Among the criteria for job satisfaction IMHO is admiring the engineering,
manufacture and assembly of the machinery. Finely crafted cars are a joy to
work on. I wouldn't have cared where the cars were manufactured or who
manufactured them. As it turned out, I worked on German cars. They were
infinitely more interesting, pleasing and rewarding to work on. And,
because it took more than an average Joe to work on them, I made more money
than those working on American cars.

As for mechanics, most of them are parts replacers. If you asked them to
solve a problem that didn't have a part # associated with it or a diagram
for assembly, most of 'em would throw up their hands. Automobile repair
used to be much more of a craft. There is great beauty in machines and the
more the mechanic is an admirer of the craft, the closer that person would
be to my own point of view. Mr. Goodwrench probably wouldn't fit my
expectation of a craftsman.

A good marine engine mechanic is far more likely to be a craftsman.

Next point: I don't think American workers are inferior. I think they're
among the best in the world. Unfortunately, they have crappy (any Ford, GM
or Chrysler) or boring (Honda Accord) products to work on. The Americans
were the ones who came up with planned obsolescence and I wouldn't be
surprised if Detroit weren't the ones who paved the path.

Look at the fine workmanship in the aerospace industry. That's what
American workers are capable of.


"Bill Cole" wrote in message
et...
As a newbie to rec.boats, it is funny to read some of the posts and not
know
the history behind the people, but it is reasonable to assume you hold
mechanics to be a lower life form when you make the following posts:
" I used to make a living turning wrenches when I was a punk
too.
That was 25 years ago and I didn't waste my time working on boring US
trashmobiles. Had a whole dang box o' Snap On by the time I retired from
grease monkeyhood."

It sounds like you don't like mechanics or US made cars. I suppose you
are
one of those who think US workers are inferior too. Let's ship all of our
production to Germany and Japan where they can make quality products.


"jps" wrote in message
...
I was a mechanic you simp.

I still find great pride in working with my hands. I found that working
with my brain a more efficient trade for worldly resources.

I do all my own maintenance, including major overhauls. How about you?


"Put Name Here" wrote in message
news:KDQRa.89913$H17.28358@sccrnsc02...

Wow, now you are putting down people who work with their hands, you
limo
liberals are such hypocrites.

We all are learning so much in rec.boats. Harry has observed that the
problem with the US Manufacturing lies in poor management and JPS has so
wisely observed that the problem lies in product design. Our auto designers
are making cars that are too easy to repair. We need to design products so
the mechanics have to be craftsman to repair a car. This achieves two
objectives, it provides job satisfaction for the mechanic and helps to make
it more expensive to repair the car. Today, all a mechanic needs to do to
repair a car is replace a part, but if we designed the car correctly, it
would take a "craftsman" to be able to solve the problem. Think of the job
satisfaction the mechanic will receive by solving a problem that no one else
was able to solve. Think about how much money he will be able to make when
his skills are so much better than anyone else that he can charge twice the
price than the other mechanics who are not as good as he is.

jps has not only come up with a solution to help the US become more
competitive in the world marketplace, but he has also found a way to provide
increased enjoyment in the workplace.

Great job.
"jps" wrote in message
...
Among the criteria for job satisfaction IMHO is admiring the engineering,
manufacture and assembly of the machinery. Finely crafted cars are a joy
to
work on. I wouldn't have cared where the cars were manufactured or who
manufactured them. As it turned out, I worked on German cars. They were
infinitely more interesting, pleasing and rewarding to work on. And,
because it took more than an average Joe to work on them, I made more
money
than those working on American cars.

As for mechanics, most of them are parts replacers. If you asked them to
solve a problem that didn't have a part # associated with it or a diagram
for assembly, most of 'em would throw up their hands. Automobile repair
used to be much more of a craft. There is great beauty in machines and
the
more the mechanic is an admirer of the craft, the closer that person would
be to my own point of view. Mr. Goodwrench probably wouldn't fit my
expectation of a craftsman.

A good marine engine mechanic is far more likely to be a craftsman.

Next point: I don't think American workers are inferior. I think they're
among the best in the world. Unfortunately, they have crappy (any Ford,
GM
or Chrysler) or boring (Honda Accord) products to work on. The Americans
were the ones who came up with planned obsolescence and I wouldn't be
surprised if Detroit weren't the ones who paved the path.

