mrph | Another gem from work...

Two dor-er-dark figures appear at the end of my desk...

Client Services engineer: Can you find me the part number for the USB connector we use on the vehicle mount cradle? I need it today.

Production Controller: I've looked, and can't find it on the drawings or the component list. I guess engineering aren't keeping them up to date. So it's up to you.

Me: It's not on the component list or the drawings because it doesn't exist. There's a hole in the case for it, which we fill with a blanking plug, but there's no connector.

CSE: Oh. Which connector would we fit if we did fit one, though?

Me: We wouldn't fit one. It wouldn't work. If it did work, we'd be fitting one.

(The Production Controller starts to creep away at this point, attracting a vaguely "but you said..." look from his colleague)

CSE (looking slightly queasy): It wouldn't work?

Me: Nope, the PCB supports it... but it failed initial testing. EMC problems. Not legal for sale in the EU or USA. And we couldn't add the connector now without finding a fix and then retesting the product. It'd probably need more vehicle safety tests if we changed the design, too.

CSE: How long would that take?

Me: With or without an engineering department?

[cogs begin to turn]

CSE: But we've just sold...

[cheerful "no longer my problem" smile from me. Cogs continue turning, as he registers what I said...]

CSE: Ah, oh. I'll leave you in peace.