Not-My-Problem Mentality
It seems that while we have 6 Sigma, lean management and various tools for cost control and quality management, getting personnel who take a personal interest in the job they provide is a great challenge. What I experience most is the concept of "it is good enough" or "not my problem." The majority of the American workforce today gives the impression that you owe them a job and as long as they show up that is all that matters. We have created this atmosphere ourselves by promoting on talking ability and charts and not on work ability and experience. The workers producing the parts are the lowest on the corporate ladder. It does not help when you see a CEO run a company into the ground and then get a $50 million severance package, and all the workers get is a sob story on how the company lost money. As such, why should the American worker care? quality manager in the petroleum industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $49,000
Money is not everything. Location, quality of colleagues, being trusted and freedom to lead are very important factors in personal job satisfaction. general manager in the chemicals industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $225,000
Not always easy to quantify the progress we make in fundamental areas like mentoring other professionals so that in coming months and years we make better process decisions. Too much emphasis right now on hard cash numbers, quarter by quarter, and not enough on healthy professional attitude that could drive the process forward over a one to five-year time span. engineering manager with 16 to 20 years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $125,000
My company has locations all over the U.S. and the world. They are closing our facility and sending all of our work to Mexico. -- environmental, health or safety manager in the metals industry with three to five years of experience, living in the New England region and earning $34,000
Military Training Helped
I would not be where I am now without my previous military training and was lucky enough to be with a company that changed upper management for people who were into changing things when our business started going in the wrong direction. quality manager in the electronics/high-tech/telecom equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the South Central region and earning $70,787.
Companies are taking advantage of the lack of jobs by requiring workers to work excessive amounts of overtime and reducing benefits. Most workers are staying at current employer not because of loyalty but because of lack of other opportunities. maintenance department manager in the industrial machinery industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $80,000
I still believe that our sales and profits would be enhanced by a national policy of "Fair Trade." -- corporate/executive manager in the metals industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $77,000
Compensation is below market, but employer does not feel need to increase given poor economic conditions and high unemployment. -- financial manager/controller in the automotive/transportation vehicles & equipment industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Pacific region and earning $204,000
The manufacturing industry is becoming extinct in most states in the country. The companies cannot compete with overseas companies that produce the same goods for less. There are less manufacturing plants around and less employees looking to work in manufacturing. Salaries have gone stale for the most part and hiring has slowed due to the poor economy. director of manufacturing/production in the automotive/transportation vehicles & equipment industry with 16 to 20 years of experience, living in the North Central region and earning $50,000
Unrealistic Performance Goals
Concerned about continued unrealistic performance goals and objectives. As companies continue to struggle to meet revenue growth metrics, more and more pressure falls on procurement/supply chain departments to fill in the "gaps." -- purchasing/procurement/sourcing manager in the consumer goods/durables industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $141,000
I have not had a raise in seven years. Our company just got out of Chapter 11. director of purchasing/procurement/sourcing in the metals industry with 11 to 15 years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $38,000
Salary increases of individual employees fall behind advances in profit of industry (not sufficiently balanced). -- director of manufacturing/production in the medical devices/lab equipment industry with 11 to 15 years of experience, living in the Mountain region and earning $115,000
I believe I make a fair market salary, but the challenges of running a profitable business in todays marketplace and competition weigh on everyone. environmental health or safety manager in the food and beverage industry with 26-plus years of experience, living in the Middle Atlantic region and earning $78,000
