Originally posted by SquareHead:
The Big 3 built alot of junk in the 70's,80's and part of the 90's. This allowed the Japanese cars to catch up and surpass the domestics. NA cars today are quite good for the most part.
The UAW has siht kicked our auto industry over the last 25 years. The Asian car makers set up plants in States that have "right to work legislation". Unions in these states are non-existant. This makes for an unfair playing field. People who work in these plants only wish they had Union benefits. The Unions need to sign up these Automakers period. Or else our "Big 3" are finished - can't compete. Unions aren't going away, they need to get off their collective asses and level the field.




wrong - you looking at this with a myoptic eye. You fail to realize that companies like Toyota have made their fortunes on people. They value their employees and the employees love them in return. Companies like Honda and Toyota do not hire people and then beat the living tar out of their will to live/work like most american companies. They hire their people as a non-renewable resource - a lifetime hire if you will. This strategy is an integral part of the Toyota Production System (AKA Lean Manufacturing).
Toyota doesnt for the most part directly hire union workers because they cannot be integrated in the the TPS, they cant be cross trained and cannot work the needed skill intensive positions required by the system. So - they hire non-union people and yes while their pay is starting lower they get more useful and valuable benifits from a company who actually wants them around for the future.


I agree with JaTo - again once again marvelously stated. Change is slowly working its way in. Things will get better, its ust going to take time. You have to realize that the japanese have been eliminating Muda (sp?) for more years than most american car maker execs have been in the business. Change takes time.

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