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differentiated thought before cutting metal
On Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:21:50 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Eregon
Eregon@Saphira.ørg quickly quoth: "Tom Gardner" wrote in : On one of my recent posts, you kind people pointed out that there are many ways of doing something. Simple observations are often the most profound. I'm not a master at being able to see a problem from different angles and visualize different solutions. It seems that some parts of one idea affect another so the ideas are not independent, not "clean" and compartmentalized. I met with my guys today and discussed if we could figure out how to think about different ways of doing things we are developing. I want multiple solutions presented and thinking out of the box. It seems there is always a brute-force method of doing something yet the "other" idea, the one that springs into existence at the odd hour, is often better, cheaper and more elegant. How do you attract those "other" ideas? Don't even try to force them: they'll either come on their own or they won't come at all. Amen to that. Whenever I try to force invention it always eludes me. The second I let it go and start to really focus on something else, it comes along. That kind of crap screws up vacation days some thing fierce. g Keep a tape/digital voice recorder handy so that when the idea -does- come you can make a record of it that you can refer back to. BTDT. You'll keep it with you only if you hang it from a strap around your neck. Otherwise, it's never where you are. A pad of quadrille (graph) paper and something to write/draw with is another good thing to have at hand. Staples has dozen-packs of legal pads for $5.99 or a dozen 5x8" pads for $4.49. I keep a pack of each strewn all aroudn the house, shop, and vehicle. I write down ideas wherever I come across them. Is there a method or exercises to develop creative thinking? Cutting metal and drilling holes is the easy part, how do you completely forget an idea in order to "see" a new idea? This may come easily for an intelligent person but I struggle with my mental limitations. Take time to play "What If" in your head: What if we could extrude our own wire - could we feed it directly into a machine while it was still hot and, if so, could the cutter do double duty as a "pinch" feeder?" Things like that. Ditto getting a pad and drawing/doodling. Alternatively, get on a computer with a copy of CAD, CAM, or SketchUp and draw it to scale. -- Who is wise? He that learns from every One. Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. -- Benjamin Franklin |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
"Michael A. Terrell" wrote in message m... Tom Gardner wrote: "Leo Lichtman" wrote in message ... This is really TWO subjects: 1.) How do you think of good ideas? 2.) How do you encourage creative thinking in others? The second one has been well addressed by most of you. The first is more difficult. Some people spontneously bring various viewpoints to the problem, and automatically go into a "what if" mode when somethingt needs to be done. These same people go into a "what if" mode when they see something being done in the same old way. I think this is a talent, not easily taught. The mind keeps working on a problem even when you are not aware of it--even in your sleep. If you are not satisfied with the answer you have, don't be in a rush. An inspiration may jump into your mind when you least expect it. And then you'll say, "Why didn't I think of that in the first place?" We had been trying to come up with a way of producing "ring and flange" wire wheel brushes for over 30 years, that includes my uncles who were geniuses in their own rights. One afternoon in Canada, while fishing in a small boat in a torrential downpour. I was snug in my Gor-Tex and I couldn't see my buddy that was five feet away, never before or since have I seen it rain that hard. For some reason, the method of making those brushes popped into my head in absolute clarity. The machine is so simple and robust, and it was inexpensive to build. Why didn't I think of that in the first place? The time wasn't right. You had to learn enough about the process for it to become crystal clear in your mind. :) Everything looks simple, when you know what you're doing! ;-) You're right! After 36 years in this stupid, tiny industry, I guess enough has sunk in that I pretend I know what I'm doing and I guess I've become an adequate brushmaker. |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
Great topic, Tom. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments that it
