Thread regarding 3M layoffs

The lack of safety culture with people literally getting ki-led yearly now is emotionally draining and incredibly frustrating as an engineer. Some of us find solutions when we see unsafe machines/processes but management refuses to pay $ because there is no 2-3 year financial payback- just prevention of possible damage, which is not enough to justify spend. And we are the most ethical company?? Maybe this death will change that mindset with the leadership team, but I am not hopeful based on history.

In their “defense”, 3M is obviously strapped for cash currently- thus the layoffs, selling a Corporate resort (Wonewok), and the unit cost crisis that caused the Kearney consultants to show up. Add in forever chemical elimination and multiple significant lawsuits, finding $ to prevent deaths or even harm to operators will mean more or different sacrifices and the question is - what are they willing to cut to save lives and injuries? Their executive salaries? New product funding? Or maybe nothing will change with the safety culture to spare the sacrifices and expenses?

I've never has a problem with senior leaders showing up at a site to meet the people and go out in the field to observe and talk safety.

However, rather than have them flip burgers for us, just pay a local caterer like I did when I was a people leader to serve some good quality food prepared locally.

We had a chance to show them our operations and explain the problems (safety, quality) that we experienced. Someone mentioned Joe Harlan recently. He came out to see our packaging operations and showed him the headaches both safety and quality wise as well as the customer complaints that could have been avoided with a simple automation project. Lo and behold, we got some money from the business to make the changes.

Unfortunately today's management is content to sit in Maplewood, dream up of ways to "fix" our problems with no capital, scant maintenance budgets, and fewer people.

Work smarter not harder is another one of tiremans slogans. Leave old man! And start pouring your six scotch of the night.

Disgusted by this wretched mess that 3M has become!

Tireman has adopted the methodology, "the beatings will continue until morale improves". Plant management is too distracted sending daily metric updates to Tireman while wondering if they'll have a job tomorrow. Not making excuses, but they've lost focus.
Please work safely out there. Stand up and refuse to do anything that you think would be the least bit unsafe. Tireman is small in stature, mind & character. Do not risk life or limb to try to meet his yield goals.

Can you learn ethics with an online video? No, of course not, but that's what we try to do (ridiculous) Safety is in a similar place to me. You can't teach it, program it, or like many execs are doing, lecture us on it. It needs to be coupled to the culture and operation. It feels like we have drifted to less disciplined operational style at 3M. So many things going on, hard to focus on the essentials many days. Leaders truly focused on financial objectives and organizational posturing which just causes us to jump on those topics when they say jump. REACTIVE. Safety is SPOKEN of, but not integrated into the operation through daily disciplined actions. I get it, that's hard and takes a while. But sorry guys, that's the only way you're going to fix it.

Just shows that all of their bluster about Safety is just for show. But hey, hold on to that handrail and don’t look down at your cell phone when you are walking!😂

On the latest fatality case. If they had made the investment on automated winder system, this would have eliminated the human intervention and accident would not have happened. It all boils down to financial payback.

Stop saying Safety is my first priority if you are not willing to invest in it