<VV> RE: End of the line for Corvair Axle Plant

[John Kepler]

 In reply to Gary's post, and in turn Hank's post,
which both seemed for the most part, highly
overlooked.(IMHO)
Plant troubles and closings are major news and
concern. As more and more jobs head away, we create
our own demise. 


I was going to stay out of what I consider to be a "Flat-Earth"
argument....but this particular note required a response.  Did it ever occur
to those hand-wringers that the jobs in question didn't "move"....but simply
went away.....like the Dodo?

Anyone that wants to see first-hand why US auto makers are closing
plants.....arrange a tour of Daimler-Chrysler's newest assembly plant---the
Toledo-Stickney Ave. Jeep Plant!  This facility makes THREE, count'um, 3
totally different cars in the same plant, on a single line!  Not just
different sheet-metal, three totally different platforms!  There isn't a
fixed jig in the entire plant......just robots that hold the panels for the
selected vehicle in the appropriate orientation while another group of
robots weld it together!  Change the software....change the car the plant
builds....it's just that simple!  No need for a completely different plant
to produce a single model-line.....and the workers to go with it!  

We are on the leading edge of "boutique" manufacturing, where a single
facility can manufacture a multitude of items using the same tools and
equipment, just by creating different software (use a CNC Mill as an example
and expand it).

Remember....buggy-makers bitched about Henry Ford too!

John