Telematics and management; ten years from now.... - Brown Cafe

soberups · 08-30-2009, 09:03 PM

I hereby make the following prediction.

Ten years from now, once Telematics has been fully implemented, the number of Operations staff (CM's and on-car sups) will be cut by two thirds.

The job of "on car sup" will be outsourced...to some guy named Patel making $3 an hour who sits in a little room in Bombay and "supervises" 25 drivers simultaneously via Telematics.

PCM's will be conducted via an online video link. You will never meet Patel face to face; but he will supervise you, along with 25 of your co-workers, in real time on a bank of computer monitors.

Were you overallowed? Did you leave your bulkhead door open, or break trace to go pee? If so, you will answer to Patel. The fact that Patel has never done your job or been to your country wont matter; Telematics will give him all the information he needs to "supervise" you every moment of the day. He is pretty much like the IE management we have now, only he will make less than a tenth of what they do.

The job of training and safety rides will be performed by part-time sups who float from center-to-center as needed. Otherwise, the actual day-to-day management of the center will be outsourced to Patel and his kin via Telematics.

I guess the nice part about this is that, in addition to supervising you, Patel can probably provide tech support for that new laptop you just bought. Just make sure you code the time out as lunch first, or as soon as he gets your computer fixed he will fire you for stealing time.

rod · 08-30-2009, 09:37 PM

sad but true

tieguy · 08-30-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

I hereby make the following prediction.

Ten years from now, once Telematics has been fully implemented, the number of Operations staff (CM's and on-car sups) will be cut by two thirds.

The job of "on car sup" will be outsourced...to some guy named Patel making $3 an hour who sits in a little room in Bombay and "supervises" 25 drivers simultaneously via Telematics.

PCM's will be conducted via an online video link. You will never meet Patel face to face; but he will supervise you, along with 25 of your co-workers, in real time on a bank of computer monitors.

Were you overallowed? Did you leave your bulkhead door open, or break trace to go pee? If so, you will answer to Patel. The fact that Patel has never done your job or been to your country wont matter; Telematics will give him all the information he needs to "supervise" you every moment of the day. He is pretty much like the IE management we have now, only he will make less than a tenth of what they do.

The job of training and safety rides will be performed by part-time sups who float from center-to-center as needed. Otherwise, the actual day-to-day management of the center will be outsourced to Patel and his kin via Telematics.

I guess the nice part about this is that, in addition to supervising you, Patel can probably provide tech support for that new laptop you just bought. Just make sure you code the time out as lunch first, or as soon as he gets your computer fixed he will fire you for stealing time.

your point was what? Were we all supposed to feel bad after we read this?

MC4YOU2 · 08-30-2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

your point was what? Were we all supposed to feel bad after we read this?

No, I think what sober is saying here is we should feel happy for Patel since he will be making a better return for the shareholders than the many mgmt staff members currently nursing at the trough. So to speak.

klein · 08-30-2009, 11:21 PM

He forgot to mention Patel will also be our new "Salesguy" LOL
Our MUST leads go to Patel, and he takes it from there.
India is known for wheeling and dealing !

MC4YOU2 · 08-30-2009, 11:43 PM

Plus, Patel is far less likely to sue over unpaid overtime, unlike the current salesforce!

spif91 · 08-30-2009, 11:54 PM

You forgot to mention the local motels he owns on the side....,I think the last 5 years I was in package I didn't deliver to a run down motel that the persons last name wasn't Patel

evilleace · 08-31-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

your point was what? Were we all supposed to feel bad after we read this?

Oh no of course not anything that makes the company look better on paper has to be better we should all be happy.

ol'browneye · 08-31-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

your point was what? Were we all supposed to feel bad after we read this?

No, I believe you are supposed to chuckle a little at the real possibility of this and then move on to the next post!

Geez Tie, loosen that tie and lighten up!

klein · 08-31-2009, 01:14 PM

Don't forget Patel will also supply uniforms from India.
And any major accidents we have here. Those trucks will be sent to him (very useful in India).
Our new fleet, will come from him , too (refurbished).
And once he does that, he will realize why just send trucks ? We will send Patels family over and they can drive them.
They should past customs easily with wearing UPS uniforms, made in India.

hellfire · 08-31-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

your point was what? Were we all supposed to feel bad after we read this?

tie,, you have seen the current trend,,,lower operation management is getting the pinch

Hoaxster · 08-31-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellfire

tie,, you have seen the current trend,,,lower operation management is getting the pinch

I have heard he's got a cute tush.

Jones · 08-31-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoaxster

I have heard he's got a cute tush.

That's the word around feeders anyway...

soberups · 08-31-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

your point was what? Were we all supposed to feel bad after we read this?