generated. Here are mine: Group problem-solving methods (structured methods): Brainstorming: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming CPS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativ...olving_Process (Unfortunately the wikipedia entry probably needs some good editing. It should define “brainstorming before discussing potential deficiencies.) Brainstorming is primarily a group activity, although the wiki article does include a variation for individual brainstorming. As others may have mentioned, these brainstorming methods usually come and go in fashion, both in colleges and in companies. Although I haven’t seen brainstorming used consistently, it probably has value in getting people together to talk and think about what they’ve seen. Potential pitfalls of group brainstorming include: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_blocking , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_loafing There are other structured problem-solving methods used in quality control, but they’re usually more statistical and for larger more- structured companies. Not the breakthrough idea generation-type. Problem-solving with individuals: As others in this thread have suggested, methods of managing employees (delegation) can help in solving problems. I read an article (a long while back) in the Nov/Dec. 1990 issue of Harvard Business Review by (the late) Ralph Stayer and really was impressed how he managed his company (Johnsonville Sausage). I think that I would have enjoyed working for someone like him. They only show part of the article here (they want you to purchase it), but it (or recent revisions) might be available through a local library. http://www.harvardbusiness.com/hbsp/...pageNumber =1 or http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.ha... &N=4294963821 (I read his book Flight of the Buffalo, but it wasn’t as much of a gem as the HBR article.) |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
On Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:36:54 -0500, Jon Elson
wrote: Don Foreman wrote: How do I know this? I ran a skunk works for 15 years. I picked up talent off the layoff list, people that were regarded as "unmanagable". Cool! You've got to tell us more stories about this - unless this is the kind of skunk works where you'd have to kill us after telling us. Jon Had one project where the customer wanted a weekly teleconference in which we would "go over" a project plan in Microsoft Project in excruciating detail. Our team M.O. was to meet as often as necessary and as briefly as necessary, often 10 minutes. Our "project plan" was on a whiteboard. **** happens every day on a project with very aggressive schedule and budget. The goals, mission, specs and deliverables were graven in stone very early -- we wouldn't start work until they were -- but we would not accept process constraints about how to get it done. I asked Khanh my admin asst (some thought she was a secretary) to go find a copy of MS Project, learn to use it, and make up a plausible project plan from the white board. It could be a complete fabrication as long as it was plausible. "No probrem!" Took her about a day to figure out M.S. Project from a cold start. She then made something up I sent to the customer's micromanaging twit. He was delighted with it! We reviewed the crap out of it every Monday morning by telecon while my team was free to keep solving the problem. Khanh maintained the bogus plan between telecons, thus doing the job of several engineers and at least one manager in the customary corporate mindset. Took her about an hour a week. ------ The leased building we were in was sadly underdesigned in terms of air conditioning capacity for the instruments and computers in our lab. I'd been bitching to the controller for weeks about it, got the usual "he'd look into that". He, of course, did nothing because he'd built a career on letting things become crisis and then being seen as the savior by minimizing damage. No glory in avoiding crises in the first place. Two things that did get the controller's attention we 1) the burden rate 2) his precious image with the V.P. Fixing the A/C would cost a burden buck. I needed to find a way to make fixing the A/C more attractive to him than not fixing it. One July day it was over 90 in the lab by 10 AM. Enough already. I told my teammates that they were free to take the rest of the day off and charge burden, write "unhealthy working conditions" on their timecards and take their kids to a ball game or go fishing or whatever. I then went to Grainger and bought 2 powerful fans, 3600 CFM each I think. ( Charged them to burden, of course.) I opened the fire door to admit fresh outside air and aimed the fans down the hall toward mahogany row. The fans sounded like a DC-3 trying to take off and oh Son did they move some air! Within 20 minutes the temp in the V.P's office had become untenable to him, poor baby. He came stalking into my area, said "Foreman, what the HELL is going on here ... and where are all your people?" Wull, I politely 'splained it to him, since he asked and all. Dang nice of him to ask, right? He looked ready to explode ... and then he started laughing and went back toward Mahoganyville shaking his head. The controller miraculously got an HVAC contractor on the job within an hour and the problem was solved before sundown. Whaddaguy. Funny how things work some days... The controller did not nominate me for poster boy of the year. Go figure. |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
"Tom Gardner" wrote in news:Ny3wk.240$Z64.18
@flpi143.ffdc.sbc.com: Distraction, un-direction, mind clearing Breakdown Visualization Top-down/bottom-up Simplification Delegation You understand exactly what I'm trying to say! BTDT! grin |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
On Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:15 -0600, with neither quill nor qualm, Lew
