Comments on: UPS: Disrespect for People? http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:26:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bryan http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5668 Bryan Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:35:42 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5668 The tone I hear in this post and comments is that UPS is consciously NOT respecting their people. I would argue that it is more sub-conscious as they are not relentlessly pursuing the complete elimination of safety hazards, but at least they are trying, and this lack of relentless pursuit does send a powerful message.<br /><br />Chaining a cone with spike strips to a van that could be stressed, broken, dragged and flung from a passing vehicle at 25 miles per hour may not be the best idea, but sure would be entertaining to watch.<br /><br />I'm glad to hear that UPS is trying another approach and is willing to take the risk of making a mistake. This is something we can't forget as leansters. Hopefully they will learn the lesson that cloth safety signs will not jump out at drivers and motivate them to be safe. We will see.<br /><br />One concept of lean is to make problems, or even potential problems, visible. We try to do this through visual controls.<br /><br />What actually does motivate drivers to be safe? School buses! UPS, paint your trucks yellow. Put a big red fold out stop sign on the side with flashing lights. Yes, people will get a little annoyed at first when they find out it is UPS, but they WILL slow down and use caution. And someday, they will say, "Geez, those folks at UPS are so smart and look out for the health and safety of their people AND the community. They are so smart!"<br /><br />"What can Yellow do for you?" The tone I hear in this post and comments is that UPS is consciously NOT respecting their people. I would argue that it is more sub-conscious as they are not relentlessly pursuing the complete elimination of safety hazards, but at least they are trying, and this lack of relentless pursuit does send a powerful message.

Chaining a cone with spike strips to a van that could be stressed, broken, dragged and flung from a passing vehicle at 25 miles per hour may not be the best idea, but sure would be entertaining to watch.

I'm glad to hear that UPS is trying another approach and is willing to take the risk of making a mistake. This is something we can't forget as leansters. Hopefully they will learn the lesson that cloth safety signs will not jump out at drivers and motivate them to be safe. We will see.

One concept of lean is to make problems, or even potential problems, visible. We try to do this through visual controls.

What actually does motivate drivers to be safe? School buses! UPS, paint your trucks yellow. Put a big red fold out stop sign on the side with flashing lights. Yes, people will get a little annoyed at first when they find out it is UPS, but they WILL slow down and use caution. And someday, they will say, "Geez, those folks at UPS are so smart and look out for the health and safety of their people AND the community. They are so smart!"

"What can Yellow do for you?"

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: curiouscat http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5667 curiouscat Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:59:12 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5667 I consistently see UPS and FedEx park in traffic lanes, in front of of fire hydrant, in no parking zones meant to provide pedestrians view of the traffic to cross the street safely... when there are available parking spaces less than 20 feet away (and actual loading zones not much further away).<br /><br />It would seem they must do this hours every day (based on the level of abuse I see). I often see the illegally parked vehicle, park legally, get done what I need to do, and drive away and the illegally parked vehicle is still there.<br /><br />It is obvious that UPS and FedEx systemically violate traffic laws and make the roads more dangerous. The extent of the abuse make it obvious to me they design their work process with full knowledge that they endanger and inconvenience others for their convenience. I am not sure why such consistent intentional systemic dis-rearguard for laws is allowed to continue but obviously it is.<br /><br />Maybe in Manhattan parking in traffic lanes is the way things work but not here. Only UPS and FedEx chose to systemic endanger inconvenience others for their convenience here. I consistently see UPS and FedEx park in traffic lanes, in front of of fire hydrant, in no parking zones meant to provide pedestrians view of the traffic to cross the street safely… when there are available parking spaces less than 20 feet away (and actual loading zones not much further away).

It would seem they must do this hours every day (based on the level of abuse I see). I often see the illegally parked vehicle, park legally, get done what I need to do, and drive away and the illegally parked vehicle is still there.

It is obvious that UPS and FedEx systemically violate traffic laws and make the roads more dangerous. The extent of the abuse make it obvious to me they design their work process with full knowledge that they endanger and inconvenience others for their convenience. I am not sure why such consistent intentional systemic dis-rearguard for laws is allowed to continue but obviously it is.

