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Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

fortune.com

11–20 of 46 posts

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#11
post #3

> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley. He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years. The current system is not meeting the standard, he added. Sounds like Ford's #1 problem is failure to train its engineers, in how to design reasonably maintainable vehicles.

>> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley. >> He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years. >> The current system is not meeting the standard, he added. I fully agree with your opinion .... but this guy's quote is bizarre. What system is failing to meet the 5-years-…

> What system is failing to meet...

Not Applicable. If it somehow took an engineering degree to toast a Pop-Tart, the "failing to meet" would have nothing whatsoever to do with any education system for engineers.

EDIT: On another read...I'd say the bizarre quote is just Farley desperately trying to throw the blame somewhere, somewhere far away from where it belongs - with him and Ford.

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#12
post #3

> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley. He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years. The current system is not meeting the standard, he added. Sounds like Ford's #1 problem is failure to train its engineers, in how to design reasonably maintainable vehicles.

Many modern cars are not designed to be easily worked on. I think the priority is ease/cost of initial assembly, only. My 2010 Mercedes had headlight bulbs that died frequently. But there was no way for a human to reach in and replace them, without either some special tool or disassembling a bunch of stuff at the front of the car. Just one example. You can find many similar complaints elsewhere.

Sounds like my 2002 VW's headlights. And several of its other systems...

I replaced that VW with a Honda in 2010, and will never buy another "German Engineering" car.

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#13
post #3

> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley. He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years. The current system is not meeting the standard, he added. Sounds like Ford's #1 problem is failure to train its engineers, in how to design reasonably maintainable vehicles.

Is the way the Ford engine is installed standard in some way, or does it take 5 years for a Ford engine, 5 for a GMC, ...? Cuz if it's unique to Ford, it's a Ford problem, not a trade school problem.

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#14

> “We do not have trade schools,” he said. “We are not investing in educating a next generation of people like my grandfather who had nothing, who built a middle class life and a future for his family.” So put your money where your mouth is and open your own trade school? If someone as incompetent and corrupt as Falwell can open and operate Liberty University, then why can’t CEO Farley?

> why can’t CEO Farley? I'm guessing it involves some front-end expense - which (like all business expenses) are at odds with shareholder wishes.

> Net worth: 30 million.

He can easily finance a small trade school as a pilot project on his own, without shareholder approval.

So does he think it has ROI or no?

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> why can’t CEO Farley? I'm guessing it involves some front-end expense - which (like all business expenses) are at odds with shareholder wishes.

> Net worth: 30 million. He can easily finance a small trade school as a pilot project on his own, without shareholder approval. So does he think it has ROI or no?

Why should he do that? He isn’t the owner of Ford. What if he gets fired like his predecessor?

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#18
post #16

Because he refuses to pay them fairly.

Clearly you didn't read the article...

I did, and either the CEO doesn't know what a mechanic is, or hes spewing bullshit because mechanics are not part of the Auto Union or working in manufacturing plants that he was talking about wages going up for. Which I might add he wasn't done voluntarily, the union forced the pay raise.

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#19
post #13
post #3

> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley. He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years. The current system is not meeting the standard, he added. Sounds like Ford's #1 problem is failure to train its engineers, in how to design reasonably maintainable vehicles.

Is the way the Ford engine is installed standard in some way, or does it take 5 years for a Ford engine, 5 for a GMC, ...? Cuz if it's unique to Ford, it's a Ford problem, not a trade school problem.

Looking for book time, etc, ford doesn't seem likely to be as high complexity as similar large diesel.. I think the issue is similar to workstation repair vs PC repair.. 5 years learning this is instead of making a similar hourly rate on higher volumes of cars, risking that others are trying to close that gap too and wondering how long that skill as it is stays stably useful.

Re: Ford CEO says he has 5k open mechanic jobs with 6-figure salaries

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley. >> He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years. >> The current system is not meeting the standard, he added. I fully agree with your opinion .... but this guy's quote is bizarre. What system is failing to meet the 5-years-…

> What system is failing to meet... Not Applicable. If it somehow took an engineering degree to toast a Pop-Tart, the "failing to meet" would have nothing whatsoever to do with any education system for engineers. EDIT: On another read...I'd say the bizarre quote is just Farley desperately trying to throw the blame somewhere, somewhere far away from where it belongs - with him and Ford.

The solution is simple, right? Ford should be offering paid training and a talent pipeline, to build this talent pool that they supposedly need. Why don't they? Are they willing to spend the investment required? These are the root causes of the system failure imho, everyone (current state, US specific) wants the best talent possible at the cheapest possible cost, on demand with as little long term economic obligation or liability possible.
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