My point...was that the actual job of managing a center has been outsourced to IE for some time now. Our so-called "center managers" and "on car supervisors" are little more than puppets who dont even have the authority to decide which hand to wipe their butts with any more. Since the real decisions involved in managing and dispatching a center are being made by absent and unaccountable individuals...from IE...the next logical step in this progression will be to use the Telematics technology to send that same work overseas. After all, if we are going to be harassed and micromanaged by clueless fools....why should UPS be paying those fools an $80K per year IE wage when Patel in Bombay could accomplish the same thing for $3 an hour?

And as far as whether or not you are supposed to "feel bad" about this, that is up to the individual. It wont affect me, since I will be retired. I can tell you, though, that I would hate to be a 24 yr old on-car sup today.....

JustTired · 09-01-2009, 04:41 AM

Sober
The only flaw I find in your thinking ......is that in ten years India will have priced itself out of the market. With their economy growing faster than any other country (with the possible exception of China), the cost will be too high to make it cost effective. UPS (and others) will have to look elsewhere for cheap labor. Heck, by then it might be cheaper to hire in the U.S.

After all....we're on our way to becoming the "newest" third world country. Third world being defined as "The richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor and nothing in between".

mattwtrs · 09-01-2009, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klein

India is known for wheeling and dealing !

I know you are from Canada but most people in Pennsyltucky know that Wheeling is in West by God Virginy!

moreluck · 09-01-2009, 06:13 AM

And 'dealing' is in Las Vegas !!!!!!

tourists24 · 09-01-2009, 07:19 AM

Dont know if it's just the flavor of the month around here or not, but for at least 3 months now the only thing our on cars do is ride along with drivers to see why so much overallowed. The decision is made who to ride with, then off they go... When they get back to the building that evening, they get right on the computers and start looking at the reports. Next morning, it starts all over.

tieguy · 09-01-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klein

He forgot to mention Patel will also be our new "Salesguy" LOL
Our MUST leads go to Patel, and he takes it from there.
India is known for wheeling and dealing !

I'm curious why you chose to use the word our when it no longer applies to you?

tieguy · 09-01-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

My point...was that the actual job of managing a center has been outsourced to IE for some time now. Our so-called "center managers" and "on car supervisors" are little more than puppets who dont even have the authority to decide which hand to wipe their butts with any more. Since the real decisions involved in managing and dispatching a center are being made by absent and unaccountable individuals...from IE...the next logical step in this progression will be to use the Telematics technology to send that same work overseas. After all, if we are going to be harassed and micromanaged by clueless fools....why should UPS be paying those fools an $80K per year IE wage when Patel in Bombay could accomplish the same thing for $3 an hour?

And as far as whether or not you are supposed to "feel bad" about this, that is up to the individual. It wont affect me, since I will be retired. I can tell you, though, that I would hate to be a 24 yr old on-car sup today.....

I think if you're center management team is blaming IE for operations decisions then your team is exercising the IE cop out.

Just Numbers · 09-01-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

My point...was that the actual job of managing a center has been outsourced to IE for some time now. Our so-called "center managers" and "on car supervisors" are little more than puppets who dont even have the authority to decide which hand to wipe their butts with any more. Since the real decisions involved in managing and dispatching a center are being made by absent and unaccountable individuals...from IE...the next logical step in this progression will be to use the Telematics technology to send that same work overseas. After all, if we are going to be harassed and micromanaged by clueless fools....why should UPS be paying those fools an $80K per year IE wage when Patel in Bombay could accomplish the same thing for $3 an hour?

And as far as whether or not you are supposed to "feel bad" about this, that is up to the individual. It wont affect me, since I will be retired. I can tell you, though, that I would hate to be a 24 yr old on-car sup today.....

Sober,
I've got news for you...I.E has been running the show for decades, you just haven't realized it because they've been in the back closet and as they opened the door more people saw it. The best example I personally can give happened on Christmas Eve 25 yrs ago in 1984. Our center manager was basically in tears as he gave the pcm. No jumpers were to work today ( I guess nowadays they are called helpers)! This came down from the division manager as he was directed by the district I.E. manager in a cost cutting manuver. As that I.E. manager was probably eating a nice dinner with his family he didn't realize how many UPS people were not doing the same (both drivers and management) as they were cleaning up the mess his decision created! I and a few other drivers helped out a guy who would probably not have returned until after midnight(Christmas Day).
So as you can see they have been running the show for longer then you think. we have all been puppets. A good response from I.E. would be that the dispatch should have been leveled off. We didn't have enough drivers on the payroll to do that and you ever see a preload try to move a couple thousand stops at 8 am ( my sup said that was when the decision was given to our manager). P-man, I have read many of your posts and have a lot of respect for you so, if your reading this please answer this question: Why is it when I.E. says to do something or plan something it is Gods' Law. But when it goes wrong it is only a tool or guidelines to use for a manager to run his operation. I've heard this from so many management people that have come and gone in my center.

