TRAVERSE CITY ? Neil Jackson presents a fly on the wall insider report this week from the Center For Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars. Tuesday’s report looks at Ford, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, globalization, and Toyota.
Is Ford in his future? A reporter asked Phil Martens, the suddenly former president and COO of Plastech Engineered Products, Inc., whether, as rumored, he plans a return to Ford. “Some people think that’s going to happen,” the dapper Mr. Martens said, suppressing a Cheshire cat grin. “But so far, Ford hasn’t asked me. Therefore,” he continued, glancing around for an escape route, “no comment.”
Gubernatorial twofer. Why is glamorous Governor Jennifer Granholm expected to make not just one, but two appearances here on Wednesday morning? To deliver good news? Interesting move. Interesting timing.
All aboard the Globalization Express! Cosma International’s R&D director “Swamy” Kotogira told today’s World Class Manufacturing audience that his auto parts stamping firm (a subsidiary of Magna) now has 38 manufacturing and 12 engineering, research and test facilities sprinkled across Michigan, Ontario, India, Japan, Germany, Austria, France, China and Korea. The message? As the industrial globe flattens out, there’s no place left to hide. To survive, don’t go west, go global!
Want to make a global alliance work? Take a cue from Bruce Coventry, president of the Daimler/Chrysler, Hyundai, Mitsubishi Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA). Soon, the common-base, fuel-sipping 4-cylinder engines being manufactured by GEMA in Dundee, Mich., Japan and Korea will be powering up to 1.8 million econocars per year.
The secret? Lean manufacturing. Plus an educated, skilled, motivated, self-directed workforce. 71 percent of GEMA’s salaried workers have B/A or B/S degrees. Most UAW hourly workers hold college or vocational school degrees or professional certificates. Everyone goes through four weeks of basic training before progressing to the factory floor.
Wake up, Michigan students! If you want a job in Michigan’s globalizing auto industry, hit the books. Otherwise, you’ll just hit the bricks.
Play fair? You must be kidding! Toyota supplier relations executive Sigmund Huber publicly admitted today what his company really means when it claims to “deal fairly” with its suppliers. The list of possibly indictable acts includes, among others, ethical business standards, consistency, reliability, keeping open minds, negotiations based on facts. explaining decision-making rationales to suppliers, and building trust by accepting responsibility for Toyota-caused problems.
While we sit back and allow the company to get away with this, the smiling Toyota tiger continues to gnaw its way through the U.S. marketplace.
Neil Jackson is president of Madison Communications and a frequent contributor to MItechnews.Com.
