Not As Bright As A Button

(I work as a programmer for industrial machines in a huge company in Germany. I am responsible for the program of a new kind of cleaning machine, which also has a security door that has to be opened and closed by pushing a button. Before opening a safety interlock needs to be opened. It takes about two seconds before the door ultimately starts opening.)

Project Manager: “Hey, [My Name]. That machine needs to be quicker. Why does it always takes two seconds before the door opens?”

Me: “Uhm… because the safety interlock has to be opened first. That takes two seconds.”

Project Manager: “Couldn’t you remove that safety interlock? Then we would save those seconds?”

Me: “No, sorry. For safety reasons I can’t do that.”

Project Manager: “Okay… What about you open that safety interlock two seconds before that button is pushed. Then the door would open exactly when the button is pushed.”

Me: “… No.”