Quote:
Originally Posted by WishIhadatruck
In this case it sounds like a good move to take control of the supplier. However it sounds like you are proposing that GM start creating another Delphi. Are you nuts?  They obviously can't handle it. As a former GM/Delphi employee I really don't recommend it from what I saw on the inside or what I've seen from the outside. Just like competition is good for us consumers, supplier competition is good for the automakers. Excessive vertical integration is not a good idea if you ask me. It also makes downsizing that much bigger of a task, a task they might not be done with.
I guess this story explains why there were no hybrids available last fall. I never heard this before. Perhaps this is why they are still in short supply? |
I don't know - that Delphi mess all started when the accountants took over. Real engineers don't need a reason (like competition) to improve the product. Also - outsourcing and downsizing are what you do when your own process is broken.
Toyota / Aisin has had a monopoly for years and there has been plenty of incentive for Aisin to improve without the threat of outside competition. There's plenty of competitive intelligence in the auto industry that lets you set the exactly the same targets, with or without the threat of competition (if a few short-sighted accountants don't convince you it's not needed).
Also note that large automakers are better positioned to spend R&D money, form partnerships with universities and apply innovation from one area to a problem in another...