Posted on 12/08/2008 11:54:40 AM PST by mnehring
Diede Silva dos Santos, 24, is a worker trained for 7 different skills in the Ford Camacari plant.
When I read this story, it occurred to me if I were CEO of Ford, I would be tempted to tell Washington to keep their money. I would just phase out North American operations, move to Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro and operate Ford as an international automaker without a presence in the USA. My life and the profitability and health of the comany would be stronger and simpler. Life is not that easy, but surely it has crossed the minds of senior management at Ford.
As much as the press, the public and granstanding congressmen have humiliated and harangued Detroit auto industry leaders, it should be pointed out again they sucessfully design, make and sell very popular models around the world. Ford knows how to do it right and they have proven it in Camacari, Bahia, Brazil. They could never build and operate a plant like this in the USA or Canada.
This state-of-the-art manufacturing complex in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia is not only the centerpiece of Ford’s Brazilian turnaround plan, it is also one of the most advanced automobile plants in the world. It is more automated than many of Ford’s U.S. factories, and leaner and more flexible than any other Ford facility. It can produce five different vehicle platforms at the same time and on the same line.
Ford sources said it is the sort of plant the company wants in the United States, were it not for the United Auto Workers, which has historically opposed such extensive supplier integration on the factory floor.
It is not just the facility and the robotics which make the difference:
The entire operation, including suppliers, employs about 9,000 workers. The average age is just 26, and nearly half are women.
Most have no industrial experience when they hire on at Camaçari, so each worker receives about 900 hours of training. Much of that time is spent working on a scaled-down version of the real assembly line that was built just for that purpose.
Unlike many U.S. auto plants, where workers’ responsibilities are strictly limited to specific job classifications, workers like Silva dos Santos are encouraged to learn as many different skills as possible.
Everyone — from senior managers, designers and engineers to rank-and-file line workers and maintenance staff — wears the same uniform here. The only difference is that those working for suppliers have their own corporation’s insignia embroidered on their chest instead of Ford’s Blue Oval.
More than just an egalitarian touch, the uniforms are designed to reinforce the idea that everyone is on the same team, working to achieve common success. In addition, Ford believes the uniforms encourage dialog between workers and management, because it is so hard for people to tell the difference.
How socialistic of them.
It may not pay UAW rates, but the job might have other compensations...
Like eating regularly and sleeping indoors?..........
I’m confused. Washington is forcing their (OUR!) money on Ford?
The cost of living differences are never taken into account. They could pay 1/4 UAW rates in Brasil and the person would have a higher standard of living.
The UAW would rather have Ford dead. The Dems are already in full gear to unionize transplants after Ford, GM and Chrysler die.
Ford has some very good technology. Most of their hybrid technology is all of their own stuff. Ford and Toyo shared some technology but I think Ford use all of it;s own stuff now.
The answer to the Japanese car plants in the south kicking Detroit’s tail is to force the UAW on those plants.
I’m sure that they are also building a car in Brazil that can’t be sold in the United States for reasons owing to regulations (either safety, environmental or both).
Of course.. kind of like the Ford Mondeo they sell in Europe. It is the same basic car as a Focus, but technologically, is far superior and often rates as high as a BMW 3 series. Unfortunately, they cannot sell the Mondeo in the US at the price point it would cost to pass all our regulatory requirements, so they sell the stripped down, technically deficient Focus. (BTW, the Mondeo looks better too.)
Yep, destroy those plants too. Don’t improve the Big 3s plants.. /sarc
Please stop attempting to impose logic, reason and free markets into the argument! Our governing structure will not be happy until they have transformed this once great nation into some 3rd world sh!thole and have a grand time of it while doing so!
Sorry, my bad..
Ford uses their own tech but liscensed tech from toyota to avoid a lawsuit.
In other words, this illustrates that the UAW is a fatal cancer that destroys the host.
Why do have to pay a “tax” to keep the UAW alive? It's like paying for the privilege of being infected with a disease....
Training people to do more than one job? How dare they. They want their employees to be more valuable to the company? That’s a dumb idea. The auto plants should look at the US Submarine Fleet...or the unions should. Just about everyone on a sub can do someone elses job. Maybe the unions could try and unionize the Navy? Never mind, the Navy would sink the sub with the union aboard.
not a problem ... now I’m off to the Ministry of Pie. Care to join?
p.s. Heil Bama!
“The answer to the Japanese car plants in the south kicking Detroit’s tail is to force the UAW on those plants.”
The irony of this situation is that the bulk of Michigan’s auto workers fled the south in the forties and fifties for jobs that were not available in their home states. In those days John L. Lewis and all big labor was fashionable. Unfortunately, the UAW gained the upper hand in Detroit, and held a gun to the heads of the Manufacturers until they could no longer compete. Most of those early workers are retired, and the current ones will not be able to retire. In both cases the UAW was the controlling reason, once again proving Newton’s third law.
“Never mind, the Navy would sink the sub with the union aboard.”
They sink subs now. That is their purpose. With the unions aboard, however, they might stay sunken.
Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
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