Maybe in Manhattan parking in traffic lanes is the way things work but not here. Only UPS and FedEx chose to systemic endanger inconvenience others for their convenience here.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5666 Anonymous Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:41:59 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5666 Hey I work for UPS and it's great. Basically I get paid for wearing shorts. Hey I work for UPS and it's great. Basically I get paid for wearing shorts.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Tim McMahon http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5663 Tim McMahon Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:49:28 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5663 This demonstrated the importance of asking 5 why's to get to the root cause instead of assuming why the sign is used. It is more effective to ask 5 whys and 1 how. UPS needs to empower there workforce to solve problems or they could have another safety incident. Safety should always be at the for front of everything we done. This demonstrated the importance of asking 5 why's to get to the root cause instead of assuming why the sign is used. It is more effective to ask 5 whys and 1 how. UPS needs to empower there workforce to solve problems or they could have another safety incident. Safety should always be at the for front of everything we done.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Ankit Patel http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5662 Ankit Patel Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:42:54 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5662 I had friends that worked at UPS and I think bureaucratic is an understatement. I would sit with them many times and try to offer them solutions and methodologies but all I got back were excuses. <br /><br />I'm not trying to knock my friends or UPS but that type of mindset is common in many places. The "why we can't do it mentality." Getting UPS (or any company) to change and adapt quicker is real trick. I had friends that worked at UPS and I think bureaucratic is an understatement. I would sit with them many times and try to offer them solutions and methodologies but all I got back were excuses.

I'm not trying to knock my friends or UPS but that type of mindset is common in many places. The "why we can't do it mentality." Getting UPS (or any company) to change and adapt quicker is real trick.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mark Welch http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5661 Mark Welch Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:29:31 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5661 Hmmmmmmmm... One things seems for sure. Lack of respect abounds in this situation... Ala Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?!?! <br /><br /> Bill Waddell had an interesting post with many comments on the Ethical Core of Lean the other day. Respect for people entered the discussion. Some of you might find this interesting... http://www.evolvingexcellence.com/blog/2009/10/the-ethical-core-of-lean.html Hmmmmmmmm… One things seems for sure. Lack of respect abounds in this situation… Ala Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?!?!

Bill Waddell had an interesting post with many comments on the Ethical Core of Lean the other day. Respect for people entered the discussion. Some of you might find this interesting… http://www.evolvingexcellence.com/blog/2009/10/the-ethical-core-of-lean.html

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: frustrated in NY http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5660 frustrated in NY Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:28:58 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5660 UPS has no respect for people--drivers or the rest of us. Why do the delivery trucks have to stop in a traffic lane to make deliveries or pick-ups? How is that respecting the rest of us trying to use the street? Why don't they go around back to the alley and use the DELIVERY ENTRANCE? Because they are in a hurry, that's why and to hell with everyone else just trying to get from point A to point B. UPS has no respect for people–drivers or the rest of us. Why do the delivery trucks have to stop in a traffic lane to make deliveries or pick-ups? How is that respecting the rest of us trying to use the street? Why don't they go around back to the alley and use the DELIVERY ENTRANCE? Because they are in a hurry, that's why and to hell with everyone else just trying to get from point A to point B.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5659 Mark Graban Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:05:34 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5659 I'd look at it this way - what does UPS have control over?<br /><br />Can they control people in the general public being jerks? NO<br /><br />They can control the process for getting new cones. They can control coming up with a more creative solution (something that can't be stolen).<br /><br />Whether their failure to do is a lack of "respect for people" is a value judgment for each person to make. I'd look at it this way – what does UPS have control over?

Can they control people in the general public being jerks? NO

They can control the process for getting new cones. They can control coming up with a more creative solution (something that can't be stolen).

Whether their failure to do is a lack of "respect for people" is a value judgment for each person to make.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5658 Anonymous Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:49:49 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5658 A good part of the lack of respect for people is the stealing of the cones and running right over them. I'm sure some people are just bad drivers, but how bad??? How about spikes at the bottom of the cones that puncture the tires of the offenders and/or create significant interference with the bottom of their cars as they drive away? (I know this would never fly with the DOT, etc., but don't you think the root cause is more those drivers and thieves who driver over or steal the cones? Not UPS and their supposed red tape for replacing the cones? Instead of blaming UPS for their lack of respect - it appears they have been making efforts on this - perhaps some accountability needs to be applied to those disrespecting the cones. A good part of the lack of respect for people is the stealing of the cones and running right over them. I'm sure some people are just bad drivers, but how bad??? How about spikes at the bottom of the cones that puncture the tires of the offenders and/or create significant interference with the bottom of their cars as they drive away? (I know this would never fly with the DOT, etc., but don't you think the root cause is more those drivers and thieves who driver over or steal the cones? Not UPS and their supposed red tape for replacing the cones? Instead of blaming UPS for their lack of respect – it appears they have been making efforts on this – perhaps some accountability needs to be applied to those disrespecting the cones.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5657 Anonymous Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:59:19 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/10/ups-disrespect-for-people/#comment-5657 Why don't they attach the cones to the truck?<br /><br />Cones are the best error proofing (to protect the driver) if people can just drive over them.<br /><br />Either way, sounds like UPS is more willing to pay out some workers comp settlements instead of really fixing the problem or engaging with the drivers. Sad. Why don't they attach the cones to the truck?

Cones are the best error proofing (to protect the driver) if people can just drive over them.

Either way, sounds like UPS is more willing to pay out some workers comp settlements instead of really fixing the problem or engaging with the drivers. Sad.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>