The Harbour Report was recently released, and it reports on the overall production efficiency of carmakers. To come up with the figures, they add up the actual hours worked, including overtime (this applies to every employee in each plant, including management and union staff), and then divide that total by the number of cars and trucks produced. This is a simple explanation, but you get the idea. The US companies look horrible compared to the Japanese companies. Keep in mind that the Japanese companies employ the same US citizens as do the American companies. Are the Japanese companies really that more efficient? I was told these figures are BEFORE incentives are figured in:
PROFIT PER VEHICLE
Company 2001 2002
Daimler-Chrysler -$1,679 +$226
Ford -$1,913 +$114 (in 2000, it was +$1,486!!)
GM +$337 +$701 (not too shabby!)
Honda +$1,661 +$1,581
Nissan +$1,289 +$2,069 (WOW!!)
Toyota +$1,182 +$1,214
So what are your thoughts? These all employ Americans. The Japanese pay the same wages (in some cases higher) than the American companies. Less management? Better line efficiency? I don't have all those answers....
PROFIT PER VEHICLE
Company 2001 2002
Daimler-Chrysler -$1,679 +$226
Ford -$1,913 +$114 (in 2000, it was +$1,486!!)
GM +$337 +$701 (not too shabby!)
Honda +$1,661 +$1,581
Nissan +$1,289 +$2,069 (WOW!!)
Toyota +$1,182 +$1,214
So what are your thoughts? These all employ Americans. The Japanese pay the same wages (in some cases higher) than the American companies. Less management? Better line efficiency? I don't have all those answers....