The News paper boys: Did you know how every morning the paper boy delivers your choice of your newspaper at exactly the same time and rarely does he err in pushing the wrong paper through your door? Did you know how the distribution works? Yes? maybe? No?
I have been witness to the events that happen from 4:30 am and let me pick the Punjagutta, Hyderabad distribution centre. Vans deliver newspapers post printing to a few very small shops in the small lane adjacent to the HDFC bank. These shops operate only until 7 am. The heads of each end newspaper distribution unit (atleast 20 such units) purchase these news papers exactly as they know how many will get consumed @ 99% accuracy levels. They get their bundles to the nearest open space (see picture attached) and the boys then get to work. They insert pamphlets at a dizzy pace and each of the boys know the exact sequence of whose house first which paper to be delivered and whose next and so on. The stacking takes place in that exact sequence. So I asked, how do you remember the sequence Pat came the reply "We just know".
Whilst, the stacking happens, a mobile chai wala makes rounds offering "shots" of chai to these boys. And then there some folks who cannot wait to read the news and they come directly pay and pick up their paper. The head boy keeps shouting to his boys to quicken the pace and get the stack ready while another kid yawns the morning away..
Go through the place by 7 am and you will not even notice traces of the flurried activity that was enacted an hour earlier.
It definitely is a treat to watch this morning industry...Easily will qualify as a 6 sigma activity much a la the dabba wallas of Mumbai..
I have been witness to the events that happen from 4:30 am and let me pick the Punjagutta, Hyderabad distribution centre. Vans deliver newspapers post printing to a few very small shops in the small lane adjacent to the HDFC bank. These shops operate only until 7 am. The heads of each end newspaper distribution unit (atleast 20 such units) purchase these news papers exactly as they know how many will get consumed @ 99% accuracy levels. They get their bundles to the nearest open space (see picture attached) and the boys then get to work. They insert pamphlets at a dizzy pace and each of the boys know the exact sequence of whose house first which paper to be delivered and whose next and so on. The stacking takes place in that exact sequence. So I asked, how do you remember the sequence Pat came the reply "We just know".
Whilst, the stacking happens, a mobile chai wala makes rounds offering "shots" of chai to these boys. And then there some folks who cannot wait to read the news and they come directly pay and pick up their paper. The head boy keeps shouting to his boys to quicken the pace and get the stack ready while another kid yawns the morning away..
Go through the place by 7 am and you will not even notice traces of the flurried activity that was enacted an hour earlier.
It definitely is a treat to watch this morning industry...Easily will qualify as a 6 sigma activity much a la the dabba wallas of Mumbai..
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