sundevil777 94 #1 January 24, 2004 Speaking as a Honda design engineer that used to do it for Boeing, I can definitely relate to this story - so true! Automotive News article Call it the allegory of the baked potato. This comparison of how different automakers might bake a potato has been making the rounds on the industry's e-mail circuit. In some versions, the second automaker is General Motors. This version came to our attention courtesy of a Ford supplier. How a Honda employee bakes a potato: Preheat new, high-quality oven to 350 F Insert Idaho potato Go do something productive for 45 minutes Check for doneness, then remove perfectly baked potato from oven and serve How a Ford employee bakes a potato: Instruct an Idaho potato supplier to preheat the oven to 350 F Demand that the supplier show you how he turned the dial to reach 350 F, and have him come up with documentation from the oven manufacturer proving that it was calibrated properly Review documentation, then have supplier check the temperature using a sophisticated temperature probe Direct supplier to insert potato and set timer for 45 minutes Have supplier open oven to prove potato has been installed correctly, and request a free study proving that 45 minutes is the ideal time to bake a potato of this size and variability due to orientation within the oven Request a Six Sigma Study showing variable cook times for various potato sizes and orientations Check potato for doneness after 10 minutes Check potato for doneness after 11 minutes Check potato for doneness after 12 minutes Become impatient with supplier (Why is this simple potato taking so long to bake?). Demand status reports every five minutes. Check potato for doneness after 15 minutes. After 35 minutes, conclude that potato is nearing completion. Pass through Gate review reporting all Green status. Congratulate supplier, then update your boss on all the great work you've done, despite having to work with such an uncooperative supplier Remove potato from oven after 40 minutes of baking, as a cost saving without loss of function or quality vs. the original 45-minute baking time. Serve potato Wonder aloud what on earth those Japanese folks are doing over there to make such good, low-cost baked potatoes that people seem to like better than Ford potatoes.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #2 January 24, 2004 Good stuff. Indeed though, the second example is certainly fitting to GM too, especially with Bob Lutz at the helm of their product development team. So often this happens. Now, Ford is number three on the ladder....So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
