Reader from down under responds to blog about AR headsets

Bob Hudson of New South Whales, Australia, responded to my April 11 blog titled "Assisting manufacturers with augmented reality."

Hello Alan,

I am a home self taught machinist/welder/machinist, now supposedly retired although my small township neighbours keep giving me challenges. I was employed in a totally unrelated field of management/leadership for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an administration and personnel Officer for more than 30 years.

Just reading your article about AR headsets. While ensuring quality and having an ability to review any issues arising in the assembly process, I just wonder what is happening to trust and respect for the worker. When I worked for a living, I got on with my job. I was trusted and I also placed trust in my staff. To have a device planted on me that examines everything I am doing is to have someone looking over my shoulder all the time. I know that is not the intent, but that is one of the fastest ways to create dissatisfaction in the workplace. Also, the CEO and managers at other levels who are ascribing to this policy would not want to be seen as hypocritical. If they apply "the look over the shoulder" to their staff, then I am sure that they would be happy to have that applied to themselves - I think not. Imagine the CEO having the major shareholder(s) see and hear what the CEO is doing all day.

Quality is one thing; creating huge disincentives is another. There has to be a better way. I may be on the other side of the Pacific, but suggest management talk to staff and collectively find a better way to ensure quality without the "big brother" approach. Given the opportunity, even the most junior staff regularly come up with the simplest, but best, ideas.

I know you are the editor and I am not "trying to shoot the messenger." I have a lot of time for your publication and though not in the industry, I enjoy reading what is happening and seeing the different ideas that are out there. To that end, I have helped another neighbor with a prototype of a simple product to assist carpenters/handymen. I can't say too much about it because the owner has submitted a unit to U.S. agents and it looks like it is being patented - there is nothing like it (yet) in the world.

In short, I like thinking outside the box, from practical items, as well as the workplace itself, particularly doing what it takes to have staff feel really good about themselves and doing whatever it takes to allow them to do an excellent job. They then get on with it and it released me to do my work at my level while they get with their work at their level. Micromanagement is one thing I abhorred and still do.

Regards, and well done to you and your staff.