I've spent another morning making our FR5 trial like a new refill bag. Different fold, different insert, same conversation with the operator about how carefully the bags need arranging. The transfer itself is lovely. I can watch that bit all day, which may be part of the problem.
When I'm not there, they pack by hand and get on with their other jobs. I'd like to work out whether this has a useful smaller role or whether I'm just reluctant to retire something I spent ages building. Anyone had that rather embarrassing meeting?
Less reaching across the bench. Speed gain is small once I include arranging the bags, and I hadn't been including it. My nice cycle chart is looking a bit less nice.
They usually try it and then give up. That's the bit I feel worst about. My 'flexible' setup costs them a failed attempt before they do the ordinary job.
I've watched a team hang on to an awkward trial because nobody wanted to be the person who spoiled the engineer's good news. Give them room to tell you where it wastes their time; they may still like one part of it.
That ordinary new packs keep needing my help even after we've allowed a sensible setup time. We agreed to stop new insert work while we compare the raised manual tray with the stable automated format.
Put the packing staff's time into that comparison, including the few minutes lost deciding whether a bag is one the setup likes. People remember the long adjustment, but those little interruptions are what make a shift feel like hard work.
One operator did, for the long run of the standard bag. Others preferred the raised tray. We're keeping that narrow trial and dropping the promise that every new pack will join it. Oddly relieving.