17 year old intern saves firm nearly $1 million

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 17 year old intern saves firm nearly $1 million

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:41:38 AM EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - A 17-year old Nigerian on work experience with one of Britain's rail companies helped save her employer thousands of pounds when she identified what was causing their trains to run late.

Ade Sodeinde, who arrived in Britain last September, was working at Central Trains' depot in Tyseley, Birmingham.

The youngster discovered crews were not boarding the trains on time, delaying departures from the depot and holding up waiting passengers.

The analysis prompted Central Trains to recruit extra staff and get track upgraded.

A company spokeswoman said the savings will be in the order of 750,000 pounds, because the firm is fined for delays. "This year has turned out better than my greatest expectations," said Sodeinde, who plans to study mechanical engineering at Birmingham University.

Link

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:44:37 AM EDT

[#1]

You have to be shittin me. No one with the exception of a 17 year old on a Co-Op program noticed that the crews of the train itself were constantly late? Looks like they need some new crews and upper management.

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:52:47 AM EDT

[#2]

Sounds like a typical "new employee outlook" situation.

Entrenched management and staff that are so fixated on "We've always done it this way", totally unable to see any issues unless they rise to "imminent implosion" levels.

The surprising thing is that they actually LISTENED to and ACTED on the observations. Most companies that large have an institutional case of "Head up ass" to the point where they will fight ANY suggestions that they are doing ANYTHING wrong.

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:54:22 AM EDT

[#3]

That rail company would probably be the perfect setting for a reality Dilbert TV show...

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:56:41 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Sounds like a typical "new employee outlook" situation.

Entrenched management and staff that are so fixated on "We've always done it this way", totally unable to see any issues unless they rise to "imminent implosion" levels.

The surprising thing is that they actually LISTENED to and ACTED on the observations. Most companies that large have an institutional case of "Head up ass" to the point where they will fight ANY suggestions that they are doing ANYTHING wrong.

I'm pretty sure engineering interns follow around another engineer. I don't know but I'd bet she pointed it out to her mentor and the mentor brought it forward and actually gave her credit for it.

But you are right. Too many companies with long-time employees lack that initial impression / overall outlook of their organization.

Posted: 5/25/2005 4:57:30 AM EDT

[#5]

She was the only one working cheap enough and with low enough status for them to say "Go out and stand by each train for an hour before their scheduled departure and see what is going on."

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:05:59 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
She was the only one working cheap enough and with low enough status for them to say "Go out and stand by each train for an hour before their scheduled departure and see what is going on."

I don't think they pay interns, do they?

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:07:58 AM EDT

[#7]

"Interns" == "Legal slaves"

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:10:38 AM EDT

[#8]

Wonder if she asked for their bank account number?

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:12:44 AM EDT

[#9]

Think she'll get any of the money saved?

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:13:13 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
I don't think they pay interns, do they?

All I know is that I'm getting paid too much and have too many calls and emails to return to go out and stand around doing nothing but watching production for a week or two.

That's just the kind of thing interns where made for.

I can just see the hell that would break loose if my boss asked me what I did last week and I said "Oh, I stood around and watched everybody work."

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:31:07 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Think she'll get any of the money saved?

I know there are some corporations who award employee suggestions that end up saving the company money. For a young student, just starting out, it would be a good ending to the story if she was compensated a small percentage of the savings.

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:34:55 AM EDT

[#12]

maybe it's just me but it sounds like the homeless guy in the terminal could have answered that question.

why? they don't get them loaded in time. how hard is that to figure out.

Posted: 5/25/2005 5:41:19 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
You have to be shittin me. No one with the exception of a 17 year old on a Co-Op program noticed that the crews of the train itself were constantly late? Looks like they need some new crews and upper management.

What probably happened is that none of the socialist-leaning assholes at the company felt like bringing the unpleasant fact up that their comrades were the cause.

What did this poor kid have to lose?

Good for him!

Posted: 5/25/2005 6:58:58 AM EDT

[#14]

Probably the train schedule said "Leave at 7:20", but the work schedule said "Start shift at 7:30". Either that or the train schedule didn't allow enough time for a shift change.

Posted: 5/25/2005 7:06:20 AM EDT

[#15]

must be union crews

IBTL
Popcorn
W00t!
dupe
ajntsa

Posted: 5/25/2005 7:09:12 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
"Interns" == "Legal slaves"

Our HR department is run by a real "Playa".
All the womens he hires are HOT and most of them are co-located with out IT department in an annex building.

Posted: 5/25/2005 7:11:44 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I can just see the hell that would break loose if my boss asked me what I did last week and I said "Oh, I stood around and watched everybody work."

He might not be happy that you're stepping on his job description...

Kharn

Posted: 5/25/2005 7:22:19 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Quoted:
She was the only one working cheap enough and with low enough status for them to say "Go out and stand by each train for an hour before their scheduled departure and see what is going on."

I don't think they pay interns, do they?

My old company did. Although we did expect them to perform way above what they were being paid.
She was a mechanical eng. intern. This will be her 4th summer as an intern.

The fact that she is a smoking hot intern had nothing to do with her coming back every summer.

TXL

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 17 year old intern saves firm nearly $1 million

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