[gg2929]

I’m just wondering here, how many years of experience are required to become a manufacturing plant controller? Whether it is long or short isn’t important to me, I just want to know the truth. One would think it takes more years of experience to become a plant controller at Caterpillar than at a smaller company.

I’m asking because knowing will help me assess how to approach my life upon graduation (and now in some senses) in the sense of continued learning. I really enjoy learning new things and applying them to my life to grow as a person and academically. I never consider the status quo to mean much, because I know I have the persistence to move past it.

Is becoming a plant controller something that is ‘bound’ to happen if you stay in the manufacturing industry long enough, or is it different than that? What is the next stop beyond plant controller?

I am asking because knowing the answers to these questions will help me justify what I do in the meantime.

I don’t want to put too much emphasis on goals, because the meaning should be in the process and not the result. You don’t want to wait to start having the life you want.

So part of the reason I am asking this question is to figure out the process.

I don’t mean to come off the wrong way, but I think I would be better at being a CEO than I would be at any other job. I realize that 99% of the people out there are better than me at 99% of things, but I have a natural sense for independent thinking and business strategy that would be advantageous in that role. (Once I have the appropriate industry experience) I suck at most things in the world, but that is where my strengths lie.

But really though, life changes, you get married, have kids, maybe your goals will change, maybe they won’t. Maybe the enjoyment you get from the process will help you to be a better partner, parent, ect. Or maybe you won’t be as career oriented at that point and would be fine cruising at a safe income.

If I know what my vision is, I will have a better perspective of what approach to take. Do I continue reading articles from Stanford Business twitter feed like I am now, or do I watch an episode of a TV show I like? (I enjoy both, so long as the learning has a purpose. I’m very purpose oriented) Do I spend those years to learn more that may come in handy years down the road, or do I find relief in not having it all and staying in the plant?

Essentially, I would like to not have goals at all, put the purpose and meaning 100% in the process, and just have a vision and relish life in the meantime but like I said, I’m purpose oriented and continued personal learning would have more meaning if its connected to something, at least it’s not easy to see it differently right now.

If feel like I want to send a message, that the status quo doesn’t mean much. But I don’t want to think that now, spend time on it, and then get older and realize its not what I care about.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you much to all.

P.S. here is a video that is well worth the watch. If you have an hour or so its something good to watch with your family.

https://inner-sports.com/speaking/

[gg2929]

well, something to consider is fit. maybe the person was leaving because the fit wasn't as good as a different company. my greener is not the same as your greener.

[Herbieherb]

I worked in cost for a year in the food manufacturing industry. Its true what mla said about cost accountants making things the way management wants them to look.

When top mgmt wanted to slam people they would let me report the actual muv or adjustments to raise it… So heads can roll.

Then when they are feeling pleasant I was instructed to make all these adjustments to lower the muv

NEW YORK- DONE

[fsugirl2005]

”

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[gg2929]

So, you're saying that management asks you to manipulate information based on whether or not they want to rip on people in other departments?

[Anonymous]

I've never worked in cost accounting, but the cost accountants I have known have represented it basically the way you said, gg – a job based on making the numbers say what your boss wants them to. I assume there's some companies that actually want exactly what the figures really are, but it sounds like a lot of manufacturing environments aren't like that.

[mla1169]

Think back to your cost accounting classes. Do you remember learning that the way overhead is applied is based on estimates? When projects span multiple months even direct materials and labor are based on estimates. The cost accountant can give their .02 but ultimately the people doing the estimating itself are not accountants. It's not usually the job of the cost accountant to question the estimates. I know you're wondering “what would the auditors think about this hodge podge of rules?” The answer is not much. Auditor asks why cost accountant had booked 50% of the cost at year end and cost accountant shows email from engineering claiming job is 50% done and everybody is satisfied.

The truth is month to month auditors and such don't give a hoot about the month to month activities (I mean they do but they don't have 3 months to audit every client) and as long as you can substantiate what's on the books at year end and when each project ultimately closes out it flies.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[gg2929]

I remember that costs are based on estimates, but it was my impression that the intention was also to record accurately.

[mla1169]

It is. But remember you have to rely on someone else's accuracy. So engineering is designing a product and they insist it's 50% ready to be shipped. You're not an engineer, you can't go look at a printed circuit board and say “there's no WAY you'll be done with that in the next 3 weeks”. You're relying on someone else's perception of accuracy. Just like I said above, you're told production will take 400 hours to build a product which would be fine and well but 100 hours into the build, the senior operator quits and they hire someone new. You're thinking 100 hours done=25% of the 400 you were told it would take but due to a training curve it's really going to take 600 hours (but you don't know that for sure until 3 months later!)

You'll know the numbers but will never be that intimate with the variables. Sadly engineers if you have to work with them are optimists and will convince you they can drive 300 miles in 10 minutes.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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