Toyota vs Ford

[zozoka1212]

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford Motors) decided tohave a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practised long and hardto reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate thereason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of seniormanagement was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action.

Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering,while the American team had 7 people steering and 2 people rowing.

Feeling a deeper study was in order; American management hired a consultingcompany and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion.

They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, whilenot enough people were rowing.

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent anotherloss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totallyreorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 2 area steering superintendents and 1assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 2 peoplerowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the 'RowingTeam Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for therowers. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and otherequipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The pensionprogram was trimmed to 'equal the competition' and some of the resultantsavings were channeled into morale boosting programs and teamwork posters.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid-off one rower, halted developmen tof a new canoe, sold all the paddles, and canceled all capital investmentsfor new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executivesas bonuses.

The next year, try as he might, the lone designated rower was unable to evenfinish the race (having no paddles,) so he was laid off for unacceptableperformance, all canoe equipment was sold and the next year's racing teamwas out-sourced to India .

Sadly, the End.

Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty yearsmoving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make moneypaying American wages.

TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plantsinside the US . The last quarter's results:

TOYOTA makes 4 billion in profits while Ford racked up 9 billion in losses.

Ford folks are still scratching their heads, and collecting bonuses.

IF THIS WEREN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY

[marlin29311]

I like the analogy

Sadly its most likely due to the fat pensions that the UAW is getting from the 70's and such - the time around when the US auto industry didn't show any signs of being slowing or flopping into what it is today. I think the Big 3 are so blinded by that one figure it makes them impossible to see around it and look for a different solution.

Geez, even in college we talk about creative problem solving. Apparently all those huge business school degrees aren't worth diddly squat.

[zozoka1212]

Yeap, The sad part is the whole thing close to the true.

zozo

[telcoman]

I like the analogy

Sadly its most likely due to the fat pensions that the UAW is getting from the 70's and such ..............

marlin29311

Offering pensions, vacations, healthcare, & other benefits were negotiated between management and union over many years in return for accepting reduced wages.

If you want to compare fat pensions take a look at what senior management and congressional representives are getting.The fact is the American senior management of the three auto companies had no foresight, poor planning, fought safety features such as seat belts, antilock brakes, mileage standards and continued to turn out junk until millions would no longer buy their products.

That is why I drive an Infiniti with a prior Lexus and before that a Mazda 929 and three Volkswagens.

Yes blame the workers. They alone made all these poor decisions.

How come the American workers at Honda and Toyota don't screw up those cars?

Telcoman

[marlin29311]

I don't recall in my statement anywhere that I blamed the employees for the downfalls - I blamed the large pensions that were granted to them. When a company fails or is falling - it's management's fault for allowing it to get that way.

[SVTCOBRA]

Nice Zozo!! Bailing out the automakers makes me sick! Will let this guy express my opinion since this isn't in the political forum. :moon

<---have never used this one!!!

[zozoka1212]

Yeah I know. Bail out makes me throw up. I usually have ideas what I would do. But with this one have no clue. Bail out looks like money down the drain. No bail out even deeper shiit in the economy. I was reading a little few weeks back about all these. It was interesting. I can't recall the exact #'s but it was so screwed up. They compared how many dealership Toyota have in Nort America and have many the other big 3. Toyota was the 4 th on that one. All 3 have lot more dealership then Toyota. Toyota sells most. WTF.

Also they were saying the Toyota corolla(if I remeber right) is the most North American car now on the market. Had the most parts made in North America. Ford was the worst.

Telco I think the union was good up to like 30 years ago. When workers have no right at all or not much. But the way most companies and government operates I think unions are useless. And what I see they just driving companies to the ground. For example you have to keep a lazy MF because he is been with the company longer than the other guy who works his a$$ off.

zozo

I've never seen this before ----->>>>>> But I