No Response to Corrective Actions by Middle Management - How do you say sabotage?

[Fire Girl]

Here's a question.

I have an audit in a week (a week today). I have issued corrective actions to middle management and told upper management SEVERAL times about several issues. Nothing has been done. In the past, I have done some nice "Cover Ups". Nothing over the top out of line, just stepped in and done something that was someone elses responsbility only to save myself the hassle later of trying to explain it. However, this time I've decided, forget it. It's all very clear what they are all responsible for and they just aren't doing it. I am not a kindergarten teacher. Is anyone else in this kind of position? I'm just getting so fed up. I can over see the system but I can't run the whole bloody thing by myself!!!

I can't decide whether I should ball my eyes out or go postal. Decisions, decisions....

Help me.... or at least call the loony bin for me....

 

[gpainter]

Remember the QMS is everyones system not just yours. Responsibility is a hard pill to take. If they want babysitters they need to look at your salary. $100 per week per child in my area. Responsibility by all.

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

No... You re *not* the only one... Rest assured of that.

Wow.. You seem to be on fire today . I think most of us have been in similar situations.

Yes, I have stepped in and fixed things that was someone elses responsibility. The only result was that it was considered my responsibility from then on.. Ouch...

Yes, I have sometimes after lots of nagging, coaxing and reminding decided to "Forget it" and let things run their course. One word of advice though: I assume you have done your nagging in writing and kept copies, or it may backfire: You know... "Why was I not informed?"

As for the looney bin, I have a feeling that most of us are halfway there from time to time...

Best of luck... / Claes

 

[Aaron Lupo]

Re: No... You re *not* the only one... Rest assured of that.

Claes Gefvenberg said:
One word of advice though: I assume you have done your nagging in writing and kept copies, or it may backfire: You know... "Why was I not informed?"

Claes I agree you should always document to CYA, however, no matter how much documentation you show them and show them how many times you reminded them they will always have an excuse or look to pass the blame. I guess that is one thing you have to learn to live with being in QA, is that when something goes wrong or does not get done it will always be QA's fault. Remember QA is "overhead" in most companies if not all (and I agree with that for the most part, but thats a different posting). I have also heard "well why didn't you follw up with me on this", as they sit there with a stack of e-mails you sent them on the subject. One thing I have discovered being in QA is that my job is very similar to that of a Kindergarten teacher or a babysitter, you have to treat the managers as over grown children, they "make money" for the company so they will always have the backing of Upper management. Until Upper Management sees how much money these problems are causing them to lose through lost business or fines then you have to take the lumps. JMHO

As far as going postal or bawling your eyes out, I say give me a gat and let me loose! J/k of course! Chin up Fire you will make it through.

 

[E Wall]

Your taking the right action FG!

I bet most of us can say "Been there, Done that". With this transition I've also taken that approach. All need to own it for it to be effective.

If one person does all the work and hands them process outlines, procedures, fixes their corrective actioins, etc...(fill in with most anything) it is an ugly cycle that will only end when you stop enabling!

This step is also frustrating and full of potholes, but keep your responses consistant and don't waiver (even if it does seem easier to just take care of it yourself). I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll be more sucessful than me.

I'm fighting similar problems, even written RCAs on Corp support systems that have gone unanswered. This is further $%#% by site mgmt not forcing the issues with corporate management...I can only presume (well, maybe I should say I choose to presume this) they don't want to ruffle feathers and screw up possible future opportunities for themselves. QA Mgr even leaves some info out of mgmt rev mtg that is suppose to document this...so I just keep copies of e-mails that I send out.

Hence my recent determination to freelance... Gee, rereading this post and hate to see myself bit@$ and moan. You've all heard enough and a number are in similar boats. I'll make an effort not to do it again.

 

[JRKH]

Re: Your taking the right action FG!

E Wall said:


.....This step is also frustrating and full of potholes, but keep your responses consistant and don't waiver .......

I think this is a very important point. No matter how much they squirm, keep politely hammering away at the basic point. It's their problem and they have to fix it.

James

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Keep it coming Eileen

E Wall said:

This step is also frustrating and full of potholes, but keep your responses consistant and don't waiver (leaves some info out of mgmt rev mtg that is suppose to document this...so I just keep copies of e-mails that I send out.

.......

Hence my recent determination to freelance... Gee, rereading this post and hate to see myself bit@$ and moan. You've all heard enough and a number are in similar boats. I'll make an effort not to do it again.

But Eileen... We enjoy your bit@$ and moaning.. We all do it every now and then here in the Cove. Then we can pull ourselves together and keep going in our real lives...

I think we all need to vent our frustration sometime. At least around here people will understand what's it all about.

Oh btw: Good luck with your freelance venture.

/Claes

 

[Mike S.]

Fire,

I've been there, too. You see by now you are not alone -- h*ll, you may be in the majority! I think you are right on. Sometimes it is easier on you and the system to do others' jobs for them, but there comes times when it is not easier or in the best interest of the company long-term for you to cover for them. In cases like this, do what you're doing -- let the audit expose them and hopefully they will catch **** for it. As others have said, though, CYA:ca: very well. Then, have a drink and let things unfold.

Mike S.

 

[Al Dyer]

Fully agree,

Document the activities and let the chips fall where they may. I'm sure it will raise a few eyebrows. As said before, this is a team effort.

 

[KenS]

It's all part of being in QA. My boss, the QA manager, got called on the carpet for things not addressed by others. Naturally he comes down on me. I handed him copies of the eight e-mails I sent him on the subject, along with 24 that went to the responsible department and which he was a CC. He claimed he was "blindsided" because I didn't "explain" it to him.

Actually, when the dust settled, it all worked out. It involved the final release of product to ship. As a result of the fiasco the GM assigned a certain Quality Engineer the final authority to approve shipment. All problems which could not be fixed to be brought directly to him. Have not had a problem with the last six tools.