Appooppanthaadi -52

Believe me, these cars are not owned by managers and VPs

The Scottish Manager's decision to sack the workers certainly looked harsh. Finding oneself jobless in a fine morning is really a painful experience.  But, I am a little confused to confirm if these workers of the company felt disparaged by the action of the boss. Many of the workers in this company had big cars in their possession. Everyday, one side of the factory premises is lined up with high end cars. No doubt, these guys are leading a flashy life. How do they have this much money? Where will they go if they were shown the door? No worry, they are rich enough to absorb such shockers. During any discussions with the guys there, we invariably dwelt at the richness of the individuals.

Look at the red-ribbons. they bring good luck

Many of them were interested in making money somehow. They always wanted to be rich. Owning a house and then a car and adding all other pomp in their life were their priorities always. Most of the guys and gals whom I saw in their offices were seen doing internet shopping whenever they got time. While the guys search for electronic goods, gals were seen looking out for apparels. 

 
The other day one of the Chinese employees of the customer who came to expedite the manufacture had suddenly disappeared. Everyone present there was wondering where this gentleman has gone. After a few hours, he resurfaced, brandishing a latest model Samsung Smart Phone. He spent around 6000 yuans to buy this phone. This man drives a Skoda car too. At the sight of the glittering piece of technology, my heart slipped a beat. We may often go breathless if we see the way the Chinese spend. Last time I saw one man coming to the work place wearing a winter jacket that had a price tag of around 4000 yuans.

This manufacturing firm is a well constructed set up making living quarters for the use at project sites. These containers are equipped with all facilities to lead a comfortable life at the hard construction sites. Their containers too probably carrying the infamous tag to bad quality of Chinese products but as a person who was there from the material purchase to the dispatch of the product, it will be harsh on my part to say anything bad about the quality. Raw materials are purchased from sub vendors along with test certificates, the same way it is done anywhere in the world. Important raw materials are then inspected by a third party inspection agency that reviews the manufacturer's test certificate also. However, safety is not a priority here too like in our country. People were seen using grinding machines without even wearing a face mask.

Every stage of manufacture went through the tests/checks mandated by the customer/ certification agency. To the best of my knowledge there was not even a single time, they tried to dilute the requirements. At the beginning of work, the base frame's I-beam welding did not pass the X-ray test. The vendor rectified the defect sincerely, tested and only after the result was positive, they proceeded further. All these were happening even without being policed by the customer representative, that was me. I could not find any fudging on norms or watering down of standards during the entire manufacturing process. The stigma of bad quality on Chinese products can never be removed nevertheless. As a patriotic citizen of my country, I too love to join the chorus that sings "Chinese quality is very bad" though I find no reason to justify the song's content.

Incidentally I must narrate about a desi manufacturer whom I visited just a week back in Chennai. This manufacturing unit is situated in an industrial area in the outskirts of Chennai. Like most of Industrial Areas in our country,  this too wore a pathetic look. All damaged roads, water logging all over and no proper infrastructure were the hallmarks of this industrial area too. The road to this firm was like a pond. No on can reach this vendor without wetting himself/herself till the ankle. The dirty water ( it can be sewage water too!) may reach out to the shoes and trousers in this effort.

 The vendor maintains a run down shop-floor amidst all this chaos. For that matter the question is what more he can maintain? No one cares for proper drainage system, proper transport system or a proper planned construction of buildings in an Industrial area. Quality is certainly a no word in such manufacturing units.

There were no established systems of manufacturing nor quality control followed in this factory. The vendor do not have any accreditation from any of the acclaimed certification agencies to his credit. He does not possess calibration certificates for the test equipment. "Chalega" is the only word that works here. Everyone strictly implements this slogan.

Still, I love to join the chorus that sings "Chinese Quality is very bad...". Traditionally pot exercises its right to call kettle black whenever it gets a chance - even if it is a half chance!