BIG 3 HAVENT YOU HEARD OF "just IN TIME" AND ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS? THESE ARE THE MECHANICS OF OUR NEW ERA OF MANUFACTURING.
Look, manufacturing is streamlined, downsized, muzzled and our workers are smarter than others. We make the best products; we just can afford to make the best products. Have we NOT learned anything from JAPAN; the upside was the wealth they have, the manufacturing czars of The World are naming their price for their hybrid, electronic and "green" cars....one thing remains, no two things remain: We are not a country of thrifty folks, Like Japan.
Two we need to more economically "sound out" this dilema. Open markets are one thing, but you have not learned from JAPAN, CHINA, and INDIA &C...
Government does not belong running businesses in a free market economy. MY view, a limited one, a view of a disABLED woman, who formerly worked in manufacturing and who, lost her job due to downsizing...I've been there. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Dare you call me a Socialist? Well see after you read this....
Government is in charge of keeping the public good, doing what is right for the most amount of people, make their private industry, make their notion of success a success. In other words, there is a role for Government in the economies' market. The prevention of an economic collapse is a "referee saving the life of a beaten man."
We've had our black eyes, we've done without, when we become beyond our control in an abyss. IT is not that Americans make too much. It is rather that we allow others to sell us snow. We don't need a new plan, we need to AMEND the plans we have....I m getting to it.
People have seen others loose jobs, defer wage increases and prices keep going up...that's not fair. Rosemarie, you say, "Life is not fair" I say, "Excuse me, Sir, but we will make it so."
I propose that the Automobile industry take a trump card from Germany and Japan and others...simply use their ideas to help ourselves compete. This IS NOT BEING DONE…
First of all, we don't save. That's changing. Do not discourage us to take the reflexive motion to remain solvent. We deserve the good life that we have created. This dilemma may well make us more fiscally responsive, reserved and proactive toward our long term future. A good education, a concern for the neighbour is our new world view. YES, I AM MY BROTHERS KEEPER, AND HE NEEDS ME TO SPEAK UP!
FINANCIAL COUNSELLING SHOULD BE PART OF LIFE-PREPAREDNESS CLASSES THAT SHOULD BE INSTITUTED. DONT JUST MAKE THE EDUCATION AVAILABLE, MAKE THE COURSE OF STUDY REQUIRE GRADS TO TAKE A SOLVENCY/THRIFT COURSE.
We are TOO FREE; we've backed ourselves into a financial corner.
Its not going to get pretty....we need to come together, city, government and everyone in the entire citizenry. For what? TO Make a NEW DEAL FOR THE NEW ERA.
We don't need to have an economic-collapse do we? You haven't spoken to "Grandma or Grandpa" of folks who were there. They still have ptsd?
This is an idea: Like other industrialized nations the US needs to
MERGE THE THREE-THE BIG THREE INTO THE FOLLOWING OR SOMETHING LIKE IT.
Government and industry, namely in this case the motor industry, need to work together. Industry shouldn't have the resolve that the US GOVT would never let them fail. Those days are over. This is a global economy; we don't have any room for nepotism. For a period of time, as to solve the dilemma, namely having the dilemma dissolve-firstly, making a significant dividend, profitability, solvency, for a decent work wage for employees &C, we need to have a merger.
A joint venture is what they call it on wall street, no?
A merger would be 33% to each of the big 3, and 1% ownership at the Government US.
The non value added the management and the union have to come to the table. You folks make a great auto, but we want to make sure you don't lose you job, you savings, your retirement money...this is how:
The big three act as if they are on the same team, for a time, there will be no differentiation other than what vehicle is being made, we are making AMERICAN vehicles and selling to the world at probably a more competitive price..YOU don't have to send folks home with a cardboard box of good memories.
All you have to do is doing cost analysis on ALL WORK DONE. Yes, you should be looking more closely at the cost - before production of making a vehicle, then the in process costs and then mark up.
If Auto AMERICA came about we would share the wealth inside of our nation. We would not be dependent in any form. We would be "US" The United States. It would be a temporary arrangement; the project is "Keep America Honest and Hardworking, keep jobs"
Ok, just run to your work station, write down what you do. Make a log for each employee for six weeks.
