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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 17:05:34

Title: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 17:05:34
Hi guys,

Has anyone ever worked in a plant or know someone that has? Watched Gran Torino last night and Clint worked in the Ford plant for 50 years. Just made me wonder whether it'd be something to consider (if possible due to job availability) when I finish my schooling.

ps that film is proper awesome!!!
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: amba on 17 December 2013, 17:33:31
When I was 20 years old in the late 70,s, I  worked for C.A.V in Rochester manufacturing and testing diesel pumps .

Plant closed ,although as I had only been there a few months was offered redundancy which in effect gave me more than double the money I had earnt in the time I had worked there.Real result as that gave me the cash to buy a Mini Cooper S which I owned for about 2 years.

Actual job was " brain damage" as 8 hour nights Sunday-Thursday getting soaked in synthetic diesel and have had dermititus ever since,but was as close to a production line as I ever want to work again
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 17:37:58
When I was 20 years old in the late 70,s, I  worked for C.A.V in Rochester manufacturing and testing diesel pumps .

Plant closed ,although as I had only been there a few months was offered redundancy which in effect gave me more than double the money I had earnt in the time I had worked there.Real result as that gave me the cash to buy a Mini Cooper S which I owned for about 2 years.

Actual job was " brain damage" as 8 hour nights Sunday-Thursday getting soaked in synthetic diesel and have had dermititus ever since,but was as close to a production line as I ever want to work again

so i take it not the ideal job if you want to get in to diagnostics... this is effectively just like packing airline meals?
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 December 2013, 18:16:10
I worked in a carpet factory once....  :)
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 18:17:35
I worked in a carpet factory once....  :)

well they both start with car p

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 December 2013, 18:20:19
I worked in a carpet factory once....  :)

well they both start with car p

 ;D ;D ;D

It was mind numbingly boring!  :(  and I doubt assembling cars would be much different to be honest.  :-\

I think your talents would be wasted!  ;)  :)
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 18:21:15
I worked in a carpet factory once....  :)

well they both start with car p

 ;D ;D ;D

It was mind numbingly boring!  :(  and I doubt assembling cars would be much different to be honest.  :-\

I think your talents would be wasted!  ;)  :)

 ;D cheers ST  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: henryd on 17 December 2013, 18:31:10
When I was 20 years old in the late 70,s, I  worked for C.A.V in Rochester manufacturing and testing diesel pumps .

Plant closed ,although as I had only been there a few months was offered redundancy which in effect gave me more than double the money I had earnt in the time I had worked there.Real result as that gave me the cash to buy a Mini Cooper S which I owned for about 2 years.

Actual job was " brain damage" as 8 hour nights Sunday-Thursday getting soaked in synthetic diesel and have had dermititus ever since,but was as close to a production line as I ever want to work again

so i take it not the ideal job if you want to get in to diagnostics... this is effectively just like packing airline meals?

No diagnostics required on the assembly line hopefully,its when they hit the road the buggers need diagnosing ;) ;D
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 18:34:51
When I was 20 years old in the late 70,s, I  worked for C.A.V in Rochester manufacturing and testing diesel pumps .

Plant closed ,although as I had only been there a few months was offered redundancy which in effect gave me more than double the money I had earnt in the time I had worked there.Real result as that gave me the cash to buy a Mini Cooper S which I owned for about 2 years.

Actual job was " brain damage" as 8 hour nights Sunday-Thursday getting soaked in synthetic diesel and have had dermititus ever since,but was as close to a production line as I ever want to work again

so i take it not the ideal job if you want to get in to diagnostics... this is effectively just like packing airline meals?

No diagnostics required on the assembly line hopefully,its when they hit the road the buggers need diagnosing ;) ;D

depends which one you work in i suppose  :o :-X ;D

i suppose QC would be the closest  :-\
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: TheBoy on 17 December 2013, 18:36:20
so i take it not the ideal job if you want to get in to diagnostics
Factory isn't the place to learn (you'll be bolting bits together), most garages/dealers wont teach diagnostics either, as they prefer the random component swap, on a poke-and-hope methodology
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 18:42:46
so i take it not the ideal job if you want to get in to diagnostics
Factory isn't the place to learn (you'll be bolting bits together), most garages/dealers wont teach diagnostics either, as they prefer the random component swap, on a poke-and-hope methodology

fair enough. was just a thought . could be something to start off with though but im stioll looking at all my options :)

i thought dealers were the best bet?
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: MR MISTER on 17 December 2013, 19:14:07
You don't do diagnostics, the machine does it for you. You interpret the results, and that's where the flair (along with a dollop of experience) comes into it.
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 19:58:38
You don't do diagnostics, the machine does it for you. You interpret the results, and that's where the flair (along with a dollop of experience) comes into it.

I disagree. There's tons of things that are diagnosed without a computer/scanner.
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: MR MISTER on 17 December 2013, 20:08:06
You don't do diagnostics, the machine does it for you. You interpret the results, and that's where the flair (along with a dollop of experience) comes into it.

