Engineering Problem

Summary

An engineer with a remarkable gift for fixing mechanical issues retires after 30 years of loyal service. Years later, the company calls him back to solve a complex problem with one of their expensive machines. After examining the machine for a day, the engineer identifies the issue by marking an 'X' on a part of the machine. The machine is repaired, and the company is charged $50,000. When asked for an itemized bill, the engineer explains: $1 for the chalk mark, $49,999 for knowing where to put it. His expertise is valued, and he retires once more in peace.

Takeaways

• 😀 An engineer had a unique talent for fixing mechanical issues.
• 😀 After serving for over 30 years, the engineer retired from his company.
• 😀 The company contacted the retired engineer years later for help with a malfunctioning machine.
• 😀 Despite multiple attempts by others, the machine problem remained unsolved.
• 😀 The engineer reluctantly accepted the challenge to solve the problem.
• 😀 The engineer studied the machine for a day before identifying the issue.
• 😀 He marked a small 'x' on a specific component and identified it as the problem.
• 😀 After replacing the marked part, the machine functioned perfectly again.
• 😀 The company received a $50,000 bill for the engineer's service.
• 😀 The company requested an itemized bill, which the engineer provided.
• 😀 The engineer’s bill explained: $1 for the chalk mark, and $49,999 for knowing where to put it.

Q & A

What was the engineer's special skill?

The engineer had an exceptional gift for fixing all things mechanical.

How long did the engineer work for the company?

The engineer served the company loyally for over 30 years.

What happened after the engineer retired?

After retiring, several years later, the company contacted him about a problem with one of their multi-million dollar machines.

What was the company's problem with their machine?

The company had tried everything and everyone else, but they could not fix the machine, which was malfunctioning.

Why did the company call the retired engineer for help?

They called the retired engineer because of his track record of solving many of their problems in the past, and the situation was desperate.

How long did the engineer spend studying the machine?

The engineer spent a day studying the machine before identifying the problem.

What did the engineer do to diagnose the issue?

The engineer marked a small 'x' in chalk on a particular component of the machine, indicating where the problem was.

How was the machine fixed after the engineer's intervention?

The part marked with the chalk 'x' was replaced, and the machine worked perfectly again.

What was the cost of the engineer's service?

The engineer charged $50,000 for his service.

What did the company ask the engineer for after receiving the bill?

The company demanded an itemized accounting of the engineer's charges.

How did the engineer explain his charges?

The engineer explained his charges by saying that the 'one chalk mark' cost $1, but 'knowing where to put it' was the real value, costing $49,999.