Quote:
Originally posted by marichiko
There were any number of reasons why Japan over took Detroit in the 80's - more efficient, stream-lined production lines, more competant CEO's, workers who took pride in what they did, etc, etc. However, low end wages and government subsidies were not important factors (if they factored at all) in Japan's success.
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The primary reason why Japan dominated the automotive industry is found in just so many American innovations that were stifled by anti-Americans such as Henry Ford. William Edward Deming is a classic example of stifled American innovation. Also the Honda CVCC engine that made Honda Accord #1 in America and Honda Civic #2 was called the stratefied charge engine developed in Ford in the 1960s. A technology kept out of America why Henry Ford who neither had a driver's license nor knew anything about cars. H Ford was the classic bean counter who even refused to install a $2 part that would keep Pintos from exploding (first exploding Pinto was on a Ford test track before any Pintos were ever sold - the problem known that well in advance).
There is only one reason why Japan dominated the American car industry. 85% of all problems was directly traceable to top management - especially when none were "car guys". How did Ford go from being the worlds worst manufacturer to becoming average? Among the reasons - 48 layers of Ford management was eliminated down to 5. That's right. They solved a major problem - too many bosses. Suddenly their union problems began disappearing. They fired so many white collar bean counter workers so that innovation could happen. Cost of employees, for example, was the lie promoted by spin doctors and Rush Limbaugh's predecessors. Just that too many consumers knew unions were the problem without first learning facts. Many Americans don't even know who Deming was - but know why Japan makes the world's benchmark vehicles.