I disagree. There's tons of things that are diagnosed without a computer/scanner.
Yeah,OK. I'm talking electronics, I suppose.
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Andy B on 17 December 2013, 20:27:57
You don't do diagnostics, the machine does it for you. You interpret the results, and that's where the flair (along with a dollop of experience) comes into it.

I disagree. There's tons of things that are diagnosed without a computer/scanner.

Diagnostic/code readers are there to be used as a guide. The reader gives a code, the clever bit is interpreting that fault code to the actual fault.
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: amba on 17 December 2013, 20:38:56
I worked in "Pump Test " where we calibrated the assembled diesel pump to manufacturers setting for fueling etc.

The simple P3 pumps just required the 4 feed lines connecting and then priming with synthetic diesel to allow the pressures to be checked and fuel calibrated.The more complex pumps had solenoids to set and test again along with fueling at specific revs.

From there they then went onto a 2nd line where they were pressure tested again,inspection plates tagged and fuel lines capped.From there they went off to the vehicle manufacturer for installation.

All work was random tested to ensure the machines were holding calibration so as close to plant enviroment as I have worked.Trouble was we had to test 12/14 pumps an hour to mantain bonus,which was near-on impossible so cant say I am unhappy my time there was short 
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: TheBoy on 17 December 2013, 21:15:18
You don't do diagnostics, the machine does it for you. You interpret the results, and that's where the flair (along with a dollop of experience) comes into it.

I disagree. There's tons of things that are diagnosed without a computer/scanner.

Diagnostic/code readers are there to be used as a guide. The reader gives a code, the clever bit is interpreting that fault code to the actual fault.
And where most technicians fall down....
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: chrisgixer on 17 December 2013, 21:29:37
Manufacturing is no place for an active mind. Its repetitive dull and boring after the first day. Maintenance in manufacturing maybe. But steer well clear of production lines.
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 December 2013, 21:51:53
Fair comments girls. It would be interesting to see though and to experience.
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 17 December 2013, 21:57:04
Fair comments girls. It would be interesting to see though and to experience.

I doubt it....  ;)
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Andy B on 17 December 2013, 22:00:23
.... ... But steer well clear of production lines.

because there's always a pratt with a clip board asking ...... how long will you be?  >:(
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Vamps on 17 December 2013, 22:02:44
.... ... But steer well clear of production lines.

because there's always a pratt with a clip board asking ...... how long will you be?  >:(

And what's the first question when the line breaks down?.......... :D :D
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Andy B on 17 December 2013, 22:11:03
.... ... But steer well clear of production lines.

because there's always a pratt with a clip board asking ...... how long will you be?  >:(

And what's the first question when the line breaks down?.......... :D :D

I found it was  ....... How long will you be? And that's before you've opened your tool box or taken a guard off!  :o :o
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: kevinp58 on 17 December 2013, 22:13:41
Gran Torino was a billiant film probably Clints best film.  :y :y
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: chrisgixer on 17 December 2013, 22:15:55
.... ... But steer well clear of production lines.

because there's always a pratt with a clip board asking ...... how long will you be?  >:(

And what's the first question when the line breaks down?.......... :D :D

I found it was  ....... How long will you be? And that's before you've opened your tool box or taken a guard off!  :o :o
To which the answer is..... " Don't be a tit! " ::)
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Vamps on 17 December 2013, 22:25:14
.... ... But steer well clear of production lines.

because there's always a pratt with a clip board asking ...... how long will you be?  >:(

And what's the first question when the line breaks down?.......... :D :D

I found it was  ....... How long will you be? And that's before you've opened your tool box or taken a guard off!  :o :o

 ;) ;) :y
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Rods2 on 18 December 2013, 16:56:49
Worked at 16 in a loudspeaker factory for 3 months as an infill job before I started my electronics apprenticeship.

Mind numbingly boring, although I was luckier than most as a fill-in when somebody was absent. All the young ladies working there were a very pleasant distraction.  :y :y :y :y
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 18 December 2013, 18:56:06
pretty much the school of thought being its dull  ;D :y :y :y
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: omega3000 on 18 December 2013, 19:33:31
You would soon get bored of screwing together the same old parts day in day out even if it was at Ferrari  ???
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: Webby the Bear on 18 December 2013, 21:36:13
very true steve. it might be a consideration for up and coming workexperience tho

work experience at my fukin age  >:(
Title: Re: Working in a plant...
Post by: andyc on 21 December 2013, 11:05:04
I worked at Lotus back in the mid 80's building engines. It was ok while it lasted but just fitting sets of pistons, oil pump and sump does do your head in a bit

Did spend a few weeks on "End of Line" when a batch of water pumps decided to give up the ghost after the hot test in the engine shop, two of us could get an Esprite pump changed quite quickly in the end

Andy