WorldWide Drilling Resource

Some Don’t Want Solutions by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC I’m constantly amazed at how many openly extol the virtues of innovation and simplicity, but when it comes to putting these principles into practice, they are nowhere to be found. I’ve been called a “genius,” but those who give me this title don’t accept my recommendations. If they don’t value my opinions, why do they ask in the first place? An article from the Ontonix QCM Blog dated July 12, 2019, titled “Which 21-st Century Technology is the Most Dangerous?”, I believe describes this phenome- non. QCM means “Quantitative Complexity Management” and is a metric to meas- ure the level of complexity of a project or process. The QCM consultants contend that if complexity is not countered, controlled, or otherwise managed, we will soon be living in a world running on autopilot without anyone knowing how it works or how to fix it when it doesn’t work. It is an apt description of many of the computer control systems we currently have “serving” us. I put the word “serving” in quotation marks because often it seems like we’re serving the computer, and the computer is not serving us very well. Many organizations and individuals want high complexity because it allows them to hide incompetence, mediocrity, fraud, and inefficiencies, as well as avoid responsibility and prevent innovation. Overcomplexity also allows management to kill good ideas and keep outstanding individuals from excelling. These consultants measure and quantify complexity. Why do we measure things? One of the reasons is so we can make objective decisions regarding their performance and practicality - objective decisions that reflect reality . . . not how we “feel” about something. Some people are threatened by this. I’ve always wondered about big companies that lay off thousands of employ- ees and still maintain the same level of service. It begs the question: Why were these employees there in the first place? Probably because management did not logically consider whether they really needed this or that employee. So laying off this or that employee did positively impact the bottom line, but didn’t negatively affect service. This same concept also applies to computer controls systems. Did anyone consider if we really needed this or that com- puter or system? Do we have empirical (verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic) data to sup- port the purchase of this computer or system? Sometimes satisfactory automation just isn’t possible. Often, companies have employees specifically assigned to monitor certain equipment, and if the employee isn’t there to do it, the equipment is off. I know farmers who could purchase many products to monitor their farm equipment, but don’t. Why? Because they figure their employees are around observing this equipment most of the time and would be capable of either quickly fixing the problem or finding someone who could. The bottom line is automation, when properly applied, is a proven time, money, and equipment saver. When automation is misapplied - meaning used where it should not be used or is unsuited for the given application - it is a major waste of time and money and can even create hazards that would not exist without the automation. The wise controls systems purchaser will do the research and know what can and cannot be done with automation, and what to expect in the way of mone- tary return should the control system be implemented. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 18 DECEMBER 2019 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® New & Used Bits, HDD Bits & Tools, Drag Bits & Wings, Bolt-On Drag Bits, Reverse Circulation Tools, Hole Openers, Claw Bits, Stabilizers, Subs, Custom Tooling & Welding, Hammer Bits, Drill Collars, Pipe Wipers, and Drill Pipe. Office: (661) 834-4348 Rod Henderson / Eran Henderson 661-201-6259 • 661-330-0790 sales@bitcobits.com www.bitcoinc.us