@
Lab-Services!
Marcel came up with the idea to write a column about system
integration. For this question I was already afraid. Don't get me
wrong! I find it very interesting, only after 5 years I still feel that
I do not quite understand it.
Normally we get a lot of orders for small pipettes and its consumables.
Without
bragging, this is my specialty. Well...not exactly the exact
functioning of the product itself but the item number, whether it is in
stock, where it is located in the warehouse and the possible delivery
times of items not in stock.
When we get an order in for system
integration, it's a whole different story. More work and scheduling is
needed. That's okay, because then I can make my beloved overviews. My
colleagues, "the boys from the TD", have already
worked hard for many hours to find all items necessary to be ordered.
In
fact, the only thing I need to do is convert those items into orders.
This seems easier than it is. The funny thing is that each department
(and sometimes even each person) uses other names for the products. My
colleagues from Sales are often using end-user names and the TD is
using technical names. Then I stand by saying: "Do you have an item
number?" or "Did you mean item number ...?"
We always find an answer
in time, and thanks to my overviews everyone knows the expected
delivery time of the products. So the tight schedule can be achieved
and the customer can use his new system in time.
I realize just
now how I came in here five years ago. The only thing I knew then was
that robots are made of steel and they often have a bit of a tinny
walk. If you don't watch them they take over the world because they
think like people ... so far the cartoon version. Usualy I watch
Discovery channel. With programs such as World's Biggest machines with
enormous welding robots.
During my first tour here at Lab Services I
was amazed. These robots have still quite a fine motorskill and they
did exactly what they were told.
What I never will forget is what I
saw in Marcel's office. His collection of toy robots, those steel onces
which have a tinny walk. He's got a hondred of them!
Greetings,
Ingrid
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