GM to cut 30,000 jobs

Reuters, Bloomberg | 21 Nov, 2005 | Self

[globalheater]

... and who's gonna buy that cars if you don't pay the guys their share ?

and what kind of guys do you get to produce them if you don't cough up ?

GM aswell as Ford measured their executives on how effective they where on gaining leadership in costs per unit - so they outplaced and downsized and knew no other means and still don't get wise.

Ford indeed produces europes most cheapest car in germany (not in poland, latvia or czechia)

But Toyota and Nissan aswell as BMW who pay their folks
a hell of a lot of money are those who prevail.

Ford even moved the 'Transit' production (typical white van - established brand in europe) from Belgium to Turkey to safe some more bucks (some say to reward turkey for their 'assistence' during iraq invasion and to punish Belgium opposing it) - now they get what they pay - these guys can't read the instructions in english or german, they can't be trained in using robotics and so on.

They are permanently down to under 100 cars a day (coming from 600 - 700) not because they can sell them but because they can't produce the quality they dare selling (and they are quite daring).

Stupidity

[globalheater]

it's a ford mondeo

[globalheater]

the purchase of sonar technology, optics and precision tubes for barrels are based on technological leadership not costleadership.

This stuff is sold with a huge profit - if you can produce the quality needed.

I don't want to hurt your patriotism but germany and japan produce far more patents per citizen then the US.

But it must be a nice feeling to be the one who can buy it all - maybe that's a relief.

[globalheater]

the reason is not unions but import barriers to the US and Europe (they are building a plant in Europe, too investing 1 Billion)

you may only sell if you produce here - same as in china.

[sam_paine]

GM aswell as Ford measured their executives on how effective they where on gaining leadership in costs per unit - so they outplaced and downsized and knew no other means and still don't get wise....Stupidity.

Well, sink or swim, right?

This "outsource and downsize" thing should be blamed on two things: stockholders, and consumers.

Stockholders demand maximum quarterly return (no long term interest) and consumers demand immediate gratification (lowest price first, reliability etc later.)

I would like to blame this on business schools teaching all this crap, but I think they're doing what the "world consumer" says they want. When that drives everyone out of business here, then maybe unemployed consumers will appreciate long-term quality....but will shareholders ever care??