Automotive work force cut backs -food for thought .

[renovation]

with all the man power being and been layed off the last couple of years. and the auto companys (Chrysler,Ford,General Motors, Nissan and others ) running the plants with hundreds of less people.
why is it there still able to produce the same quality product.

i for one would think these auto's would start showing up with the same problems they did in the 60's and 70's loose or missing bolts and parts. recalls every time you turn around do to design faults.
but im not seeing this happen. you think the auto plants were just blotted with extra staff. not really needed to build these cars. maybe the auto Company's are just starting to really get the work out of the employees. they have had on there payroll for all these years. and the old ones that had it easy were the lucky ones for 20 plus years of employment.

personal i worked in the a auto plant for 5 months till was layed off in 1969. and from what i seen first hand. working at the plant I was at. working outside for the private sector. those people were clueless as to how easy they had it.

[attgig]

wouldn't they be producing less cars? so, quota per day is lower. so, less people = more time spent on a single car. more time = more careful work. no?

I would think that when factories are trying to produce at breakneck speeds and rushing things out that they would have more problems.

[cheapie]

they start laying off shifts first. that doesn't mean a reduction in hands "touching" a car as it gets built.

[johnnymk]

Well, they were making lots of pickup trucks and SUVs. And now Americans don't "need" them. It takes time to retool to make smaller cars and trucks.

So yes, the layoffs are warranted.

[VTGreg]

These places are all union shops meaning they are terribly inefficient. They've cut the chaff but should be able to maintain productivity levels.

There will be a tipping point where quality slips if layoffs continue but I'm sure they had plenty of wiggle room.