Look at the fine workmanship in the aerospace industry. That's what
American workers are capable of.


"Bill Cole" wrote in message
et...
As a newbie to rec.boats, it is funny to read some of the posts and not
know
the history behind the people, but it is reasonable to assume you hold
mechanics to be a lower life form when you make the following posts:
" I used to make a living turning wrenches when I was a punk
too.
That was 25 years ago and I didn't waste my time working on boring US
trashmobiles. Had a whole dang box o' Snap On by the time I retired
from
grease monkeyhood."

It sounds like you don't like mechanics or US made cars. I suppose you
are
one of those who think US workers are inferior too. Let's ship all of
our
production to Germany and Japan where they can make quality products.


"jps" wrote in message
...
I was a mechanic you simp.

I still find great pride in working with my hands. I found that
working
with my brain a more efficient trade for worldly resources.

I do all my own maintenance, including major overhauls. How about
you?


"Put Name Here" wrote in message
news:KDQRa.89913$H17.28358@sccrnsc02...

Wow, now you are putting down people who work with their hands, you
limo
liberals are such hypocrites.

snicker :-)




"Bill Cole" wrote in message
news:adxSa.105978$Ph3.13245@sccrnsc04...
We all are learning so much in rec.boats. Harry has observed that the
problem with the US Manufacturing lies in poor management and JPS has so
wisely observed that the problem lies in product design. Our auto
designers
are making cars that are too easy to repair. We need to design products
so
the mechanics have to be craftsman to repair a car. This achieves two
objectives, it provides job satisfaction for the mechanic and helps to
make
it more expensive to repair the car. Today, all a mechanic needs to do
to
repair a car is replace a part, but if we designed the car correctly, it
would take a "craftsman" to be able to solve the problem. Think of the
job
satisfaction the mechanic will receive by solving a problem that no one
else
was able to solve. Think about how much money he will be able to make
when
his skills are so much better than anyone else that he can charge twice
the
price than the other mechanics who are not as good as he is.

jps has not only come up with a solution to help the US become more
competitive in the world marketplace, but he has also found a way to
provide
increased enjoyment in the workplace.

Great job.
"jps" wrote in message
...
Among the criteria for job satisfaction IMHO is admiring the
engineering,
manufacture and assembly of the machinery. Finely crafted cars are a
joy
to
work on. I wouldn't have cared where the cars were manufactured or who
manufactured them. As it turned out, I worked on German cars. They
were
infinitely more interesting, pleasing and rewarding to work on. And,
because it took more than an average Joe to work on them, I made more
money
than those working on American cars.

As for mechanics, most of them are parts replacers. If you asked them
to
solve a problem that didn't have a part # associated with it or a
diagram
for assembly, most of 'em would throw up their hands. Automobile repair
used to be much more of a craft. There is great beauty in machines and
the
more the mechanic is an admirer of the craft, the closer that person
would
be to my own point of view. Mr. Goodwrench probably wouldn't fit my
expectation of a craftsman.

A good marine engine mechanic is far more likely to be a craftsman.

Next point: I don't think American workers are inferior. I think
they're
among the best in the world. Unfortunately, they have crappy (any Ford,
GM
or Chrysler) or boring (Honda Accord) products to work on. The
Americans
were the ones who came up with planned obsolescence and I wouldn't be
surprised if Detroit weren't the ones who paved the path.

Look at the fine workmanship in the aerospace industry. That's what
American workers are capable of.


"Bill Cole" wrote in message
et...
As a newbie to rec.boats, it is funny to read some of the posts and
not
know
the history behind the people, but it is reasonable to assume you hold
mechanics to be a lower life form when you make the following posts:
" I used to make a living turning wrenches when I was a
punk
too.
That was 25 years ago and I didn't waste my time working on boring US
trashmobiles. Had a whole dang box o' Snap On by the time I retired
from
grease monkeyhood."

It sounds like you don't like mechanics or US made cars. I suppose
you
are
one of those who think US workers are inferior too. Let's ship all of
our
production to Germany and Japan where they can make quality products.


"jps" wrote in message
...
I was a mechanic you simp.

