This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/shieldtown95 on 2025-05-16 17:32:48+00:00.
This happened years ago. I was working in engineering and fabrication and my CEO was a classic micromanager who was also a salesman. To him “the customer is always right” even when the customer has no idea what they’re talking about.
We had a project where a customer requested a custom-built sheet metal rack to hold several heavy bottles. Their sketch showed a V-shaped piece to cradle the bottles. But these bottles are heavy, and a V-shape (especially out of thin sheet metal) would inevitably start to deform under load due to the force distribution.
I proposed an L-shaped design instead. It wasn’t as “aesthetic,” but it would distribute the weight better, resist bending, and still securely hold the bottles. The customer was fine with this once I explained the mechanics.
But then my CEO jumps in.
“No, we’re going with the customer’s original idea. Make it V-shaped. They wanted a V, they get a V. I don’t want to explain why we changed it.” He was actually visibly anxious that I wasn’t planning of giving the customer their exact design.
I pushed back, explained the issue again, and reminded him the customer already accepted the L-shape — but he doubled down. “Follow the original request exactly”
So… I did.
I built the V-shaped piece, precisely as requested. Installed it. Placed the bottles on it.
Within 24 hours, the V started to deform. Sheet metal bowed outward, and the whole structure looked like it was wilting under pressure. The customer called us and said, “Yeah… maybe your engineer had the right idea.”
Guess who had to fix it? Me.
Guess what design we went with the second time? My original L-shaped version.