[snapping back to reality...]
Consider the situation where a man buys a brand new automobile. This fantastic vehicle is true state of the art, and has all of the latest features and digital gadgets. Every car magazine gives it rave reviews on its performance, handling, comfort and class. It is considered the most desireable vehicle on the road, and the driver is envied by everyone that happens to gaze upon it.
After a few weeks, the owner takes the car back to the dealer complaining that the car continually veers to the left for no apparent reason. Still under warranty, the mechanics examine the front end and determine that it is dramatically out of alignment. When the owner is questioned if there were any possible reasons, he begins to question the quality of the vehicle itself. However, the reputable mechanic adjusts the car back to factory specifications, and the owner drives away content.
Another week passes, and the owner once again shows up in the service bay with the same symptom - sever veering to the left. Again, the mechanics confirm that the car needs an alignment, make the necessary adjustments, and send the owner on his way.
Two days later the scenario repeats itself. This time, the mechanic contacts the manufacturer, and a specialist is sent out to examine the car. Could this be a lemon? If so, it would be the first off the assembly line after a major rework of the factory - and devastating to the engineering team. After a thorough analysis, and extensive questioning of the now irate car owner, the specialist determines that there must be some outside reason for these strange mechanical conditions. Unbeknownst to the owner, a number of spy cameras are located in the car to send live video feeds back to the manufacturer's headquarters and a team of engineering specialists who are committed to get to the root cause of the need for so many alignments.
The team is amazed as they observe the driver abusing this precision piece of machinery. It appear that the driver targets potholes in the road and hits them at full speed. Curbs are used as "guidelines" to keep the car on the road. Speed bumps and dips are excuses to test the quickness of the steering response, often resulting into sideway skids into walls and concrete embankements. It goes on and on... however the team of specialists record their observations, and send a detailed log file to the dealer - waiting for the next time the owner brings the car in.
As expected, the owner now returns the car on the back of a towtruck, this time with both front wheels completely at right angles to each other. When questioned by the mechanic - armed with the detailed log file - the owner vehemently denies the accusations, and threatens to sue the manufacturer for selling a faulty product.
Any ideas on how to get the owner to see the critically important part he plays in maintaining a high performance machine?
After a few weeks, the owner takes the car back to the dealer complaining that the car continually veers to the left for no apparent reason. Still under warranty, the mechanics examine the front end and determine that it is dramatically out of alignment. When the owner is questioned if there were any possible reasons, he begins to question the quality of the vehicle itself. However, the reputable mechanic adjusts the car back to factory specifications, and the owner drives away content.
Another week passes, and the owner once again shows up in the service bay with the same symptom - sever veering to the left. Again, the mechanics confirm that the car needs an alignment, make the necessary adjustments, and send the owner on his way.
Two days later the scenario repeats itself. This time, the mechanic contacts the manufacturer, and a specialist is sent out to examine the car. Could this be a lemon? If so, it would be the first off the assembly line after a major rework of the factory - and devastating to the engineering team. After a thorough analysis, and extensive questioning of the now irate car owner, the specialist determines that there must be some outside reason for these strange mechanical conditions. Unbeknownst to the owner, a number of spy cameras are located in the car to send live video feeds back to the manufacturer's headquarters and a team of engineering specialists who are committed to get to the root cause of the need for so many alignments.
The team is amazed as they observe the driver abusing this precision piece of machinery. It appear that the driver targets potholes in the road and hits them at full speed. Curbs are used as "guidelines" to keep the car on the road. Speed bumps and dips are excuses to test the quickness of the steering response, often resulting into sideway skids into walls and concrete embankements. It goes on and on... however the team of specialists record their observations, and send a detailed log file to the dealer - waiting for the next time the owner brings the car in.
As expected, the owner now returns the car on the back of a towtruck, this time with both front wheels completely at right angles to each other. When questioned by the mechanic - armed with the detailed log file - the owner vehemently denies the accusations, and threatens to sue the manufacturer for selling a faulty product.
Any ideas on how to get the owner to see the critically important part he plays in maintaining a high performance machine?
posted by epiclectic at 10:18 PM
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