That 's all it would take to re-vamp the system of waste, fraud and abuse? Yup. These execs thought the government would insure their jobs, all their jobs due to the large scale of work, workers, and the trickle-economy.
Once again, we have been reminded that vehicles are more economical if lighter, greener and trendy. We Americans love our chariots. Did you notice MTA is dealing with more than the usual surge in ridership. (That's what I heard...)
Once you have more thrifty operations, we can figure out the wage, the operations-logistics-supply chain, delivery and promotion of an AMERICAN VEHICLE. Call me a protectionist of sorts. If France can sit in on steel purchases as a government, and Japan it\s auto industry, electronics &C why cant we motivate the "line" employee, one who probably hasn't gotten a raise this year, let alone a pink slip?
I submit:
It is far less expensive for US, to be sure, to keep people at the front lines of our economic system there, to negotiate their jobs and keep their outlook upbeat. They deserve to make a good salary for their expertise, specialization, and dedication to that part of the product. It is cheaper to fund employment, minimally, than it is to decimate the economy, in the name of fair markets, competition and success.
This is an emergency. We need to make what we make, a good product, we need to renegotiate distribution to the world at a price that makes way for profit. Have you 3 paid attention to the world market? I'm not expert, but I can tell you that if this were Germany, there would be ONE Manufacturer in THE US for AUTOS.(In such a stressful time, their GOvt. would intervene as Ive heard it has in the past….)
More often people look only inwards for their own survival. What happens is patriotism flies away when you have to go down to welfare and food stamps and take help from your local church, your friends and deplete everything you always worked SO HARD for.
It, success, is so elusive that we trade it in for credit, purchasing and funding our future, and our lives become a series of big IOU'S
If one company went belly up, of the 3, then the other two would become more "popular" as a stock purchase. Its not only about ROI, its about the law of diminishing returns: how many more units of measure do we need before we become unprofitable. IF we, as a nation, are willing to buy from whoever sells the most economical VEHICLE then we also are to blame, so we cannot point at anyone and say, "This is your fault" The blame is irrelevant. Get back inline, folks, you and I and others need to look at what makes an economy thrive, what makes a good product, what worldwide people wish to purchase your product for: QUALITY.
Operations alone, before we talk wages, benefits and supplies, can be changed. HOW ROSEMARIE? Each employee: Just treat the company like it is or as it were YOUR COMPANY. As if you, in the assembly line take ownership and partnership with your company, to insure quality and efficiency. No this is not just talk, its a fact. The more ownership, loyalty and diligence you get from QUALITY employees, those who rely on their abilities, experience and integrity to keep their jobs the better the cheaper and the more progressive the company.
Everyone is a manager, no one makes the distinction of what is their job, what is their responsibility, the considerations of what makes and maintains a quality-efficient product just in time for factory order completion.
All of us, in the manufacture of anything have to take ownership toward the quality of their work, the efficiency of their products and the dedication toward an AMERICAN VEHICLE.
Stop the nonsense. There is no way that a Cadillac is equivocal to a Hundai, The ride alone is 100% better, ok, maybe 98%, but I wont budge. Consider new options: Like….
Lets make cars from HD RUBBER, with steel interior frame, when they run on electricity, hydropower or turbine. Pollution solution?
Cant we just make a filter to the emissions system, one that would absorb the toxins, carbon monoxide &C chemicals. We would gather the used filters and find a way to rid ourselves of the toxins, without making ourselves inhale fossil fuels byproducts of pure pollution...just make a filter to catch the toxins, trade it in and you wont have to obsolete any vehicles. Just make it a "throw-away" filter for the emissions. ITs simple, its like a safety net for our breathing, health and efficiency, and industry.
More so, it is important that: 1) We've always done things this way, why do you want to change things? Because we have to…
2) You don't know, Rosemarie, if any of these ideas will work, and what if there are long term effects that are not readily known? (NAY SAYERS) Folks, that's not how the light bulb got invented.
3) Who takes ownership of this "AMERICAN AUTO CO." at the point when they collectively become solvent, repay their entire debt to uncle Sam, and turn a profit? They need to pay people well, match their skills to the job and continuously make education and quality improvement an everyday move. Quality is inherent in the product or it just doesn't sell. Sell based on competition. We cant compete because were too busy fighting, negotiating and protecting ourselves? POOF@!UP UP AND AWAY? Do you want the car industry in the US to go up in smoke? NO you don't.