I still find great pride in working with my hands. I found that
working
with my brain a more efficient trade for worldly resources.

I do all my own maintenance, including major overhauls. How about
you?


"Put Name Here" wrote in message
news:KDQRa.89913$H17.28358@sccrnsc02...

Wow, now you are putting down people who work with their hands,
you
limo
liberals are such hypocrites.

On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 23:45:48 -0700, "jps" wrote:

Among the criteria for job satisfaction IMHO is admiring the engineering,
manufacture and assembly of the machinery. Finely crafted cars are a joy to
work on. I wouldn't have cared where the cars were manufactured or who
manufactured them. As it turned out, I worked on German cars. They were
infinitely more interesting, pleasing and rewarding to work on. And,
because it took more than an average Joe to work on them, I made more money
than those working on American cars.

As for mechanics, most of them are parts replacers. If you asked them to
solve a problem that didn't have a part # associated with it or a diagram
for assembly, most of 'em would throw up their hands. Automobile repair
used to be much more of a craft. There is great beauty in machines and the
more the mechanic is an admirer of the craft, the closer that person would
be to my own point of view. Mr. Goodwrench probably wouldn't fit my
expectation of a craftsman.

Some snipped.

jps, if the American mechanics saw your attitude, you'd be run right out of
liberaldom.

Having spent many years in Europe, during all of which I drove German
automobiles or Italian motorcycles, I had a lot of interaction with German auto
and motorcycle mechanics. It is true that becoming a 'certified' mechanic in
Germany requires a formal apprenticeship program under a master. However, it is
not true that the mechanics are all 'craftsmen'.

Auto mechanics generally make repairs by diagnosing the problem, then either
replacing a part or making an adjustment to a part. Very seldom does a mechanic
of any automobile craft a part to replace. Even German autos and Italian
motorcycles use parts with part numbers.

What makes a mechanic good is her/his ability to diagnose the problem and
efficiently repair it.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

John, are you saying that you don't have to be a German Mechanic to be a
competant mechanic? Do you expect us to believe that a US mechanic is just
as qualified as a German Mechanic?

Next thing you will be telling us is that US management is not the reason
for the US not being competitive in the world marketplace. You sound like a
radical.


"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 23:45:48 -0700, "jps" wrote:

Among the criteria for job satisfaction IMHO is admiring the engineering,
manufacture and assembly of the machinery. Finely crafted cars are a joy
to
work on. I wouldn't have cared where the cars were manufactured or who
manufactured them. As it turned out, I worked on German cars. They were
infinitely more interesting, pleasing and rewarding to work on. And,
because it took more than an average Joe to work on them, I made more
money
than those working on American cars.

As for mechanics, most of them are parts replacers. If you asked them to
solve a problem that didn't have a part # associated with it or a diagram
for assembly, most of 'em would throw up their hands. Automobile repair
used to be much more of a craft. There is great beauty in machines and
the
more the mechanic is an admirer of the craft, the closer that person
would
be to my own point of view. Mr. Goodwrench probably wouldn't fit my
expectation of a craftsman.

Some snipped.

jps, if the American mechanics saw your attitude, you'd be run right out
of
liberaldom.

Having spent many years in Europe, during all of which I drove German
automobiles or Italian motorcycles, I had a lot of interaction with German
auto
and motorcycle mechanics. It is true that becoming a 'certified' mechanic
in
Germany requires a formal apprenticeship program under a master. However,
it is
not true that the mechanics are all 'craftsmen'.

Auto mechanics generally make repairs by diagnosing the problem, then
either
replacing a part or making an adjustment to a part. Very seldom does a
mechanic
of any automobile craft a part to replace. Even German autos and Italian
motorcycles use parts with part numbers.

What makes a mechanic good is her/his ability to diagnose the problem and
efficiently repair it.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 23:45:48 -0700, "jps" wrote:

As for mechanics, most of them are parts replacers.

Automobile repair used to be much more of a craft.

What makes a mechanic good is her/his ability to diagnose the problem and
efficiently repair it.

Read the statements above. The first says "most," that doesn't mean all. I
know it's hard for you conservatives to see anything other than black and
white.

The second says "used to be" which indicates past tense.

Once you and Bill learn reading comprehension, you're welcome to come back
and argue my points.