How do you describe what you do for a living?

[ndzied1]

Originally Posted by JaxGTO

I say "have you ever seen How It's Made?" if they say yes then I say "That." if they say no I say "I am a rocket scientist".

That’s my response too. :-)

[OkiePC]

I just tell them I am taking control of the world, very very gradually ... one solenoid valve and motor controller at a time.

[I_Automation]

Originally Posted by OkiePC

I just tell them I am taking control of the world, very very gradually ... one solenoid valve and motor controller at a time.

Or simpler - just ask them "Have you heard of Skynet?"

[Phil Buchanan]

Originally Posted by jstolaruk

i've occasionally used "industrial whore".

rotfl

[Phil Buchanan]

Originally Posted by plvlce

The program doesn't change, but every once in a while I find that the program was wrong all along and just happened to produce the right results 99% of the time.

Come across this a time or two myself

[geniusintraining]

My normal response "As little as possible" if that does not work then I tell them "I make computer cables" normally thats enough to change the subject and have a better conversation.

[Dayvieboy]

Originally Posted by plvlce

The program doesn't change, but every once in a while I find that the program was wrong all along and just happened to produce the right results 99% of the time.

I have found on more than one occasion that:

Sometimes things work by accident and not by design

[Patrix]

After starting as an electrician in our company's technical services 13 years ago, my main focus has changed to automation and everything that comes with it. When people ask me where I work and what I do in our company I tell them that we call our office Department Headquarters of problem solving and my job function Company Prostitute.

[Manglemender]

It is said that "necessity was the mother of invention". I can expand that to say that laziness was the father and that is often where automation engineers come in.

I'm currently building an automatic watering system for my greenhouse because I'm too lazy/forgetful to water it myself (and I hope, one day, to go on holiday).

Nick

[p8p8]

Originally Posted by Manglemender

It is said that "necessity was the mother of invention". I can expand that to say that laziness was the father and that is often where automation engineers come in.

I'm currently building an automatic watering system for my greenhouse because I'm too lazy/forgetful to water it myself (and I hope, one day, to go on holiday).

Nick

Automation is to increase productivity and accuracy; also to reduce cost.

[Manglemender]

Originally Posted by p8p8

Automation is to increase productivity and accuracy; also to reduce cost.

You can think that if you like and sometimes it might even be true. I've worked most of my life in the machinery building business: no automation = no machine. "I make things work" and, as you say, as efficiently and accurately as possible.

Nick

[I_Automation]

Originally Posted by Manglemender

It is said that "necessity was the mother of invention". I can expand that to say that laziness was the father and that is often where automation engineers come in.

When I was in school I went for a job interview at a local mom & pop restaurant/pizza joint.


During the interview the owner asked me if I was lazy, I said no. He said "Too bad" because he thought lazy people were the ones to think of ways to do things easier, faster, cheaper, etc.

[VAN]

Originally Posted by I_Automation

When I was in school I went for a job interview at a local mom & pop restaurant/pizza joint.


During the interview the owner asked me if I was lazy, I said no. He said "Too bad" because he thought lazy people were the ones to think of ways to do things easier, faster, cheaper, etc.

Isn't this a Bill Gates quote - I will always give a lazy person a difficult job, because they'll find an easy way to do it.

But to ask that question to a college kid, F that guy. Same with questions like, "why do you want to work here" or "where do you see yourself in 5 years".

Like, dude you are paying about min. wage, I just want to make some money. Then after school, I'll never work for you again.

[plvlce]

Originally Posted by I_Automation

he thought lazy people were the ones to think of ways to do things easier, faster, cheaper, etc.

Does he think hard-working people intentionally do things the harder, slower, more expensive way?



If you think it is 'laziness' that makes someone find a better way to do things, you must have been blessed to not know may actual lazy people. The truly lazy will look for ways to do less work without regard for whether things actually get done properly.

Looking for better ways to do things is just (un)common sense, some people happen to be better at it or more invested in succeeding.

[Aardwizz]

I work very hard to be lazy. Thus I automate as much as I can: machinery, operators. Even myself