Topic: Ford vs Toyota

[cleveland]

I would have put this under the humor forum, but it's more sad then funny.

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

Sadly, the End.



Sad, but oh so true! 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.

[eldar]

Well a lot of it can be blamed on the contracts they have with the unions. They are poor contracts compared to what toyota probably has. Maybe the japanese need to buy ford and take over. The american companies are obviously doing something wrong and their management refuses to change because even if the company goes under, they stand to rake in billions for themselves.

[xtalon]

Excellent!

--xTalon

[nickjtc]

A very sad state of affairs for a once "great" automaker. And GM and Chrysler aren't far behind!!

[Jonesy]

I think I posted that one in the humor forum already...

[cleveland]

I think I posted that one in the humor forum already...

Sorry for the double post, I did't see it.

[ledbetter]

OK ,got to give Toyota credit,I bought a 2001 Toyota at about the same time my dad bought a Mercury Sable,at the time of writing this car has over 200,000 miles on it ,the only thing that It has coast me is gas tires and oil,my dads sable with only 175,000 miles on it has already had to replace many parts on it including the engine,I am still on the original clutch and brakes,got to say it is the best car I have ever owned and will be buying other Toyota when this when dies,which from the looks of things could be a very very  long time,gone to gusse it will be at about half a million miles be for that happens.

Ledbetter

[Sam Green Racing]

The motor industry in the UK is even worst, I don't think we have a British manufacturer mass producing cars.

Sam.

[CrisPDuk]

If you want to know where the American Auto industry will be in 10 years, have a look where it's British equivalent is now

It will be there for the same reasons, namely Management shortsightedness, Union arrogance and Employee stupidity, and unless they get their collective acts together quickly, it will be deservedly so


A slight aside, I'm currently working a two year contract in Thailand, for the hell of it, myself and a couple of mates are contemplating driving/riding back to the UK when the contract expires. There is only manufacturer's automobiles we are even considering using

[ChevelleSSLS6]

Well a lot of it can be blamed on the contracts they have with the unions. They are poor contracts compared to what toyota probably has. Maybe the japanese need to buy ford and take over. The american companies are obviously doing something wrong and their management refuses to change because even if the company goes under, they stand to rake in billions for themselves.

Just like GM, Ford has too many big dogs to be a company that can change with customer's tastes quickly as Toyota can.  I don't like Toyota's styling, but GM hasn't made much for a small car with styling I like... they all look cute and girly... I personally like the current Civic (never liked the older ones though).  Even the Impala- which I think is a nice looking car, but I HATE the front end.  It looks like GM took a Lumina front clip and modified it to fit the platform... kinda mommy mobile-ish.

Dodge has no real economy car, and with gas prices going up, I think more people will want an economy car... anything from a bare bones puddle jumper to a 'premium' econobox.

The American automobile companies need to get their acts together and start producing desireable automobiles.  The Saturn Aura, and all of GM's current batch of interiors across the board is of much better styling and quality than before, and the engines more refined and smoother than before as well.

[Rocker]

There is an ironic side to this story. Back at the end of WWII, the Japanese back was broken, their country was in ruin, and their economy came to a stand still. Some American businessmen went to Japan to help kick start their manufacturing. These are the same men that were laughed upon my big American corporations for their radical methodologies and ideas. Well, the Japanese loved their ideas. The bulk of it was concerning quality control, building more dependable products, and so forth. Now 60 years later, it's biting the US in the butt. It's funny how things work out.

I have owned 5 Honda's in a row. I would have no problem buying a Toyota either. My biggest complaint with American cars is they fall apart, literally. My grandfather, a WWII vet, has driven Fords all his life. Suddenly he is talking about buying a Tundra. Seems odd that an 82 year old man suddenly decides to change brands after 60+ years of driving. My dad has a Dodge Ram with a Turbo Diesel. The motor is great but that is about it. He has told me that radio knobs have broken off, door handles snapped, door cards come loose, door speakers fall into the door, tailgate latch brake, and a lot more. American auto makers are lacking in quality and have been for a long time.

In all my years of owning Hondas, I have never had anything brake. Granted I replaced tired, changes oil, and got tune-ups but that is it. A few years back I bought a 1990 CRX Si off of eBay with 144,000 miles. It was a fantastic car. I put about 30,000 miles on it then re-sold it on eBay for the same amount I paid for it. Now who can tell me they have done that with a similar American car?

If you really start to notice, there are not a lot of 15+ year old American cars on the road. At least not in Atlanta. I would say that 70% of all 15+ year old cars here are Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. A few years back I read that the Toyota Corolla became the #1 most selling car model in history. I can believe that because they are everywhere!

Sorry for the rambling but it all boils down to quality and American car makers just don't have it.

[dusterdude]

personally,i think its already to late for the us manufacturers

[mrbreeze]

If it were'nt for Ford MoCO....I wouldn't have a job!!!!!! (I would but wouldn't have much to do.)

[CrisPDuk]

If it were'nt for Ford MoCO....I wouldn't have a job!!!!!! (I would but wouldn't have much to do.)

By the same token, if it wasn't for a Ford I wouldn't know half as much as I do about fixing cars, by the side of the road, in the dark, when it's cold, and raining, and blowing a gale

The old girl must have something about her though, 11+ years and she's still on the drive, having seen countless Japanese & German supposed replacements* come and go


*That particular little lie is purely for MsD's consumption