ALL SAME MONDAY

This hilareous episode that the writer (self) proceeds to write under this column of Light Readings for the pleasure of reading by the members of Kavithanjali and other well wishers of this writer occured some time during 1957-59 when I was a student of a leading Chemical Technology Institute in Mumbai (then called Bombay)pursuing a Two Year Post graduation course in Chemical Technology (BSc Tech)after completing normal Graduation (BSc Hons)in Chemistry from Delhi University.

On one Saturday afternoon,at the end of the Lecture class,the Professor announced to us all students that he would hold the monthly test for that month on the coming Monday.All of us for a moment were stunned as it meant very little time for preparation and what is worse tieing down to study during the week end with Sunday becoming futile with no enjoyment.We all students started looking at each other wondering how to React to Professor's annoncement.

I hoped against hopes that the Professor would not be so kindless to give such a short notice and that if requested would agree to reshedule the monthly test date.But knowing well that the Professor was a strict Disciplinarean we were not certain how to broach on the subject.My Class mates looked towarda me to break the icy silence.As I slowly and hesitatingly tried to seek clarification the conversation that took place between me and the Professor in front of my classmates was as follows --------

Self You mean Next Monday Sir ?

Professor Yes Next Monday.

Self You mean Coming Monday Sir ?

Professor Yes coming Monday.

Self You mean This Monday Sir ?
Professor What do you mean by Next Monday,Coming Monday, This Monday.All same Monday THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW

Quite needless to say that with this clarification,it was futile to proceed any further and we all gave up with no option left but to face the inevitable.

Hey Readers How do you like this?I am sure you also must have faced such similar situations.If so why dont you share the same through this writing?

Written By BAIYU LONDON AUGUST 2010

A MASTER STROKE

As I was going thro my Memory Lane glancing thro my writings under the column Light Readings it suddenly dawned upon me that one very interesting event that took place during my service in the largest Pharma company in India which I feel any management involved in Productivity improvement,in a lighter vein' can successfully adopt had so far escaped my attention in putting my 'Thoughts in Lines'.

This relates to the period some time in Mid 80s when I was then working as DIVISIONAL HEAD of Surgical Dressings and Bandages Division in the Dewas Plant of what was then the largest Pharma company in India near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Besides this division for which I was the Divisional Head reporting to the Corporate office in Delhi, the Country's Capital,the Dewas plant also had two other Manufacturing Blocks for Formulations ,One TABLET BLOCK engaged in formulation of Tablets and Powders and the other CAPSULES BLOCK engaged in formulation of Capsules/Injectables/and Liquid Orals.Although I was not involved in the Day to Day activities of these two blocks,being senior most in age and service and also had been exposed to formulation of these products earlier in the company's Okhla plant in Delhi prior to my posting in Dewas for the SDB unit,I was involved in overseeing these operations in absence of the Controller in charge,whenever required, on occasions.Otherwise for normal day to day activities the two blocks were run by two independent Production Heads reporting directly to the Controller in Cbarge based in the same location.

Just around the time when action on improvement of productivity in both blocks had just begun,the Controller in charge had to proceed on an emergency short leave for a little over a week and had requested this writer (self)to followup in his absence.He had planned to do this Productivity improvement in two stages viz one for the concerned Production Heads to present their possible increase in outputs of different product groups based on their experience and in consultation with their staff and concerned workmen.This will not involve on any fresh investments in the plant and Management thought
would give benefit in the short run.This can then be followed up in due course with formal involvement of Work Study Engineers in setting standards based on Time and Motion studies and Industrial Engineering where required.

To get the maximum benefits the controller in his wisdom had asked each of the two production Heads to set the the revised outputs standards for the other.In other words the Tablet block in charge was asked to set standards for the Capsule block and Viceversa.

Knowing well that the two production heads will vie with each other in setting even unrealistic standards for the other,the Controller had specifically requested this writer (self) to keep an eye on their working.When the final figures were ready,it was observed
the revised outputs suggested by the two Production Heads were much higher than what Management had in mind at the time of starting the study.But there was no guarantee that they will make an attempt to meet their standards knowing fully well that the standards set are the ones coming from the the Rival department's Head.This was not perceived at the time of start of the study.

When I mentioned this to the Controller,he thought over it for a day and came out with a brilliant act that one can call it a Master Stroke.He interchanged the two Production Heads by transferring the Production in charge of the Tablet block to take charge of the Capsules Unit and moving out the production in charge of Capsules Unit to take charge of the Tablet block.This put both the Production managers on mat since in the revised set up they became answerable to their own recommended standards.This had its effect and although only around 75 to 80% of the revised targets was achieved it was still a quantum leap in outputs of both blocks.Besides more importantly the two Production Heads seeing the master stroke understood the futility of of working in isolation and from then on starting working as a Team member.

I request my Readers of this writeup to let me know what they think of this Master Stroke on the part of the Controller In my view it was no less powerful than the Straight Drive or the Cover Drive of Sachin Tendulkar in a game of Cricket.

Written by BAIYU August 2010 London

Who should feel embarrased ?

Through this writing under the column 'Light Readings', I wish to share with my friends of KAVITANJALI and my other well wishers the following true event that occured in my work place some time in October 1974/75 when I was working as an officer in what was then and is still one of the largest of the Multinationals in India in the manufacture and marketing of Consumer Products like Soaps and
Detergents,Toiletaries,Processed Foods,Hydrogenated Fats and the likes.I was then in charge of Production of TOILET PREPARATIONS like Tooth Paste,Shaving cremes,Fairness Creme,Shampoo and Transparent Glycerine soap in the company's plant at Sewri ln Mumbai (then called Bombay.It was customery then for the company to invite VIPs from different stratas of the society to show them round the plant as a part of Public Relations development.

Against the above background on one pleasant day SIMI GREWAL a then well known upcoming CINE STAR,aged in mid 2os visited our plant alongwith her Secretary of around the same age,built and personality.

Being a very large factory which takes around as high as a little over 2 hours to complete a detailed round of all sections of the factory, it was cutomary for the Personnel in charge to take the visitors to one department introduce them to the departmental head and hand them over to the person who in turn after completing his departmental visit would hand them over to the next departmental head to cover his department.This exercise goes on as in a Relay Race till the visitors complete their visit to the last department when they will be handed over to the Personnel Head to wind off the visit after some refreshments.

I distincly remember this particular visit for the embarrasment caused by me on their visit to my plant after finishing the Hard Soaps department whose Departmental Head,one Mr Shivaskandan, only moments earlier, had made the Cine Star feel elated by saying "Simi Grewal needs no introduction"when he was introduced to the visitors in his department.

So when I was introduced to the visitors by Shiv saying "Ram(which is my abridged official name),Meet Simi Grewal" I quite innocently addressed both visitors by enquiring "OF YOU TWO,WHO IS SIMI GREWAL?"

This caused a mild flutter to those present although the Cine Star herself took it on her stride in the right spirit after a momentary show of stunned silence.Quite needless to say the visit itself went off well.

However after the visit was over and the visitors left the arena,SHIV joined by few others of my staff literally pounced upon me and enquired whether I did not feel embarresed by what I asked the visitors.I was not.Still I do not understand where I was at fault.If any of the readers of this write up can tell me I will be grateful.On my part I am not clear who should feel embarresed ---I OR THE CINE STAR ?

Composed by BAIYU London AUGUST 2010