job they were fortunate to have. Some bitch from HR gave the class on sexual harassment and said if accused we would be going down. Everything became racial. You couldn't even fart out loud at the end. I never dealt with HR for almost 30 years. In the end I was in the "principles office" 3 times and retired as a subject of investigation. It was sad to contrast my early career enthusiasm with how bad I wanted out at the end. Sounds like a liberal trainwreck. Sure as schit was. It's happening everywhere. When I got hired the department was about 1800 over 13 battalions. It's now almost 4,000 and 22 battalions. It's too big and too spread out and more like a cold corporation.
Fight fire, save lives, laugh in the face of danger.
Stupid always finds a way.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,252
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,252 |
When I started, we would write down where every wire was landed with a pad and pencil. Now we just snap a pic with the cell phone. First guy I saw do this, I complained that it was a terrible idea. What if the phone [bleep] up and there are no schematics to this machine? Now I do it almost everyday and do not think twice.
Also someone mentioned youtube. When I started in Industrial Maintenance, you had to know everything from how to set up your tig welder for various metals, to how to wire in 3 phase motors high and low voltages, to how to calculate how much to add to the cut of the key way you were machining into a shaft to account for the radius. Now the guys just watch a youtube video and go do it.
I do the same thing also on occasion, but I think the difference is I retain that info for next time because that is the way I had to learn before. Newer guys look it up every time because that is the way the world is now. Info at your fingertips, why remember anything.
Not saying it is bad necessarily, just different way to operate.
"Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money." -Tom T Hall
Molon Labe
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,593
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,593 |
Not too many earth shaking changes...
Employers have come and gone, and so with pensions and promises.
Oh yeah
They took the asbestos out of the flux on 7018 rod.
Some are still bitching about that
"Chances Will Be Taken"
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,776
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,776 |
I have a profound hate of everything HR.
It is one of very few fields I would vigorously
object to my kids entering. They are good, honest,
compassionate girls. Bad traits for HR. Well, bad
if you filter them through right. Good if you twist them
to benefit corporate.
There are honest car dealers,
lawyers that fight for right.
Hell, the old mafia had a code and took care of their
good employees, not HR people.
If unions ever make a comeback in this country,
It will be related to how corporate HR treats people.
Luckily, my gripe with our HR is fighting with them to
get paper work done. They don't interfere with our work.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,026
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,026 |
Hanco: My former profession (law enforcement type from 1968 to 1998) has become so politicized and turned to such politically correct nonsense that 95% of the young men and women who start out in this career in that city do not finish their careers in it/there!
The police work in that city is so frustrating, so impossible to do/live with and unrewarding that virtually all trainees in the last 25 years have either outright quit or transferred to more rural departments where "aggressive" police work is still encouraged and tolerated.
I would NOT go back into that profession in that city nowadays if my life depended on it.
The police in that city are literally walking targets - nothing more nothing less.
Fireman - now that is a different story.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,951
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,951 |
The [bleep] bean counters and college interns have taken it over and turned it into a [bleep] show.
"Give a lazy man the toughest job, and he will find the easiest way to do it"
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