Hartswick quickly quoth: Tom Gardner wrote: On one of my recent posts, you kind people pointed out that there are many ways of doing something. Simple observations are often the most profound. I'm not a master at being able to see a problem from different angles and visualize different solutions. It seems that some parts of one idea affect another so the ideas are not independent, not "clean" and compartmentalized. I met with my guys today and discussed if we could figure out how to think about different ways of doing things we are developing. I want multiple solutions presented and thinking out of the box. It seems there is always a brute-force method of doing something yet the "other" idea, the one that springs into existence at the odd hour, is often better, cheaper and more elegant. How do you attract those "other" ideas? Is there a method or exercises to develop creative thinking? Cutting metal and drilling holes is the easy part, how do you completely forget an idea in order to "see" a new idea? This may come easily for an intelligent person but I struggle with my mental limitations. I don't think that can be either taught or learned, it is one of those things that some have and others don't. I disagree to some extent, Lew. (Can you handle that capital in your name, dude? ;) I think everyone is both psychic and creative, but most have simply had this muffled, usually during their schooling, where "everyone has to fit in." Peers who have had the same stifling upbringing are also now born and bred quenchers of ideas, either by social code or by ego. (If I'm not allowed to think it, you aren't, either!) But most creative people can't do so under stresses like time limits or strict performance requirements. True creativity is a fleeting thing, and even a slight nudge or restriction can knock it out of kilter. The subconscious mind continues working on problems while we do other things. That's why so many ideas come to us after we have given up on them and moved to other tasks. Self-confidence works wonders on creativity, but it has to be earned by the mind needing it, not given by someone else. Encouragement helps, like Pete said (+ removing your ego from their project), but it's the mind doing the work which needs to process things. As to learning creativity, I think that's merely uncovering the muffler society has put on us, then unraveling it to get to our own kernel of truth and wonder. -- Who is wise? He that learns from every One. Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. -- Benjamin Franklin |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
Tom Gardner wrote: Michael A. Terrell wrote: The time wasn't right. You had to learn enough about the process for it to become crystal clear in your mind. :) Everything looks simple, when you know what you're doing! ;-) You're right! After 36 years in this stupid, tiny industry, I guess enough has sunk in that I pretend I know what I'm doing and I guess I've become an adequate brushmaker. More than adequate. You are still in business, and most of the other guys are long gone. It's still a matter of timing. when that final detail becomes clear, and things all come together. Don't sell yourself short. You are in a business with a traditional manufacturing process, where change comes slow. If you had spare machines you could experiment with new ideas, but most companies wouldn't even allow a scaled down prototype, or to test an idea on an existing machine. My dad worked 25 years in the corrugated box industry in Ohio. Some of the machines were over 100 years old. They had a staff of machinists to make replacement parts, to keep them running. They didn't consider modernizing, until customers wanted bigger, one piece boxes. They gambled over a million dollars on a new machine, and it took a couple years to get it to full production. Then they started updating their other plants. It's the same in your business. It's fun to design new machines and test new ideas, but it can't get in the way of day to day production. Have you ever considered an online store for small orders? Even an Ebay or Yahoo store would help get the word out to people who have no clue that an American made brush was still available. BTW, you need to update the copyright date on your website. Some people consider a site abandoned when it is eight years out of date, and it could cost you some sales. Also, your page counter software from Bravenet is displaying an error message. I know they are minor details, but you want to keep up your image of top quality. -- http://improve-usenet.org/index.html aioe.org, Goggle Groups, and Web TV users must request to be white listed, or I will not see your messages. If you have broadband, your ISP may have a NNTP news server included in your account: http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm There are two kinds of people on this earth: The crazy, and the insane. The first sign of insanity is denying that you're crazy. |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
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differentiated thought before cutting metal
In article ,