tourists24 · 09-01-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Numbers

Sober,
I've got news for you...I.E has been running the show for decades, you just haven't realized it because they've been in the back closet and as they opened the door more people saw it. The best example I personally can give happened on Christmas Eve 25 yrs ago in 1984. Our center manager was basically in tears as he gave the pcm. No jumpers were to work today ( I guess nowadays they are called helpers)! This came down from the division manager as he was directed by the district I.E. manager in a cost cutting manuver. As that I.E. manager was probably eating a nice dinner with his family he didn't realize how many UPS people were not doing the same (both drivers and management) as they were cleaning up the mess his decision created! I and a few other drivers helped out a guy who would probably not have returned until after midnight(Christmas Day).
So as you can see they have been running the show for longer then you think. we have all been puppets. A good response from I.E. would be that the dispatch should have been leveled off. We didn't have enough drivers on the payroll to do that and you ever see a preload try to move a couple thousand stops at 8 am ( my sup said that was when the decision was given to our manager). P-man, I have read many of your posts and have a lot of respect for you so, if your reading this please answer this question: Why is it when I.E. says to do something or plan something it is Gods' Law. But when it goes wrong it is only a tool or guidelines to use for a manager to run his operation. I've heard this from so many management people that have come and gone in my center.

You are right about IE running things for so long. Problem is that Operations has no input on anything anymore. Things are dictated with no regard about anything other than reports. Make the numbers look good or else. It has not always been this way. Each district had its own personality based on who was running it.Now they dont seem like supervisors and mgt anymore, just glorified secretaries taking orders from above with a checklist on exactly what will be the focus.

slantnosechevy · 09-01-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

I think if you're center management team is blaming IE for operations decisions then your team is exercising the IE cop out.

I think that would be good I.E. Cop, bad I.E. Cop. Yes, they love to use that one when in reality they (Operations) are most of the blame for why things are the way they are. They allowed too many corners to be cut and turned their heads to many things in lieu of making the numbers work for too many years. They dug themselves a hole they can't get out of much the same way as the bonus drivers have. I.E.'s PASS/EDD system could've been a lot smoother transition and much more successful had CMs and driver supes. paid more attention to details over the years. Some wanted to, but were not allowed to. As long as the drivers improvized and looked good on paper they didn't care how we got it done. Now that everything is to be done by the methods the ones who cheated and the ones who approved of it are finding things hard to deal with. I.E.'s problem is they're to robotic and just don't understand or care about the human factors that enter into performing the job. They act like some Dad who turned the company over to junior and when he started screwing up he got pi$$ed and had to step in.

soberups · 09-01-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

I think if you're center management team is blaming IE for operations decisions then your team is exercising the IE cop out.

Can the center management team decide how many routes to dispatch on a daily basis? No.

Can the center management team decide what an acceptable level of average SPORH and stops per car for its routes will be? No.

Can the center management team decide how many drivers to keep on the payroll? No.

Can the center management team decide to adjust or correct demonstrably flawed timestudies? No.

Can the center management team decide how many and what size and type of vehicles it will be provided with? No.

Can the center management team decide what the NDA time commitments are for its various delivery areas? No.

Can the center management team decide to improve outdated equipment and facilities? No.

All of these important decisions are entirely in the hands of the absentee landlords who work for I.E. All of these decisions have a direct affect on the performance and efficiency of the operation, yet the center "management" team has no authority to change any of them. So you tell me, tieguy.....who is really copping out of the responsibility here?

Hoaxster · 09-01-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

Can the center management team decide how many routes to dispatch on a daily basis? No.

Can the center management team decide what an acceptable level of average SPORH and stops per car for its routes will be? No.

Can the center management team decide how many drivers to keep on the payroll? No.

Can the center management team decide to adjust or correct demonstrably flawed timestudies? No.

Can the center management team decide how many and what size and type of vehicles it will be provided with? No.

Can the center management team decide what the NDA time commitments are for its various delivery areas? No.

Can the center management team decide to improve outdated equipment and facilities? No.

All of these important decisions are entirely in the hands of the absentee landlords who work for I.E. All of these decisions have a direct affect on the performance and efficiency of the operation, yet the center "management" team has no authority to change any of them. So you tell me, tieguy.....who is really copping out of the responsibility here?

Will not be long before you'll have to go in the CM's office and speak via web with Patel in Mumbai.