IT’S MY BIKE

Debbie Martin was overjoyed when she was selected the new Supplier Quantity Manager for the commercial product division of Cold Air Corporation. In this role, she was responsible for monitoring the quality of component parts for twelve production lines scattered throughout the large manufacturing plant. When she started the new position, Debbie knew she would be faced with many opportunities and conflicts. Her immediate supervisor, the manager of shipping and receiving, was not known as an easy person to work for. He expected his subordinates to have a take charge attitude and to avoid bothering him with trivial issues. What Debbie had not envisioned was just how trivial and non-productive some of the conflicts in her new position would be. She certainly had not expected to be on the verge of a fistfight. Debbie was just starting her shift when she received a telephone call from Ronnie, one of her subordinates. Ronnie was a purchasing parts inspector, and was responsible for inspecting certain incoming parts for all production lines in the plant. He was complaining that the Airhandler Quality team had borrowed “the bike” for a special project and would not return it. He reminded Debbie of his current project and how covering the entire 15-acre plant on foot would only delay completion of the project. Debbie rolled her eyes as she thought about the logistics of inspecting component past’s three separate buildings. She also realized that Ronnie had a tendency to get excited over little things. He was a very conscientious, detail oriented worker, but was easily upset when things did not go according to his plans. Debbie asked him to work on another project while she checked into the problem with the bike. The bike, actually an adult tricycle with a basket, had a colorful history at Cold Air. The bike had been acquired by Debbie’s