Off Sick Today...Got Me Thinking...

[Asher]

Originally posted by Arrian
ALL HR departments suck. It's one of the basic laws of business.

-Arrian

Yep, that's what you get when you've got departments full of people with arts degrees.

[duke o' york]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Yes, I am going to start working on my CIV again and take another 2 days off...I am going to wait until the full 6000 years is up and they give me the results of the review before I act too hastily...

[Asher]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Oh ain't that a fact.

Another interesting bugbear is that I had the opportunity to join a project which was the computerisation of a lot of a QA labs work (ie, collection of balance weights and data from various system into a validated system, saving on checking and writing up - the really boring and tedious stuff). The person heading the project was desperate to get me on the project with my IT skills but it was blocked by my manager because they needed me in the lab. My worry is whether I have made myself too invaluable so they are not willing to relinquish their hold on me for a good career opportunity.

Moving to QA is a good career opportunity? The mind boggles.

QA is usually where they put the entry-levels to learn the product in the computer world. Eventually you move into a junior developer position, then senior developer, then solutions architect, etcetc.

[Japher]

QA in Pharma is different than QA in software land...

[Asher]

Computerization of QA work is what?

I can't imagine someone like PH in a development position, because he knows the sum of jack **** about it.

[Asher]

The SO is going into QA at Pfizer in Connecticut for a co-op term in May.

[Japher]

looks like he's talking about data collection of certain peices of equipment

unlike the computer world Pharma is heavily regulated and things like balances, titraters, etc... (lab equipment) must be calibrated and verified constantly to ensure consistency and reproducability. this work is tedious and basically just testing and record keeping. If, however, you "validate" the system you can specify how often this needs to be done. Sounds to me like his lab wants to get a system that will automatically collect and store all this data, such a system will need to be validated. Definitly something that falls under QAs jurisdiction and realm of expertise.

[Ecthy]

Asher, are you a biochemist? I'm just wondering because you seem to have an outstanding ability in judging other biochemists' abilities in the most diverse of fields.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ecthy
Asher, are you a biochemist? I'm just wondering because you seem to have an outstanding ability in judging other biochemists' abilities in the most diverse of fields.

He was talking about the computerization of menial tasks...

[Provost Harrison]

Thankyou Japher, this system doesn't eliminate the need for people like me (analytical chemist), it just cuts the really tedious bits. The system will collect weights and data, it will also inform you of the calibration/validation status of the instrument(s) you are using.

And Asher, you have no idea what I may or may not know.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Asher

He was talking about the computerization of menial tasks...

Yes, that's right, like in any other profession. I am sure a doctor has an electronic system to store all patient information and to print prescriptions, but that isn't the same as eliminating the need for a doctor.

[Asher]

I have some idea of what you know about computers, given the things you say 'bout it here.

I would question the intelligence of your manager to hire a biochemist PhD dropout to develop software. Especially in something that sounds like it's very important it be done correctly, so such a system would probably be developed under a rigorous software engineering proceses.

What would you have done? Verify what the computer doing is correct, or develop the computer software?

I do not see how verifying computer output is a good career step.

[Provost Harrison]

Asher, you have no idea what you are talking about. Go back to your Microsoft fanboyist threads.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Yes, that's right, like in any other profession. I am sure a doctor has an electronic system to store all patient information and to print prescriptions, but that isn't the same as eliminating the need for a doctor.

I hope your biochemistry skills are better than your reading comprehension. I've not said anything about eliminating the need for biochemists.

I'm saying it doesn't sound like a very good career progression.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Asher, you have no idea what you are talking about. Go back to your Microsoft fanboyist threads.

So educate me -- what exactly would your role have been, and why is it a good career move?

If your strength is in biochemistry, wouldn't your best career move be something that relies on that, and not "IT" skills (IT skills, by the way, mean stuff like changing people's passwords...)