On 27/12/2009 12:44 PM, Harry wrote:

If those hillbillies in japan can build that car for $20,000, it's
because they have a national health care system that spreads its cost
over the entire country, and not the manufacturer of that car.

Lets examine that in more detail. Japanese can make an auto for $20,000
in Japan and has health care. Probably the same class, style, power
would have to be at least $35,000 at GM and be less reliable, and that
doesn't include the 2009 $60,000 per auto bailout.

So what else is wrong.

First, when a Japanese company screws up, management is expected to fix
it immediately or resign immediately. No big fat pensions with
severences either, just gone. It is the only honorable thing he can do,
other than to commit suicide.

Boards and owners don't like excuses. They like solid realistic well
executed plans. Start fouling up here and your next job is cleaning the
toilets. Which is where most Japanese executives started. None of this
float to the top like scum.

Workers take individual responsibility for the health of their company,
which includes the quality and cost of their work. Customer
satisfaction. If something is wrong with their work and the customer
finds it, they will learn about it. If the employee doesn't straighten
up, the fedearation (union) might fire them first as the federation
knows screwing around will cost their membership. Or the possibility of
some after work corrections activity.

Companies in Japan make life long commitments to employees. Honor and
integrity mater. None of this hit 50 and lay you off to duck pension
costs. Hell, a manager there would find himself gone for trying that
BS. Get caught fixing the books, maybe 2 years later you quietly
disappear and your family in disgrase can't get jobs.

A whole different culture, much more defined social behavior where honor
and integrity mater more than ruthlessness and corruption.