Repair Problems

The paper machine's speed controlled drive system was down and the company was losing $10,000 anhour in profits. They placed an emergency call to theGeneral Electric repair service and, since it was 3:00am on Saturday night, the only repair man they had available was old Charlie.

Old Charlie had been a repairman for 35 years andwas only two years from retirement. He had seen it all and wasn't impressed by much.

As old Charlie pulled up to the guard shack at the plantentrance, he was waved through and greeted by no one less than the plant manager. "Thank goodness you'rehere. How long will it take you to fix it?"

Now Charlie had had nothing more than the sketchiest description of the problem but he replied without hesitation, "Oh, about fifteen minutes."

"Great!" replied the plant manager, "My men will show you where the drive controls are and get you anything you need."

After three hours of testing, reading prints, asking questions, the drive system was still not working.The plant manager became increasingly enraged and accosted old Charlie,
"I thought you said you could fix this thing in FIFTEEN MINUTES!"

"I can and I will, " he replied, "As soon as I figure out what's wrong with it!"