Just one more thing ...

This programmer pilot fish's job is to assist his company's engineers by "putting ideas to code." So when an engineer shows fish how he has connected sensors to a parts bin, it looks like a straightforward task.

"Using a computer as a controller, he was able to calculate how many parts were in a particular bin," says fish. "This would be fantastic for helping with inventory control and ensuring lines were not shut down.

"The engineer asked if I could come up with a system that allowed him to assign parts to a bin and show a graph like a gas gauge, and also flash a warning if a bin got below a set level."

Fish puts together a database and soon has a functioning system ready to test.

Engineer and fish show it to the materials line leader. He likes the concept, but wants to add a little something of his own. "Could you send a page to a pager every minute if the system gets too low?" he asks.

Fish orders a pager that can accept e-mail messages and makes the necessary software changes, and a week later it's ready.

Then engineer and fish show the system to the materials manager. He likes the idea too, but also wants something added. "Can e-mails be sent to engineers and other people if the stock gets low?" he asks. "And can you get the system to print reports?"

After another week of programming, the system is ready to go live.

The response? "It worked as programmed," says fish. "But the system sent out so many e-mails that the engineering group asked us to remove their names from the distribution lists.

"The pager went off so many times that the line operator actually tossed the pager and walked out of the building and was never seen again.

"A week after go-live, the system was removed. We have yet to find the pager."

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