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1.8 Communication Architecture

Operational velocity in a high-reliability manufacturing environment is inversely proportional to communication latency and interrupt frequency. Unstructured synchronous communication disrupts cognitive continuity, leading to increased error rates in complex engineering tasks. This chapter establishes a tiered communication protocol designed to maximize "Deep Work" cycles while ensuring immediate signal propagation for critical production anomalies.

1.8.1 The Async-First Protocol

To preserve engineering bandwidth, the organization operates on an 1.8 Communication Architecture

  • Async-First:Asynchronous-First Prioritizingdefault. writtenInformation communicationmust be pushed to persistent storage (E-mails,tickets, Tickets)documentation, overemail) rather than pulled via synchronous interrupts (Taps,shoulder Calls)taps, tophone protectcalls).

    Cognitive Protection Mandate

    • Interrupt Threshold: Direct synchronous interruption of engineering personnel is prohibited unless the issue constitutes a "DeepLine Work"Down" time.event or immediate safety hazard.
    • ChannelThe Guide:Written Record:
      • Urgent (Production Stop): Phone/Walkie-Talkie.All operational requests must generate a searchable artifact. Verbal instructions are non-binding and considered nonexistent for audit purposes.
      • Time-Sensitive:Batch Processing: ChatNon-urgent communications are processed in batch intervals to minimize context-switching penalties.

      1.8.2 The Channel Hierarchy

      Communication channels are assigned specific tiered priorities based on the urgency of the signal and the required response time. Adherence to this hierarchy is mandatory to prevent "Notification Fatigue."

      Tier 1: Synchronous (Urgent / Line Stop)

      • Definition: Immediate threat to safety, active line stoppage, or imminent yield excursion.
      • Channel: Phone Call, Messenger, or Physical "Andon" Alert.
      • Protocol: Immediate interrupt is authorized. If the primary contact is unavailable, escalation to the next tier is mandatory within 5 minutes.

      Tier 2: Semi-Synchronous (Time-Sensitive)

      • Definition: Rapid coordination required for non-blocking issues (e.g., material shortage warning, shipping coordination).
      • Channel: Instant Messaging (Slack/Teams).
      • Recordable/Actionable:Protocol: Ticket/Email.Response expected within 60 minutes. Use of "@channel" or "@here" broadcast tags is restricted to Tier 1 events only.

      Tier 3: Asynchronous (Recordable / Actionable)

      • Definition: All standard engineering requests, DFM feedback, process changes, and non-critical inquiries.
      • Channel: Ticketing System (Jira), Email, or Handbook Pull Request.
      • Protocol: Response expected within defined SLA (e.g., 4-8 business hours). This is the default channel for 90% of organizational traffic.

      Final Checklist

      Signal Type

      Required Channel

      Response Mandate

      Safety / Line Down

      Phone / Messenger

      Immediate Interrupt (0 min latency)

      Rapid Coordination

      Chat (Slack/Teams)

      < 60 Minutes

      Engineering Request

      Ticket / Email

      Per SLA (Standard 4-8 Hours)

      Verbal Tasking

      Prohibited

      Invalid without written ticket


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