Computers: the death of paper!

[homeless]

When I used to set up large computer systems in processing plants and abattoirs often people would say they will be glad to not have paper laying around. I used to laugh and tell them they better buy another pallet full of A4 paper as they will use, it as every one wanted the same info in a different format, so just about every one used a different report and printed it out. Besides AUSMEAT AQIS NLIS all required a printed line for EVERY transaction done during each day and that had to be stored for later reference though I never saw one of these boxes accessed at a later time. They all came to me to generate a report exactly how they wanted it and then I printed that for them. I had 7 logging printers going all day as every carton was weighed, every animal was processed (3 reports). Every scan had a paper report even though all the data was available in the system. A case of the non believers running the government and wanting to use paper I think. If you want to see paper waste for reports etc. you should see how Chile do it. To get a small item etc from the plant store you needed a multiple layer form to get the item and then another to state that the said process was preformed. To get the carcasses from the kill site to the boning sight required so much paper and legal stuff it was unbelievable. We had to write special reports etc just to cater for Chile sites. Even when you buy a cool drink or a Pizza (just for the rich over there) required a paper receipt which had to be kept by law and at the departure point we had to supply all purchase forms. Going in was even worse, nearly finished up in jail as I had spare parts in my luggage as was normal for any job I did. A big NO NO. Ever sat in a airport lounge with two dudes with machine guns pointed at you for an extended time while people try to get info from you in Spanish. Lucky the person I was doing the job for was there to pick me up and after I was told to not say a word and a lot of money changing hands, I got out.

[Greynomad]

Brian,
Your last sentence demonstrates the cash economy at work!

[homeless]

Yep was not only very lucky but very grateful. He got very good service believe me. He believes the boss set me up and the next trip I took NOTHING. Loved the people but hated the way the system worked and how the different groups were treated. Our people scream of racism etc they need to spend some time in Chile. Your birth details restricts or protects your job and live prospects . I found a University graduate that spoke perfect English ( very hard to operate when I was restricted to setting up specifications etc by showing the QA a photo of a cut and they entered the Chilian Spanish word. I was also responsible for translating all the help screens to Chilian Spanish at the same time (Did not happen).
This academic was in the boning plant rolling frozen blocks of meat in a giant mincer with gigantic SHARP knifes with no protection etc and he was not allowed to enter the office, and I was not permitted to transfer to an area in the plant where we could work together. Was explained that it would embarrass the top people with me communicating with the great unwashed. I wanted to use him for the translations as well as train as a go between when I returned to Australia. Health and safety was non existent and we injured more staff in the first week or so than we killed animals in the slaughter floor.