A Modern Parable........
A Modern Parable........
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River.
Both teams practiced long and hard to 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
the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of
senior management 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 8 people steering and 1 person
rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a
consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second
opinion.
They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat,
while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent
another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure
was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering
superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1
person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was
called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners
and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of gettin g new
paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices
and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor
performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and
canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved
was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next
year's racing team was out-sourced to India.
Sadly, The End.
Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty
years moving some of its factories out of the US , claiming they can't
make money paying American wages.
TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen
plants inside 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.
IF THIS WASN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY
A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (General Motors) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River.
Both teams practiced long and hard to 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
the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of
senior management 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 8 people steering and 1 person
rowing.
Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a
consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second
opinion.
They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat,
while not enough people were rowing.
Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent
another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure
was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering
superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.
They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1
person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was
called the 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners
and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of gettin g new
paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices
and bonuses.
The next year the Japanese won by two miles.
Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor
performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and
canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved
was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next
year's racing team was out-sourced to India.
Sadly, The End.
Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty
years moving some of its factories out of the US , claiming they can't
make money paying American wages.
TOYOTA has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen
plants inside 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.
IF THIS WASN'T SO TRUE IT MIGHT BE FUNNY
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Ain't that the D*** truth.
OT on this, Is a Jap brand automobile built in the United States still a Jap car??[?]0 -
quote:Originally posted by 788-308
Ain't that the D*** truth.
OT on this, Is a Jap brand automobile built in the United States still a Jap car??[?]
growing up in the area that Honda created its Honda of America, I have no problem buying and driving a Honda vehicle. If it wasn't for Honda the place that I grew up in would have been much different. Honda has about 16000 + employees in Ohio. Honda has caused 125,000 + more jobs for suppliers, ect. Thats a huge number of people and large about of $$$ that Honda directly or indirectly puts into Ohio. I would take an estimated guess, that the 5 counties around Honda have a better economic outlook due to this. Better schools, better houses, and a generally better environment to live in. Honda also loves to give money to schools, loves to. They have given something close to 50 mil to help build new schools, enhance sports facilities, enhance the general education environment of every school.0 -
So you are familiar with Six Sigma. 0 -
I read where the Ford Mustang has more foreign made parts than the Toyota Camary. 0 -
And for this Ford pays C.E.O's how much? 0 -
For what it's worth, Ford is now beating the pants off Toyota in quality. I read where Lincoln is also building higher quality cars.
Here's the JD Powers & Associates Press release: (PDF)
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2007088.pdf0 -
but you know that if it was a real race the GM representative would blow TOYota off the pavement every time, right [;)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 180A
For what it's worth, Ford is now beating the pants off Toyota in quality. I read where Lincoln is also building higher quality cars.
Here's the JD Powers & Associates Press release: (PDF)
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2007088.pdf
Sorry, but that means squat. Its JD Powers; they shill for any company that pays them enough. Read more about their practices here: http://www.radaronline.com/features/2006/09/jd_power_associates.php
Even if JD Powers was a legitimate organization, they are not the end-all when it comes to reviewing cars. The collective experiences of thousands of car owners (including several here on gunbroker) directly contradict JD Powers 'findings.'0 -
I sure wouldn't let RadarOnline make a judgment call for me on anything.
JD Powers & Associates is the best of the bunch in correlating and processing customer satisfaction data. They do this by tracking the number of repairs required per 100 vehicles, customer satisfaction surveys and contact customers randomly to see if they're happy with their cars. If they were the shills that that blog says, they wouldn't stay in business a year -- they've been at it since the 60's.0 -
And thanks to the republicans, our tax dollars are used to help American companies relocate over seas. 0 -
mcaso said "And thanks to the republicans, our tax dollars are used to help American companies relocate over seas."
The U.S. tax system is also responseable for American companies relocating over seas.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 180A
If they were the shills that that blog says, they wouldn't stay in business a year -- they've been at it since the 60's.
What makes you say that? They don't produce anything - they dont sell anything - all they do is hand out awards. As long as companies keep paying them money to make their silly ratings, they WILL be in business.0 -
The japs don't have to put up with the UAW[V][V] 0 -
My vehicles have UAW stickers inside the doors. I like that. 0 -
Ever notice that wherever Honda/Toyota put their plants is somewhere you DON'T want to live?
There is a reason they put the plants in crappy backwater areas.....because the people there are HAPPY to work for $8/hour, and can be more easily exploited as others.
Merc0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mercury
Ever notice that wherever Honda/Toyota put their plants is somewhere you DON'T want to live?
God is like that....Remember when he put all those freaking Indians where we did want to live...That God what a Corker!!!!0 -
quote:Originally posted by 788-308
Ain't that the D*** truth.
OT on this, Is a Jap brand automobile built in the United States still a Jap car??[?]
I would say it is more American than a car with an Anglo name built in Mexico.0 -
Toyota builds the engines for the Tundra in my hometown and assembles the Trucks in Indiana and Texas. Ford and GM have been shipping manufacturing operations, especially parts manufacturing, to Mexico as much as possible, as long as I can remember. Before I bought my Truck I drove a Ford. The engine seized up at 114,000 miles despite regular maintainence, and had brake problems that could for some reason never stayed fixed throughout its entire life. Needless to say I passed on a new F150 and walked across the street to the Toyota dealership. Got a better truck that will likely last much longer and I got a Truck that was built in the U.S. even if it does have a Japanese name. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mercury
Ever notice that wherever Honda/Toyota put their plants is somewhere you DON'T want to live?
There is a reason they put the plants in crappy backwater areas.....because the people there are HAPPY to work for $8/hour, and can be more easily exploited as others.
Merc
And? Its not like this is something new; manufacturing goes wherever the labor is cheapest.
As long as it brings job to these areas, its a good thing.0 -
Aww man..You tryin' ta hurt sumbody ole head??
Seriously, this is a mighty good post. I just wish someone besides us peons would pay attention to it.
Of course there ain't no truth in it, but as a parable, it's excellent, and it teaches an important concept.0
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