"Tom Gardner" wrote: On one of my recent posts, you kind people pointed out that there are many ways of doing something. Simple observations are often the most profound. I'm not a master at being able to see a problem from different angles and visualize different solutions. It seems that some parts of one idea affect another so the ideas are not independent, not "clean" and compartmentalized. I met with my guys today and discussed if we could figure out how to think about different ways of doing things we are developing. I want multiple solutions presented and thinking out of the box. It seems there is always a brute-force method of doing something yet the "other" idea, the one that springs into existence at the odd hour, is often better, cheaper and more elegant. How do you attract those "other" ideas? Is there a method or exercises to develop creative thinking? Cutting metal and drilling holes is the easy part, how do you completely forget an idea in order to "see" a new idea? This may come easily for an intelligent person but I struggle with my mental limitations. Developing creativity can be done in many ways. You could divide your "creativity program" into two parts: immediate plans and long-term strategies. Some of the immediate things that can be done have been suggested by others, for example, having notebooks on hand at all times; writing down your ideas; thinking about the problem "in the background" or overnight; and using the "tail end" of a solution as the starting point for the next iteration. The long-term plan for developing creativity involves constant exposure to new and stimulating ideas. How is this done? One way is to foster a culture of constant learning among your employees. Do your people go home and watch TV, or do they go home and read books? Something as simple as a "reading club" whereby you acquire and lend to your employees a constant stream of inspiring and creative books. Although these books could be strictly about metalworking, you're likely to achieve better results with a broad array of subjects. It might take years for the full results to be seen, but constant stimulation like this will almost certainly yield long-term results as you increase your collective brainpower. Of course, you'll have to figure out a way for your employees to "buy in" on this idea and devote the time to improving their brains. Find a way to make it fun and rewarding. Another thing you can do to help "see" new ideas is for everyone to take drawing classes. Learning to see something, and then accurately reproduce it on paper, is a skill of tremendous value. Ultimately you learn to "see" in your mind's eye, and it becomes much easier to transfer your ideas to paper. As you work on these strategies for developing creativity, document the "great ideas" as they come up. For example, your "fishing inspiration" story you mentioned later on in the thread. Each time someone comes up with a great idea, write down the story of the birth of that idea. Ultimately, you'll have a book of these stories which will serve as inspiration and "institutional knowledge" for new members of your team. -- Jedd Haas - Artist - New Orleans, LA http://www.gallerytungsten.com |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
"Jedd Haas" wrote in message ... In article , "Tom Gardner" wrote: On one of my recent posts, you kind people pointed out that there are many ways of doing something. Simple observations are often the most profound. I'm not a master at being able to see a problem from different angles and visualize different solutions. It seems that some parts of one idea affect another so the ideas are not independent, not "clean" and compartmentalized. I met with my guys today and discussed if we could figure out how to think about different ways of doing things we are developing. I want multiple solutions presented and thinking out of the box. It seems there is always a brute-force method of doing something yet the "other" idea, the one that springs into existence at the odd hour, is often better, cheaper and more elegant. How do you attract those "other" ideas? Is there a method or exercises to develop creative thinking? Cutting metal and drilling holes is the easy part, how do you completely forget an idea in order to "see" a new idea? This may come easily for an intelligent person but I struggle with my mental limitations. Developing creativity can be done in many ways. You could divide your "creativity program" into two parts: immediate plans and long-term strategies. Some of the immediate things that can be done have been suggested by others, for example, having notebooks on hand at all times; writing down your ideas; thinking about the problem "in the background" or overnight; and using the "tail end" of a solution as the starting point for the next iteration. The long-term plan for developing creativity involves constant exposure to new and stimulating ideas. How is this done? One way is to foster a culture of constant learning among your employees. Do your people go home and watch TV, or do they go home and read books? Something as simple as a "reading club" whereby you acquire and lend to your employees a constant stream of inspiring and creative books. Although these books could be strictly about metalworking, you're likely to achieve better results with a broad array of subjects. It might take years for the full results to be seen, but constant stimulation like this will almost certainly yield long-term results as you increase your collective brainpower. Of course, you'll have to figure out a way for your employees to "buy in" on this idea and devote the time to improving their brains. Find a way to make it fun and rewarding. Another thing you can do to help "see" new ideas is for everyone to take drawing classes. Learning to see something, and then accurately reproduce it on paper, is a skill of tremendous value. Ultimately you learn to "see" in your mind's eye, and it becomes much easier to transfer your ideas to paper. As you work on these strategies for developing creativity, document the "great ideas" as they come up. For example, your "fishing inspiration" story