The Parable of the Factory Improvements

One day while teaching, Josh was asked, ”Teacher, at what point does increased productivity become counter productive?”

Josh spoke thus:

A factory owner was showing an assembly of factory workers a new line of machinery that had just been delivered.

“And look at this!” the factory owner said.  The factory owner showed the assembly of factory workers a robotic arm that could move with precision within thousandths of an inch.  Never had the company had a robotic arm that could move with precision within thousandths of an inch.  The assembly of factory workers applauded the robotic arm that could move with precision within thousandths of an inch.

“And look at this!” the factory owner said.  The factory owner showed the assembly of factory workers the rotating spindle that could rotate exactly 100 times a second, to ensure that the thread that wound onto the spindle and wound off of the spindle always wound and unwound at the proper rate and never bound or snagged or snapped.  Never had the company had a rotating spindle that could rotate exactly 100 times a second, to ensure that the thread that wound onto the spindle and wound off of the spindle always wound and unwound at the proper rate and never bound or snagged or snapped.  The assembly of factory workers applauded the rotating spindle that could rotate exactly 100 times a second, to ensure that the thread that wound onto the spindle and wound off of the spindle always wound and unwound at the proper rate and never bound or snagged or snapped.

“And look at this!” the factor owner said.  The factory owner showed the assembly of factory workers the mechanical press that could form steel into a perfect shape, with no wasted steel and no chance of injury to any worker.  Never had the company had a mechanical press that could form steel into a perfect shape, with no wasted steel and no chance of injury to any worker.  The assembly of factory workers applauded the mechanical press that could form steel into a perfect shape with no wasted steel and no chance of injury to any worker.  The assembly of factory workers applauded extra loudly for no chance of injury to any worker.

“And the best thing,” the factory owner said, “Is how much money we will save.”

The next thing the factory owner showed the assembly of factory workers was the door.

The assembly of factory workers did not applaud.