SO, take a "humility pill" and join forces,well call it: "American Motors"and have America go to the rescue. We will fund it, but the government will appoint a special legal-trustee (to insure the costeffective use of funds lent, and as a result - we will prevail as a nation. Where is patriotism? An African Proverb says, (Paraphrase) There is nothing wrong with being ignorant, there is only shame in not wanting to do something about it.
People work hard, they want a good life, and for years the struggle has been between labor, government and management. How short sighted this was to have a "pass the buck" mentality. The roosters have come home.
People work just to get by, and they don't have time for the whole world's problems: The elevation of poor persons, the handling of the disadvantaged, and the future of our children.
Look, don't just blame whoever was in charge, I'm tired of that, you know what? EVERYBODY is tired of that. So in short, All operations would be streamlined. The operations would be merged...no duplications of efforts, ROI for a change. A new maxim: "accountability."
Its bankruptcy without socking it to the small supplier for mfg. The little business that is just getting by may actually be able to make strides, expand and compete in a world that is ruled not by competition but by compassion.
Ok, this is where I take off on a tangent:
1) Fix the cosmetic problems of our torn ego and economy. Consider the above, and consider improvisation and extemporaneous management, fair for small business, the labor force and competitive toward the world economy. Extrapolate on the above, aforementioned. Its a drawing board starting point.
2) Make those who are unemployed re-think their career. Are you working for a sector that has NO GROWTH, a tight workforce and long hours and days for a salary that isn't quite enough to buy the
standard to living our nation enjoyed mainly in the 1950's?
Anyone who wishes to get new training for a new career should be funded, without qualifying. The point that they need a job and don't have one is enough, is it not?
2) Fix the microsystem: MAIN STREET USA: Don't allow unfair competition. Fix the healthcare dilemma. (I have written about this elsewhere). Businesses don't have the cash to cover themselves, (for healthcare and benefits), let alone their employees'. Noteworthy, I still cant figure out how if and where seized funds do good for the citizenry. Revenue is revenue, and I have spoken about that elsewhere also.
3) OUR GOVT should fund the big 3. No question, we are with them. BUT we cant write a blank check to an industry that doesn't even have much dedication to its employees. When jobs go overseas, so should the person who does that job. Its my job and I go where it goes? Why not? Make employment worthwhile once more. Don't allow the tenure of an employee allow him to stop the line, throw a tantrum and effect production. We should all be responsible and not use tenure to qualify us as productive employees.
Its the revolving door. There is no room, capacities, tolerance anywhere for people who take advantage of their seniority.
Seniority is gained presumably from making a good product, making something their putting their name on, something that is more than just another day's work. I have great reverence FOR HARD WORK, DILIGENCE AND INDUSTRY. Those who have come so far, who specialize in a dying trade, who need to be represented, should be. BUT, just like teachers and policemen have to answer for their product, service and delivery form.
Its not enough to be good at what you do. You have to re-think what you do, consider how it would be done better, without reflections on your skills. I know there are tradesmen, and managers and products that require a great amount of proficiency, and we all want you to keep your job. Hey, you wouldn't be around to get tenure if you were a louse...work with your manager, he needs your help.
How to streamline?
For instance, paint department: IF ONE PLANT HOUSED ALL OUR PAINT PROFESSIONALS AND ALL VEHICLES WERE PAINTED THERE, RIGHT THERE, EFFORTLESSLY YOU WOULD SAVE. 'Just one example..
Your mission: Scramble to make a car for our new world era.
Put on your thinking caps; suggest things to make strides, and keep doing what you do well.
We love you, want to help you and this is not going to be painless. Smaller teams operate better. No one, in a factory should be stuffed up in an office, whilst others sweat it out. Make cubicles for each department inside each department. (Its everybody's office), all should be ready, willing and accommodating to each other. Consider the future of all of you collectively, then later on, when you can compete, when you are productive, then you can split up and count your pennies.
Don't forget to count your pennies. Pennies make dollars and dollars make a difference, an impact and provide for the rainy day. This is a rainy day. In fact its looking like a hurricane and a tornado all in one.
I ill stop here for now. You probably hate me because I dare to suggest that things change. I've seen better days.
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