Great Post
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
Great Post
Heres a great post by FTE Ken that i thought was just great. (especially paragraph 5)
That fella really has a head on his shoulders and I enjoy reading his debate type posts, and i thought some guys in here might also enjoy it.
( whole thread if anyone is interested https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...d-quality.html )
That fella really has a head on his shoulders and I enjoy reading his debate type posts, and i thought some guys in here might also enjoy it.
( whole thread if anyone is interested https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...d-quality.html )
Here's more information:
Auto Bailout Ignores Excessive Labor Costs
How is it that Big 3 UAW workers make 3 times the average compensation once all overhead is calculated than the average American once all overhead is calculated? Anwer: the UAW. Compare the big 3 earnings to those working for Japanese manufacturers if there is any doubt. They have plant overhead, benefits overhead, etc. pay their workers a good, fair wage yet it costs them a third as much for labor to build a vehicle.
I'm all for someone making as much as they can. During gravy times prior to the dot-com bubble bursting I could make as much as $150/hour for consulting work. For the same work after the bust it was $40/hour. Now, had I gone out looking for consulting work at $150/hour I would not have found such work. The same applies to any free market. If a wage model is unsustainable sooner or later the wages will need to come in line with the free market value of the wages, or the companies go bust. But, the UAW enters the picture, with their huge campaign contributions and politicians, rather than allowing the free market to work, ask the US taxpayers to bailout an unsustainable model. The companies need to be allowed to work in a free market, forcing consessions, or fold. The government never bailed out any of my jobs, it should not for others as well, especially since they aren't willing to make concessions.
The quality issue... say what you want about quality. The fact is Ford builds great trucks, but the way they handle service just flat out stinks. Quality isn't just about building a vehicle, its about standing behind it. You can have two vehicles, one Japanese and another American. If both have the same problem and the American manufacturer handles the service poorly while the Japanese manufacturer handles it well that's a quality issue. The customer will perceive that the Japanese vehicle is a better quality vehicle based on his/her overall experience.
JD Power quality awards are not based soley on the number of problems a customer experiences, but also on customer satisfaction. When I took my F150 to the dealership with an inch and a half of play on the differential... I got the standard "its normal" line that so many Ford owners get when there is a problem. I've love the overall fit, finish and quality of my F150. All the panels are lined up well on mine, and the truck is great. But, after my recent dealership experience can I say I'm a satisfied customer? No. I'm having to find a dealership who will handle the problem or fork over the money to fix it myself. A warranty, when not properly honored is worthless and is a poor quality indicator.
These words about quality are coming from one of the biggest Ford fans on the planet (me) -- I own a 2000 Ranger, a 2006 F150 and a 2004 F250. Plus I've had many other Fords since I first started driving in 1985. Just because I'm a Ford fan doesn't mean I should ignore problems with Ford, or its vehicles. Doing so doesn't help them, or me. Its my money to spend as I see fit, and the next vehicle I buy I'm shopping around and will do a lot of homework about quality and service before I buy. I hope Ford wins my money and my continued loyalty but they need to work for it instead of counting on blind loyalty.
It should be this way with any purchase someone makes. Just as any investment advisor will tell you to never buy stocks based on sentiment, the same applies to purchases of goods and services.
Auto Bailout Ignores Excessive Labor Costs
How is it that Big 3 UAW workers make 3 times the average compensation once all overhead is calculated than the average American once all overhead is calculated? Anwer: the UAW. Compare the big 3 earnings to those working for Japanese manufacturers if there is any doubt. They have plant overhead, benefits overhead, etc. pay their workers a good, fair wage yet it costs them a third as much for labor to build a vehicle.
I'm all for someone making as much as they can. During gravy times prior to the dot-com bubble bursting I could make as much as $150/hour for consulting work. For the same work after the bust it was $40/hour. Now, had I gone out looking for consulting work at $150/hour I would not have found such work. The same applies to any free market. If a wage model is unsustainable sooner or later the wages will need to come in line with the free market value of the wages, or the companies go bust. But, the UAW enters the picture, with their huge campaign contributions and politicians, rather than allowing the free market to work, ask the US taxpayers to bailout an unsustainable model. The companies need to be allowed to work in a free market, forcing consessions, or fold. The government never bailed out any of my jobs, it should not for others as well, especially since they aren't willing to make concessions.
The quality issue... say what you want about quality. The fact is Ford builds great trucks, but the way they handle service just flat out stinks. Quality isn't just about building a vehicle, its about standing behind it. You can have two vehicles, one Japanese and another American. If both have the same problem and the American manufacturer handles the service poorly while the Japanese manufacturer handles it well that's a quality issue. The customer will perceive that the Japanese vehicle is a better quality vehicle based on his/her overall experience.
JD Power quality awards are not based soley on the number of problems a customer experiences, but also on customer satisfaction. When I took my F150 to the dealership with an inch and a half of play on the differential... I got the standard "its normal" line that so many Ford owners get when there is a problem. I've love the overall fit, finish and quality of my F150. All the panels are lined up well on mine, and the truck is great. But, after my recent dealership experience can I say I'm a satisfied customer? No. I'm having to find a dealership who will handle the problem or fork over the money to fix it myself. A warranty, when not properly honored is worthless and is a poor quality indicator.
These words about quality are coming from one of the biggest Ford fans on the planet (me) -- I own a 2000 Ranger, a 2006 F150 and a 2004 F250. Plus I've had many other Fords since I first started driving in 1985. Just because I'm a Ford fan doesn't mean I should ignore problems with Ford, or its vehicles. Doing so doesn't help them, or me. Its my money to spend as I see fit, and the next vehicle I buy I'm shopping around and will do a lot of homework about quality and service before I buy. I hope Ford wins my money and my continued loyalty but they need to work for it instead of counting on blind loyalty.
It should be this way with any purchase someone makes. Just as any investment advisor will tell you to never buy stocks based on sentiment, the same applies to purchases of goods and services.
