Thread regarding Ford layoffs

Wondering how the next few years in the auto industry will pan out around here....

With Ford and GM making cuts, the next few years looks to be a shaky ride in SE Michigan. When things like this happen in my experience, alot starts to get overlooked and fall off the table in big companies like this.

There are just too many projects to be managed and condensed down this quickly. So, what will these products be like in a few years with regards to quality, design, etc?

Also what do you think the economical impact will be to Detroit? I've already heard of many tooling shops shutting their doors already in anticipation of a recession... Your thoughts?

by Zed The Engineer
| 844 views | | 4 replies (last May 20, 2019) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+Z9Dn7aa
Comment! It's anonymous!

4 replies (most recent on top)

You look at any city that relied on steel production and that will be the epitome of SE Michigan's future. All these buzz words like AI, software, EV, etc. do not leave enough seats at the table for the common person to participate in or even afford for that matter. So where will that leave the area? Well people if you are smart, go to where it is warm, because if you are going to miserable you might as well have nice weather. I have lived in Michigan my entire life and truthfully if my number comes up tomorrow, I will have no problem leaving it in the rear view mirror. Do not let this state be your anchor, vote with your footsteps. I mean, I often dread the prospect of moving on, then i think of my grandparents. They left everything behind in a different country, so moving to a different state is nothing compared to what they endured. Plus I know English and they did not.

by Anonymous
| | Reply
Post ID: @htd+Z9Dn7aa

Zed, we are happy that the timing of the next downturn coincides happily with your planned retirement; however, many other employees will not be so lucky. I agree with you that as a nation and as an economy, the US will survive. Indeed, the collective of American business will figure out the optimal ways of change, but the workforce and industry's social contract with it (if any remains at all) will not continue in a way that will be recognizable to most working-age adults. Technology is getting smarter and cheaper; hence, the large chunk of white-collar managers that Ford has said must go - jobs that previously were considered beyond the pale for layoffs.

Predictably, the auto industry is a prime candidate for further inroads made by automation, and now, artificial intelligence (AI) is nibbling around the edges of some white collar job duties. Actually, 10% reduction of this type of workforce is quite a sizable "nibble". We will see this trend percolate throughout many industries in the next few years.

Exciting time to be alive. Actually, with all of this pending excitement, who needs espresso?

by Scooter
| | Reply
Post ID: @cmb+Z9Dn7aa

Wife has a Bolt and loves it. Give it 20 years, all cars will be like it. 80% less parts. 2000% more software. That's where the effort will go...

by Anonymous
| | Reply
Post ID: @qsn+Z9Dn7aa

"Zed The Engineer" - I am 62 and will be retiring soon, spent my entire career in the industry. I see massive changes coming up but I am also confident that we'll be able to figure out how to adjust and change.

It'll be VERY hard and there will be causalities along the way but I really do hope we'll adjust.

I wishing nothing but the best to all of you!

by Anonymous
| | Reply
Post ID: @hlb+Z9Dn7aa

Post a reply

: