Here Comes a Bankruptcy Boom

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Made (poorly) in the U.S.

Working for Toyota and watching how American carmakers work is like the difference between night and day. Here is what I've seen from the beginning of the process to the end:
(1) Toyota implements cutting-edge technology as part of their manufacturing process. America's is archaic, usually relying on much more antiquated robotics or sometimes things are still done by hand. Good decisions are not implemented.
(2) Toyota trains, retrains, and triple-trains employees to ensure quality. American carmakers...
(3) Toyota will stop the ENTIRE plant process if even ONE car doesn't fit it's standards whereby cars both before and after that initial vehicle are checked again. American carmakers push the faulty made vehicle through, even when an assembly worker says, "Wait! That car had issues!"
(4) Toyota's idea of Kaizan, or constant improvement, has made their network of dealerships, parts inventory, warehouses, and financing the best the car market has to offer. In fact, my firt car got a reduced financing rate - and this was years before I actually began working with Toyota! American car dealerships have a horrible network, with an array of parts manufacturers who combat each other, wasting money, time, and resources as well as the customer's life. Sometimes they refuse to pay a vehicle owner's claim.
(5) Toyota will not allow anybody to own their dealerships. You have to meet an ethical standard as well as a financial standard since this runs hand-in-hand with Toyota's philosophy. American carmakers would give you a dealership if you had the money, regardless of how you treated the customer. To them, the possibility for profits outweighs the consumer's experience. To decipher a good dealership from a bad one, sit in the Service Lounge (not the sales lounge) and ask people about their vehicle experiences. Try to get as much information about their vehicle's age, frequencey of repairs (or maintenance since some people don't understand the difference), and how the dealership makes them feel whenever they come in. You are going to have a higher frequency of Toyota owners praise their cars or often refer to themselves as a "Toyota Family".
(6) Toyota spends a lot of time and money on every aspect of their business - from the products they produce, the services they provide, to the overall experience. It's because of this that a 50-year-old company beat the BIG 3 (whom are equal to or greater than 100 years old each), as well as listening to consumers complaints. American carmakers look at their wallet, which is why they lose. They don't see opportunity; to them it's either "PROFIT" or "EXPENSE".
American carmakers are ideal examples of how NOT to run a business. They were once the best in the World, but this hubris made them arrogant instead of self-effacing, stubborn rather than inquisitive, and blind. They are the victims of their own demise...

Inside the Whale. of CA @ Jun 29, 2009 16:47:36 PM

It's an unfortunate position...

"Noel Cook"
I hope you own an American "made" car if you're complaining about Honda and Toyota. Sure they're Japanese companies, but they are great quality and have many safety features, they're also competitively priced. Beware that that "Made in USA" tag doesn't necessarily mean that it's made 100% in the US, actually, many things that claim they're made in the US are actaully made elsewhere, assembled in the US of foreign parts etc. They may be as little as 13% US made or US materials. You can't implement protectionism... you specialize to gain efficiency and Economies of Scale. You need to do some research into Globalization and economics in genearl.
Also, workers in Japan specifically get paid fairly well, they're no longer low cost laborers like China and India. Another point, is that Ford, GM and Chrysler ALL have sales in OTHER countries! Ford is huge in South America and China. So maybe everyone should be a protectionist and not share their knowledge you say... well wave goodbye to innovation and growth and prepare for a stagnant world.

K. L. of MA @ Feb 12, 2009 15:41:36 PM

FOREIGN CARS

I bought two chrysler they do not stand behind there product. One broke down at 30 miles was in the shop for 6 weeks off and on and at 1500 miles they said there was nothing they could do. By the way it was the brakes. I was told I would have to just put up with not having any brakes.... So I had to go to the sales people and trade it in I lost my down payment and my trade-in money plus paid full price for the new one. So if american car companies would stand behind there product more people would buy them. So now I drive a Nissan and Love it.

suzanne personett of TX @ Feb 09, 2009 14:09:41 PM

Foreign cars

"The entire reason who the Big Three to go under was allowing foreign cars to be sold in the USA. By allowing that kind of competition inside the USA borders opened up GM Chrysler and Ford to attack by outside forces."
No, NO, NO, NOOOOOO!
The real reasons are:
1- Stupid management
2- Greedy Union
3- Stupid engineers
Line thme up and shut all of them!

T Dang of MA @ Dec 31, 2008 13:52:51 PM

Foreign cars

"The entire reason who the Big Three to go under was allowing foreign cars to be sold in the USA. By allowing that kind of competition inside the USA borders opened up GM Chrysler and Ford to attack by outside forces."
No, NO, NO, NOOOOOO!
The real reasons are:
1- Stupid management
2- Greedy Union
3- Stupid engineers
Line thme up and shut all of them!

T Dang of @ Dec 31, 2008 13:52:07 PM

to Noel Cook

Noel Cook's comments scare the crap out of me! Competition is essential for capitalism to thrive.

of WA @ Dec 30, 2008 13:38:43 PM

UAW Killed GM

To the xenophobe, my Japanese car was built in KENTUCKY...by AMERICAN workers.
GM was killed by irresponsibility...concentrating on giant SUV's which are gas-guzzling dinosaurs, and make it difficult to see around.
But the real culprit for GM's demise is the UAW and governmen-mandated "pension plans." These guys are WAY overpaid ($75/hour? puh-leeze) and a lot of what they do is not quality work...

Robert of GA @ Dec 16, 2008 20:30:55 PM

iF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW TE TRUE EXPERTS: RonPaulForums !

Since April,
Ron Paul Forums and the expert economic/financial members have been cover all aspects of the Bankruptcies across America & deterioating economy.
easy to follow list!
those guys are the smartest on the internet!
Ron Paul Forums - Economics & Sound Money!
good sense of Humor too!

McLieberman of AZ @ Nov 20, 2008 15:47:32 PM

Bad Loans

I was in perfect credit standing had only a few small bills to pay off and wanted a new house. I consulted with a company who advertised be you're own contractor and save thousands. Don Isaman build max consultant told me to pick out a house plan. We found one of a house that my wife and I both loved and asked him if we could build it for 180k. He assured us that it would not be a problem. So we signed the papers and as we started building we realized that we were tragically misinformed. to make a long story short we ended up 80k more in debt than what we were anticipating. Needless to say it has been a struggle to hold on to the house with reduced business. I feel that build max and indymac bank should do more to help me out.I also think that a business like build max should be illegal.

Brian Brown of NC @ Nov 19, 2008 08:59:44 AM

GM never had a chance!

What do you call a company that designs one vehicle and sells it as a Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, Caddilac, Saturn, or a GMC?
GM has six divisions and each with its own support and management teams. Its a two year plan to consolidate six brands under one name. And had they done this in 1985 when their market share was at 37% it would have been easier to absorb most of the strategic and labor problems. As a one brand company they could have kicked Honda and Toyota and every other forign car out the US. You have to call this company "STUPID" in capitals.

Sam Morrison of HI @ Nov 15, 2008 15:56:09 PM

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Here Comes a Bankruptcy Boom

Made (poorly) in the U.S.

It's an unfortunate position...

FOREIGN CARS

Foreign cars

Foreign cars

to Noel Cook

UAW Killed GM

iF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW TE TRUE EXPERTS: RonPaulForums !

Bad Loans

GM never had a chance!

Rick Newman

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