Let me share an incidence when technology takes over common sense this is what happens. Tell me what precautions will you take to prevent such type of errors and losses.
So a washer was needed for an assembly.The cost of the washer is Rs.3. The buyer by error made the PO in SAP for 300 Rs which he later blames on keyboard malfunctioning. The PO goes for approval to Sr Manager and in their busy schedule they never bother to check them and approve.
The PO then automatically is mailed to vendor. Understand this assembly is worth over 20L and the washer is not even there in audit list as it’s a cheap commodity. The vendor is over smart and he starts sending his supplies at 300 Rs.
The incoming to payment is all auto approval based on PO pricing. He keeps supplying these washers for 7 years. One fine day the company makes a policy to have a second vendor for all purchases. The purchaser instead of asking for quote from second vendor informs the...
..second source procurement price of the existing vendor. Second vendor though shocked laps up the offer and also starts to supply at 300 Rs. So both of them are now minting money. Unfortunately for them one day the assembly stops because of shortage of their washers
And if u understand assembly line this is most criminal and every senior management gets involved to sort the issue out. Someone then noticed that why 300 Rs is being paid for a cheap washer. The whole picture becomes clear and they call both vendors.
The second vendor says he was offered 300 Rs and he accepted. The first had official PO and he had fulfilled all criteria’s of the agreement. The company could do nothing and lost 7 Cr in the process. What changes will u do in the system to make it full proof.
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I often see people in a rush when I drop my granddaughter at school. Some are eating breakfast in their cars. Others are already on calls, laptops open.
It looks like nonstop pressure despite all the tech meant to help. After mentoring 70+ professionals and reviewing their calendars, I noticed something surprising in 70% of them..
They weren’t drowning in work. They were drowning in distraction. Days packed with meetings, yes but also filled with tiny digital detours: WhatsApp, news, emails, stocks, online shopping. Each one harmless on its own. Together? A productivity killer.
Here’s how a typical day slips away:
9 AM - Sit down, check news. Read headlines, follow 2-3 links. Check stocks. Open email, reply to a few. Coffee. New headlines. Open WhatsApp to message someone and find 10 unread. Get lost in them forgetting why in the first place opened it. More emails. Check stocks again. Quick shopping online for grocery.
My son moved to Pune to start a café. I had hoped he would join my business, carry on the legacy. That’s what sons usually do, right? But he had his own plans. And it hurt more than I ever admitted.
He built 3 cafes in a year. Beautiful, successful, all his. I knew then he wasn’t coming back. I started slowing down. No more expanding my business. Then life stepped in. A photo I took won an award. Paid trip to UK.
He came back from that trip wanting more from life. Shut down the cafes. Moved to the UK to study. This came from nowhere. Just… timing. Life. He returned home years later, degree in hand, ready to join me in business. What I once begged for, happened on its own.
Cellphone addiction is hurting efficiency everywhere. In our factory, operators get distracted watching reels. With automation projects + defence work, confidentiality is critical too. So we decided: no phones inside, not even for visitors.
This evening around 8 pm, my son left the factory for home and posted a query on Alibaba for a solution. In just 2 minutes, 5 suppliers responded. Mind you, it was already past 11 pm in China.
By the time he drove 15 minutes home, they had designed the product with our logo and were ready to ship 200 units.
My son gifted me a beautiful leather jacket from Italy. Years ago, I’d have just added it to my collection.
But now, life is different. I live with less. One in, one out.
So I stood at my cupboard, wondering which jacket to give away. And something shifted.
It wasn’t just about space. It was about privilege.
I could let go of something still good - just to make room. That’s a kind of freedom.
And suddenly, I thought of my great-great-grandfather.
He had nothing. He dried cow dung to sell as fuel. He walked across states to build a future.
Every small step he took made my life possible.
We still have some of the beads he once sold, in our puja room.
Reminders of where we come from.
Driving on the Faridabad-Gurgaon highway, I stayed in my lane, within the speed limit.
A tempo overtook from the wrong side and hit my side mirror. My first instinct? Chase him. Hands clenched. Foot ready to accelerate. Then I remembered I am in NCR, you dont do this. For that matter no where it helps.
The mirror could be fixed. Thats why we have insurance.
Getting into a fight wasn’t worth it. My peace and safety mattered more.
That moment stayed with me. Because the same lesson showed up again, online.
Few weeks back, someone tweeted a sly comment about me. I almost replied. Angry words were at my fingertips. But again, I paused. I can’t control what others say. I can only control how I respond. So I chose silence. Peace. Moved on.