The year, 1996 (when I was hired), I was the third "electronics tech" in a shop with a maintenance supervisor, a maintenance planner and 6 guys working the floor. the 6 of split between 3 shifts. 2 electronics and an electrician on first, an electronics and elctrician (through experiance) on second, the guy on third was a mechanic. Since then, through attrition and downsizing in the company, we now are staffed with a maintenance supervisor and 2 electronics techs by title. My supervisor is on short term medical disability until his retirement in November. My coworker has been with us for ahout 9 months and is picking up on things very well. I must say it is after all, pretty much a sink or swim enviroment. Now here is the twist. We operate 3 shifts 5 or 6 days a week. Our hours are staggered, one works 7 am - 3 pm, the other works 9 am - 5 pm and is on call for the week, we rotate each week. Call ins are time and one half pay with a minimum time limit and also there are some extra $$$$ just for being on call. Today I was a mechanic, a computer programmer, plc programmer, pipe fitter, electrician, hvac tech, and fill in supervisor (someone has to to the paper work to justify our existance). Maybe tomorrow will be more exiciting......... oh, I almost forgot we have 2 cnc lathes to move.
