Yup...when I started with the company back in April / May our shelf-life and level of consumer complaints were atrocious. I led the procedures, processes, and programs implementation and improvement to decrease consumer complaints and increase shelf-life of the products even though my boss really wanted me to focus on the lab and SQF.
I remember one of the first couple weeks I was with the company I stayed all night working on issues relating to CIP / sanitation. It delayed production a few hours. I worked a 16 hour day and stayed until the following morning for the daily morning briefing. My boss was NOT happy production was delayed.
He sat me down in his office and told me, "You don't need to come in here and plant a flag to show what you know." I was completely astounded by this.
He told me to make sure the equipment is clean, but don't delay production.
I asked him, "Ok, so since we have so many issues with our CIP systems what am I to do if the equipment doesn't come clean after CIP? Nothing?"
His response, "Well just don't delay production, but make sure it is clean."
I knew after this conversation that he has no clue and no management/leadership skills. Consequently, I have had the two worst reviews by this guy in my entire career.
At any rate...I completely ignored him and focused on the sanitation and CIP since we had so many issues. Once I got those straightened out our quality improved overnight. On top of that personnel training with GMP and sanitation was sorely needed and I was able to do this at the same time as the CIP stuff.
So...6 months of very poor shelf-life and customer complaints to 6 months of excellent shelf-life and minimal customer complaints to end up blowing out our annual goals.
Here's a lesson folks...the boss isn't always right, especially when he/she is clueless.