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GM News, New Models and Market Share

8234 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 7:49 AM

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#2412 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [circlew] by bpizzuti
Dec 02, 2008 (5:51 am)
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Replying to: circlew (Dec 01, 2008 5:38 pm)

I'm good with those conditions...Mually will say "No thanks, we don't need a bailout," Ford's stock will go way up, and we'll be left with the Detroit 1 after all is said and done.
#2413 of 8234
Automakers Paid CAR for Study by kernick
Dec 02, 2008 (7:06 am)
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http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-12-01-automakers-bailout_N.htm
 
"CAR has tried to quantify that case. An automaker-commissioned study found 3 million U.S. jobs would be lost in the first year if the Detroit 3 go under."
 
What a surprise on the conclusion!
 
"Ford Chairman Bill Ford told National Public Radio that the company is negotiating with CEO Alan Mulally on a cut in pay and perks. In two years, Ford has paid CEO Alan Mulally nearly $50 million and allowed $752,000 worth of personal and family use of company planes. "We're talking to Alan about it," said Ford, who's taken no salary for four years. "We are very sensitive to public opinion."
 
GM CEO Rick Wagoner has not publicly agreed to a pay cut, although he took cuts in 2006 and 2007. His base pay returned to $2.2 million this year. His total take for 2007 was $14.4 million."
 
All executive/salaried/UAW bonuses should be returned to the corporations for the last several years, unless that company made $; should be a stipulation of any aid! This is money that we otherwise would not have had to loan them!
 
#2414 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [bpizzuti] by kernick
Dec 02, 2008 (7:16 am)
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Dec 02, 2008 5:51 am)

I agree with you. If the computer industry is hurting today, and IBM has to go bankrupt, I'm buying other computer companies' stocks, as their going to get that business. Whether IBM exists or doesn't does not affect that people want so many computers and somebody will build them. If parts of IBM are worth keeping, and parts of their technology are good, someone will buy them or run those plants. The same would happen in the auto industry if GM goes under.
 
I could see Ford wanting a higher-priced sports car; and would pick up the Corvette plant. I could also see Ford buying Jeep.
#2415 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [kernick] by steve_ HOST
Dec 02, 2008 (7:25 am)
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Replying to: kernick (Dec 02, 2008 7:16 am)

You may have a lot of cheap auto stocks to choose from as one or more go banko:
 
Automaker bailouts a global problem (Straightline)
 
#2416 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [bpizzuti] by nwng
Dec 02, 2008 (7:42 am)
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Dec 02, 2008 5:51 am)

ford really does have the potential to be the detriot 1. mually shows up in dc just to show solidarity with the other two losers, and a shot to score some dough from uncle sam. I hope he will use some of that money to give us a better focus, fiesta, and the c-max! Ford saw the writing on the wall much earlier than the other two.
#2417 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [62vetteefp] by dave8697
Dec 02, 2008 (8:16 am)
Reply

Replying to: 62vetteefp (Dec 01, 2008 6:11 pm)

Isn't South Carolina a state where the D3 have never manufactured anything? Isn't it also a state with a lot of foreign auto manufacturers, starting with BMW? I consider his opinion worthless. What problem would his recommendation solve?
#2418 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [steve_] by kernick
Dec 02, 2008 (8:28 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Dec 02, 2008 7:25 am)

Well first off most of Europe is quasi-socialist, with layoffs and plant closings being very difficult due to laws of their own making. So that explains most of European governments wanting to help out. Sweden is a Big 3 issue. Germany limited to Big 3 - Opel. The rest of the auto-industry listed is small potatoes.
 
VW, Toyota, Nissan, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, Subaru, and many other makes are doing okay, because they didn't go into this "financial storm" in bad-shape, and they understand that economies fluctuate and they need to plan for good and bad times. For instance many Toyota plants look at a slow-down as an opportunity for everyone to learn new skills, and to analyze and improve the whole plant's processes thru Kaizen events.
#2419 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [kernick] by xrunner2
Dec 02, 2008 (8:41 am)
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Replying to: kernick (Dec 02, 2008 8:28 am)

For instance many Toyota plants look at a slow-down as an opportunity for everyone to learn new skills, and to analyze and improve the whole plant's processes thru Kaizen events.
 
If I recall correctly, it was Ford that was first of Big 3 that looked at and started to adopt some of Japan's quality/process improvement methods. They had a slogan of, "Quality is Job One".
 
Believe that American manufacturers took notice of Japanese quality and techniques in late 80's. But, what is amazing about the culture of GM and its leadership is that they condoned and agreed to things like jobs banks instead of viewing downturns in sales as an opportunity to train/retrain/update skills.
#2420 of 8234
Re: I agree - YOU"RE FIRED! [xrunner2] by kernick
Dec 02, 2008 (9:33 am)
Reply

Replying to: xrunner2 (Dec 02, 2008 8:41 am)

Here's the article on what Toyota does when it comes across a slowdown in the economy, or in demand for a certain model or market-segment.
 
http://www.assemblymag.com/Articles/Blog/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_1000000000000045712- 5
 
This magazine - Assembly, is fairly good if you're into manufacturing methods and continuous improvement, like I am. They do run positive articles on many American companies, but it is mainly based on technology, and not methods. I believe most American manufacturers union agreements keep them from innovating like the non-union factories can. A non-union workplace, can change and improve faster than a union workplace, and thus has a distinct "agility" advantage.
#2421 of 8234
Improving processes at GM by xrunner2
Dec 02, 2008 (10:19 am)
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Replying to: kernick (Dec 02, 2008 9:33 am)

I believe most American manufacturers union agreements keep them from innovating like the non-union factories can. A non-union workplace, can change and improve faster than a union workplace, and thus has a distinct "agility" advantage.
 
Within last couple of weeks, saw a network tv news program where a guest showed the host the UAW contract agreement with GM - a 2,200 page document and it looked like the pages were 8.5x11. What nonsense. This would have been funny stuff on a Monty Python episode.
 
First and mid-level manager and engineers need to have flexibility and lattitude in designing, updating, implementing processes (through technology and methods) without encumbrances of union work rules. Assembly line and other workers of course should always be part of and have representation with engineering groups/teams responsible for the various processes. Wonder how this happens at GM vs Toyota.
 
Big question will be about reprogramming of UAW workers if GM goes down. Perhaps younger workers might be more open to a Toyota/Honda non-union way of doing things. Have any former hard-core UAW workers been hired by non-union Honda/Toyota plants and how are they doing.
 
But, process improvement can only go so far to help corporation bottom line if high management decides to build something that very few want such as Aztek, SSR, etc. or wages/benefits too high relative to competition.

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