you mentioned later on in the thread. Each time someone comes up with a great idea, write down the story of the birth of that idea. Ultimately, you'll have a book of these stories which will serve as inspiration and "institutional knowledge" for new members of your team. -- Jedd Haas - Artist - New Orleans, LA http://www.gallerytungsten.com Interesting chords you have struck! My first degree is in fine arts and I've always thought mechanisms were art. I "see" shafts and bearings and gears and such do things. Then it's easy to draw it up and make it. It's an extension of my art days. My team does the same thing. We DO have a lot of enjoyment. One of the guys, Roger, stays up late at night like I do and we call each other at 2:00 AM when we get an idea about what we are working on. Thanks for responding with such good thoughts! |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
--Coming late to the party but check out a book titled "Conceptual
Blockbusting" from Stanford University Press. Very much up this alley.. -- "Steamboat Ed" Haas : "Hold on! we're passing Hacking the Trailing Edge! : through the moronosphere!" www.nmpproducts.com ---Decks a-wash in a sea of words--- |
differentiated thought before cutting metal
On Sep 6, 9:39 pm, "Tom Gardner" wrote:
"Jedd Haas" wrote in message ... In article , "Tom Gardner" wrote: On one of my recent posts, you kind people pointed out that there are many ways of doing something. Simple observations are often the most profound. I'm not a master at being able to see a problem from different angles and visualize different solutions. It seems that some parts of one idea affect another so the ideas are not independent, not "clean" and compartmentalized. I met with my guys today and discussed if we could figure out how to think about different ways of doing things we are developing. I want multiple solutions presented and thinking out of the box. It seems there is always a brute-force method of doing something yet the "other" idea, the one that springs into existence at the odd hour, is often better, cheaper and more elegant. How do you attract those "other" ideas? Is there a method or exercises to develop creative thinking? Cutting metal and drilling holes is the easy part, how do you completely forget an idea in order to "see" a new idea? This may come easily for an intelligent person but I struggle with my mental limitations. Developing creativity can be done in many ways. You could divide your "creativity program" into two parts: immediate plans and long-term strategies. Some of the immediate things that can be done have been suggested by others, for example, having notebooks on hand at all times; writing down your ideas; thinking about the problem "in the background" or overnight; and using the "tail end" of a solution as the starting point for the next iteration. The long-term plan for developing creativity involves constant exposure to new and stimulating ideas. How is this done? One way is to foster a culture of constant learning among your employees. Do your people go home and watch TV, or do they go home and read books? Something as simple as a "reading club" whereby you acquire and lend to your employees a constant stream of inspiring and creative books. Although these books could be strictly about metalworking, you're likely to achieve better results with a broad array of subjects. It might take years for the full results to be seen, but constant stimulation like this will almost certainly yield long-term results as you increase your collective brainpower. Of course, you'll have to figure out a way for your employees to "buy in" on this idea and devote the time to improving their brains. Find a way to make it fun and rewarding. Another thing you can do to help "see" new ideas is for everyone to take drawing classes. Learning to see something, and then accurately reproduce it on paper, is a skill of tremendous value. Ultimately you learn to "see" in your mind's eye, and it becomes much easier to transfer your ideas to paper. As you work on these strategies for developing creativity, document the "great ideas" as they come up. For example, your "fishing inspiration" story you mentioned later on in the thread. Each time someone comes up with a great idea, write down the story of the birth of that idea. Ultimately, you'll have a book of these stories which will serve as inspiration and "institutional knowledge" for new members of your team. -- Jedd Haas - Artist - New Orleans, LA http://www.gallerytungsten.com Interesting chords you have struck! My first degree is in fine arts and I've always thought mechanisms were art. I "see" shafts and bearings and gears and such do things. Then it's easy to draw it up and make it. It's an extension of my art days. My team does the same thing. We DO have a lot of enjoyment. One of the guys, Roger, stays up late at night like I do and we call each other at 2:00 AM when we get an idea about what we are working on. Thanks for responding with such good thoughts! Tom, That's why we talk about the "Art of Engineering"! Engineering is by no means a science, but is the art of applying scientific principles to real-world problems. To do this at an economical cost requires experience, judgment, and ability. I believe one requirement towards success in this field is the ability to think in pictures. 'Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment". Wolfgang |
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