> Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:30:15 -0600


> A MODERN PARABLE ?


> A Japanese company ( Toyota ) and an American company
> (Ford) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri
> RiverMissouri 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 getting 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

> The End.

> Here's something else to think about:

> Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all 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 WEREN'T TRUE, IT MIGHT BE FUNNY !


**Mods, I know it's not 2009 F-150 related but it does speak to new plants being built (semi-jokingly) off shores, so I thought it might fit here.

 

When Toyota builds a plant in the US they build it in a right to work state and pay their workers $14 per hour.

Since Ford has a contract with the UAW no matter where they build a plant in the US they have to pay $29 per hour.

That would be the major difference.

 

That could very well be true but at Least Toyota is putting Americans to work.
Hopefully the big 3 will go bankrupt and can restructure without the unions. That's the only way they will be able to survive.

I like the parable. It's almost dead on.

 

Actually, the parable is very wrong.

The Ford team has 8 rowers and 4 steering.

- 4 of the 8 rowers are rowing with 1 arm claiming ergonomics as the reason.
- 1 is getting paid not to row.
- 1 rower is on an 8 week vacation.
- The 2 remaining rowers, while working hard, keep quiet out of fear the other 5 in the boat will throw them overboard.

Behind the boat is a long iron chain dragging 16 overweight retired rowers. 12 are holding signs saying "Be American, Row American" and the other 4 are reading the directions on their free Viagra bottles. All 16 are either oblivous or just don't care about the drag on the boat they create and refuse to lose weight, or at least try swimming to lessen the burden.

The 4 normally in charge of steering and the rowing chants had their hands tide behind their back by the rowing team's coach, Mr. UAW. The boat is getting heavier as it takes on water. The teams owner, Mr. Ford, is on the shoreline is busy yelling at the Japanese team instead of his own, and claiming to the referee that the Japananese have an unfair advantage. When that fails he demands the spectators bailout the Ford team, and then push the boat so his team won't have to make serious adjustment.

 

Toyota paid their workers more than $30/hour last year with bonuses. Honda and Nissan weren't far behind. You see... the difference is they pay their employees based on profitability. Good profits, big bonuses. No profits, no bonuses... the same way the rest of America works. UAW workers averaged $$27/hour last year.

UAW Losing Pay Edge: Foreign Automakers' Bonuses Boost Wages in U.S. Plants as Detroit Car Companies Struggle: aftermarket News

 

Wow, workers making a wage they can live on, and then getting a bonus based on performance and profitability. What will those Japanese companies think of next?

 

Wow!!! Good find Ken. I didn't know that the non union Toyota workers make more money that their UAW counterparts. At least last year.

That just one more reason to let them fold and reorganize without the UAW.

 

The sad thing is an American took this quality/merit system to Japanese, they adopted it while US companies ignored it. You can't blame the company making the right moves when they win, you blame the company making the wrong moves.

My hope is the current market will force Ford and the UAW to start making the right moves.

 

That's a good point. Toyota and Honda have a great business model.

 

Ken, I liked the comparison to the rowing team. That is true in anything that the "Union" seems to sink their teeth in. Look at the Coal Mimers in Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia. They are some of the highest paid workers in the States, but everytime a contract comes around, a strike ensues, they are out to the point of bankruptcy, losing everything they worked for in the pst three years and then they have to start all over.

So, do I respect the unions? No. Do I want any part of the unions? No. Do I feel that we would be better off without them. Yes, but in their time, they did make a difference, but now they are a thing of the past and needs to be put to rest.

 

you people do realize if the big three fold and restructure wthout unions we will be paying the pensions and healthcare for the retired workers? a little thing called pension and benifit insurance.government backed! dont you think its better to get them through these hard times and make the unions back off a little bit? they have to know all there jobs are in jeopardy!

 

Platium, we all realize that regardless what is done, we will be paying for it anyway, so what is the difference?

 

dont knock unions completely,when they are out of the picture the bosses of companies get richer off the people they have working for them by intimidation,penalties and safegaurds for the worker go out the window,i know my wife was one of the workers who got stung,the government that bought the changes in learnt the hard way,they are long gone.Unions dont always do the best but they are needed and are only as good as there members allow them.

 

Sounds like the UAW could learn a lot from the Postal Unions. The letter carriers union works tirelessly for the members by blocking the PO's attempts to outsouce our jobs to "non - career" carriers. This would adversely affect your service, product availability and the costs associated with each. While at the same time, the union diligently works with the PO to increase business and improve service to our valued customers. It is ILLEGAL for us to strike.

Why can't the UAW work in a similar manner? I think the first thing that needs to happen is the ability to strike or threaten to strike should be against the law. You can't threaten to shut someone down because negotiations have stalled. A contract is in place until a new one is ratified.

The UAW didn't force the big three to rely so heavily on truck and SUV sales all the while the Japanese market was building a better ecobox. The UAW doesn't tell the company what to build, it simply looks after it's membership.

Sounds like some restructuring is needed in terms of health benefits and retirements costs. Perhaps the employees should pay a larger share. A small price to pay to keep your employer solvent.

Tim

 

I am from Norfolk VA. I have owned 5 F150's and drive a 99 now. The truck plant in Norfolk was always rated at the top. Now it sits gathering dust. Maybe toyota could retool it and put some people to work in jobs with a little more satisfaction than asking if you want fries with that.

Eric
99 F150