Cesspool of Data v2.0
So anyway, I am still working on this tool costing project. Bear in mind that I was provided a file full of data, supposedly all the programs (read: vehicles) that we need to research. In said file was included the alleged costs we have spent on all relevant tools.
Now, I am using this file basically out of the goodness of my heart, because all the data in it is WRONG!!!! As I mentioned before, those autonomous pieces of the company all have their own data formats. One is in Microsoft Access, one is on AS400 and one is on a special division of Lotus – Notes. And none, let me repeat, *none of them agree. So, in order to find out what we spent on say, an average of 7 tools per vehicle program, I have to filter all sorts of wrong information, and for each program it is taking me about 4-5 hours.
Rewind about 3 years. I am working on the ZW program. ZW is TechSpeak for the Nissan Titan pickup and Armada SUV. The first model year was 2004. So I am assigned to the group handling all of the company’s ZW business. Now mark, I have already become distressingly familiar with the company’s secretiveness regarding accurate data. So, at my own whim, I compile all of the figures onto an Excel spreadsheet. It is NICE – I can tell you how much money we spent on any combination of items, sorted by date, purchase order, vendor, component, anything. Includes all part numbers, invoice numbers, everything you need to know. Takes me about 2 months on-and-off to get it exactly the way I want it. Not only do I get all the information, a handy by-product of my work is that the accounting is now audited and every charge is where it is supposed to be. Again, NICE. My boss thinks I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m pretty proud of myself too. This information is STILL being used 3 years later after the program has been closed out. My ex-boss had the customer on the phone 2 months ago with a query about some minor detail on that program – nobody else could answer it. He came to me with hat in hand. I got his data in less than 5 minutes.
Did I mention what horrible kind of trouble I got into from the Corporate Accounting Manager at the time? I basically got my ass chewed for “duplicating work”. WTF? And my boss got chewed on by HIS boss for letting me do it! Bureaucracy at its best.
So, fast forward to this week’s project. The ½ day I am spending per program. I get to the ZW file, and how long do you think it takes me to get all the information I need?
7 minutes.
I SOOOOOO ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, I am using this file basically out of the goodness of my heart, because all the data in it is WRONG!!!! As I mentioned before, those autonomous pieces of the company all have their own data formats. One is in Microsoft Access, one is on AS400 and one is on a special division of Lotus – Notes. And none, let me repeat, *none of them agree. So, in order to find out what we spent on say, an average of 7 tools per vehicle program, I have to filter all sorts of wrong information, and for each program it is taking me about 4-5 hours.
Rewind about 3 years. I am working on the ZW program. ZW is TechSpeak for the Nissan Titan pickup and Armada SUV. The first model year was 2004. So I am assigned to the group handling all of the company’s ZW business. Now mark, I have already become distressingly familiar with the company’s secretiveness regarding accurate data. So, at my own whim, I compile all of the figures onto an Excel spreadsheet. It is NICE – I can tell you how much money we spent on any combination of items, sorted by date, purchase order, vendor, component, anything. Includes all part numbers, invoice numbers, everything you need to know. Takes me about 2 months on-and-off to get it exactly the way I want it. Not only do I get all the information, a handy by-product of my work is that the accounting is now audited and every charge is where it is supposed to be. Again, NICE. My boss thinks I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m pretty proud of myself too. This information is STILL being used 3 years later after the program has been closed out. My ex-boss had the customer on the phone 2 months ago with a query about some minor detail on that program – nobody else could answer it. He came to me with hat in hand. I got his data in less than 5 minutes.
Did I mention what horrible kind of trouble I got into from the Corporate Accounting Manager at the time? I basically got my ass chewed for “duplicating work”. WTF? And my boss got chewed on by HIS boss for letting me do it! Bureaucracy at its best.
So, fast forward to this week’s project. The ½ day I am spending per program. I get to the ZW file, and how long do you think it takes me to get all the information I need?
7 minutes.
I SOOOOOO ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by 40angst @ 5:02 PM
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