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View Full Version : Mark Fields remarks to CAR Management Briefing Seminar



68fastback
08-04-2010, 05:25 PM
The core of his remarks ...I'm starting to like where he's coming from ;-)


Serious challenges.

Serious opportunities.

How we collectively answer these challenges will not only help determine the speed and size of our recovery … it also will determine our quality of life going forward. And our children’s. And our grandchildren’s.

Because no economy anywhere in the world … since the industrial revolution … has been strong without a strong manufacturing base.

That really came alive for me when I lived in the U.K. during the early part of this decade.

Banking was really starting to boom in London, and more manufacturers continued leaving the country … looking for lower-cost places to base.
Not many noticed. At the time, even fewer people cared.

London was becoming the new New York.

The party was going to last forever … and people thought the service-based economy would do just fine.

It reminded me of one of my favorite Henry Ford quotes: “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”
He was right. And we’d better listen.

When American ingenuity is only synonymous with Silly Bands and mp3 files, it’s a warning.


The media release linky... (http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33077)

Carnut
08-04-2010, 08:34 PM
Mr. Fields is absolutely right.

Reminds of a bumper sticker I saw once, "Out of work? Hungry? Eat your Toyota".

Seems appropriate.

68fastback
08-05-2010, 01:16 AM
...and this released today: Ford is already making good on -- and will exceed (by 25%) -- it's contract negotiation promise to the UAW to pull back in ('in-source') 1559 jobs to Ford US from prior outsourcing in the US and abroad:

FORD TO EXCEED PLEDGE TO BRING UAW JOBS IN HOUSE; 1,975 HOURLY JOBS COMING TO FORD PLANTS THROUGH 2012


Ford is on pace to bring approximately 1,975 UAW jobs into its U.S. plants from 2008 to 2012, exceeding its commitment in the 2007 UAW-Ford Collective Bargaining Agreement by more than 25 percent
Ford is able to bring jobs in house from suppliers inside and outside of the U.S. thanks to collaboration with the UAW to improve the competitiveness of Ford plants
Approximately 1,340 jobs already have been brought into 24 Ford facilities in the U.S. since 2008
Ford has committed to bring another 635 jobs into nine of its plants by 2012
Ford Brings Work Into its U.S. Manufacturing Plants (http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Ford_Brings_Work.pdf) (PDF)

More... (http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=33076)

Joe G
08-05-2010, 05:26 AM
That's awesome news.


See what happens when a COMPANY is allowed to make hard (but necessary) choices on how best to survive when things are bad - vs. the gov't forcing them to do something, or bailing them out so that they keep making the same bad decisions over and over?!?

Cut waste.

Re-align resources.

Level set wage/benefit packages for current conditions.



THEN, when things get better, the COMPANY can choose how best to start GROWING again - and rewarding those who helped it survive when thngs were bad (employees, suppliers, even customers) etc.

Birdman
08-05-2010, 07:37 PM
Why....Just today Obama took credit for saving Ford and the rest of the auto industry......yep he did....:redcard:

Carnut
08-05-2010, 10:01 PM
oblaba:boink:

68fastback
08-06-2010, 04:18 AM
I don't doubt it.

He's our Jackass-in-chief

JOTUS. Jackass Of The United States :rofl3: