This factory floor, with unique testing foundations for heavy machinery was the most painful project yet… it cost me my sanity. But - worked out good.

First, people were hell bent to build bridges that do not hold 1/10th of the load applied on them (heaviest industrial forklifts on the market). They insisted “cracks are overrated” and there should be no rebar in concrete… Tried to put brick, to support 30t loads on liquid mud…

Pull with 20t force, on a 200kg block… For a year I was lied to “we will just build now”… just build… now… Holding back the money, threatening to fire me - if I refuse to “prevent death for free”… A lot of overtime went into this… just to PROTECT them from themselves…

They ignored all my numbers. Shouting “don’t touch, don’t check”… 1h, 1h… we give you 1h!… and every piece that I checked - against orders - was red. Disastrously far from a working solution… disastrously… 10x… 5x…

It was an absolute, industrial scale disaster waiting to happen. And they would neither “learn” or “allow to do proper” math… refuse to plan… refuse to work together… ignore… not respond for months… It was going completely off the rails, taking my sanity together with it. I tried everything… But… In a desperate moment, I contacted the correct person (again, against orders not to).

Management was changed. Someone finally looked at the proof, numbers.

Real deadlines were communicated. Simulations done. Design complete. In extreme conditions, extreme deadlines. But… I didn’t recover. It took the life out of me… this treatment… the arrogance, ignorance… the fake illiterate leadership. They are so dangerous. It’s absurd.

Absurd beyond belief… unbelievable… some “happy la la land”… insane… but… once “the dads” noticed, a good outcome was achieved. Even if it cost me my mental health in the end. It was worth it… not only for “protecting the important people from killing their factory” - but for protecting the workers, who will be hired to work there…

Especially big thanks to the guys on the floor. I worked in warehouses myself, 15 years ago… started there. I know how humiliating and intimidating and irritating it is to be forced to “obey stupid orders”… So, now, as a certified university professor in engineering, I am trying hard not to “push” anyone. I’m used to educating “guys like me” - and the guys on the floor enjoy learning things. And we take our time to make sure we understand “why” something needs to be done… once we agree - fewer errors are made… and if someone brings good reasons - we avoid doing nonsensical “details” also…

Because they are smart, curious, caring, ambitious… not “asleep in a comfy chair”… we can cut down on drawings substantially - saving months on documentation due to extremely good communication… small sessions of “academic sparring” save months of work for everyone.

Good communication allows to let people “fill some gaps”. Reduces errors. Increases speed. Often avoiding excessive drawings (I check if it is correct, but… I trust them beyond what they are used to). I do not like giving “orders”. I insist - reason is the way forwards… And the 12 years of learning and then teaching advanced engineering topics at a University - are very useful for making “short exams”. It allows to recognize relevant competences. And synchronize work of large volumes of people. In… large and small projects. According to the unique, individual skills, needs, ideas…

I check if a person is really ready. It was my job for a decade to certify engineers. And… A+ to all the hard workers. The weekends of work are not only mine in this project. And I try to make sure - they are paid for not only their “hands” but intellectual property also. Thank you - for being smart and devoted. You rescued the project. And especial thank you to P.J… who had the spine to push back, and do things correctly… and above all, the wisdom, to communicate like a real human communicates to a real human being. Taking some “pressure” off, and bringing some quality - into the process. :)