Actually, Don, union rules put a lot of restrictions on the way the
management can run the factories.
When I read the article in Joe's link, the concept of "flexible assembly"
seems to be the factor separating the non-union and union assembly lines.
Here's an excerpt:
"The transplants have spent decades refining "flexible assembly," a process
that Detroit hasn't practiced as well. Flexibility means being able to make
several types of vehicles on one assembly line, which can cut investment 25%
for a new model and allow for efficiently altering the model mix based on
changes in demand. At Toyota's operation in Princeton, Ind., a single line
cranks out the full-size Sequoia SUV and Sienna minivan. What's novel: the
Sequoia is built on a frame, while the Sienna, as a "unibody" vehicle,
isn't. Toyota's line is the first in North America to assemble such
fundamentally different vehicles. By 2005, five of Toyota's nine U.S. lines
will produce multiple models, accounting for 71% of the automaker's North
American volume, according to analyst Michael Bruynesteyn of Prudential
Securities. Only a third of Big Three plants, with 34% of their production
volume, will be as flexible by then. Winning the flex race, Bruynesteyn
writes, "has been the key catalyst for the dramatic acceleration in
market-share transfer from the domestics to the transplants and imports
since 1998."
Here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/lz2s
"Don White" wrote in message
...
My read is that the Toyota, Honda Nissan plants are better managed.
It's time to lay off bashing the line worker and place blame where it
belongs...the overpaid jackass running the company who is only concerned
with lining his own pockets.
Joe wrote in message
...
Joe,
Isn't the Princeton, IN plant that makes Sequoia's and Tundra's
union?
Nope.
Harpo drives a non-union built Truck.
http://uaw.org/uawmade/cartruck2003.cfm
Hehehe. No wonder my Sequoia is so well-made. And just when I was
ready
to
give credit to the UAW guys...
Check this out when you get a chance-
http://tinyurl.com/lz2s