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Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

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Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#21
post #8
post #4

"Can’t believe you’re even writing about this. My job as CEO is to focus on what’s most critical, which is currently Model 3 production. Doug, who I regard as one of the world’s most talented engineering execs, is focused on vehicle engineering." "About a year ago, I asked Doug to manage both engineering & production. He agreed that Tesla needed eng & prod better aligned, so we don’t design cars that are crazy hard t…

I can only imagine how much experience and knowledge Elon is gaining by micromanaging (a good thing) this much, compared to say how much the top executive at other vehicle manufacturers have evolved to become. Edit: Downvotes on this comment? Really? What, do you think you're able to imagine the amount of experience he's getting? Do you think the top execs at other manufacturers have the same experience and hands-on…

From personal experience I can say that I am certain that both Dieter Zetsche and Harald Krüger know more about basically every aspect of producing cars than Elon Musk ever will. Both are very much hands-on people and have 3-4 decades of experience.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#22
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can only imagine how much experience and knowledge Elon is gaining by micromanaging (a good thing) this much, compared to say how much the top executive at other vehicle manufacturers have evolved to become. Edit: Downvotes on this comment? Really? What, do you think you're able to imagine the amount of experience he's getting? Do you think the top execs at other manufacturers have the same experience and hands-on…

I don't mean to overly shill for "In Search of Excellence". (And yeah, I remember when it came out.) But I just happened to catch the bulk of an hour long interview with its author, Tom Peters, today. https://the1a.org/shows/2018-04-02/excellence-explained And the parent comment reminds me of what he had to say about MBWA -- Management By Wandering Around. It doesn't exactly fit what it appears Musk is currently doin…

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genchi_Genbutsu

Also liked from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemba#Gemba_walk

If I had to pick two tools from Lean production methods that everyone at every level of any company should use, it would be Go and See (Genchi Genbutsu) and Ask Why 5 Times.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#23
post #21
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can only imagine how much experience and knowledge Elon is gaining by micromanaging (a good thing) this much, compared to say how much the top executive at other vehicle manufacturers have evolved to become. Edit: Downvotes on this comment? Really? What, do you think you're able to imagine the amount of experience he's getting? Do you think the top execs at other manufacturers have the same experience and hands-on…

From personal experience I can say that I am certain that both Dieter Zetsche and Harald Krüger know more about basically every aspect of producing cars than Elon Musk ever will. Both are very much hands-on people and have 3-4 decades of experience.

You know all 3 of these people well? Wow.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#24
post #12
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The NHTSA faulted Tesla for the last fatal crash and its likely they will get faulted for the current. I am just shocked that after this one that they haven't suspended its use. The level of chutzpah this company operates at is very dangerous to its future but the public as well. The production issues are a whole different can of worms but the autonomous driving accidents are what the public sees. People need to unde…

They don't have to suspend Autopilot as legally they can claim they require you to be fully alert at all times. Of-course this negates all benefits of Autopilot and still let's them continue to scam people into selling Tesla's as more safer than common adaptive cruise control.

https://youtu.be/6QCF8tVqM3I

that is what happened in the recent fatality, tell me how that is even remotely acceptable regardless of disclaimers. I seriously doubt adaptive cruise control would do the same, the majority of them work by following other vehicles.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#25
post #11

I have no interest or involvment in Tesla. But from an outsider's perspective I can't help but notice that when you're this little company with no chance of making it, the press is very bulish about your company. As soon as you become large, they look up at you and can't wait to see you fall, overly negative. Who thought making cars was difficult? And mass production? And electrical cars, pushing the boundaries or ba…

His big problem is over promise. Yes, he promises big but does not deliver. The press loves to play both sides. It reports the promises and the lack of delivery on his part too. The press couldn't care either way as long as it brings in readers.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#26
post #11

I have no interest or involvment in Tesla. But from an outsider's perspective I can't help but notice that when you're this little company with no chance of making it, the press is very bulish about your company. As soon as you become large, they look up at you and can't wait to see you fall, overly negative. Who thought making cars was difficult? And mass production? And electrical cars, pushing the boundaries or ba…

There seems to be a strong anti-Tesla campaign afoot. I'm not surprised given that the entire auto industry wants them to fail and a significant portion of the auto industry (and unions, etc.) want EVs to fail in general.

Tesla seems to be having some severe growing pains, but I have learned not to count Elon or any of his ventures out. Self-landing reusable rockets were impossible too according to pretty much the entire aerospace industry. If it comes down to it Tesla could still raise quite a bit of money almost overnight, albeit probably with more dilution than they would prefer. I have little doubt that they will eventually scale up. Question is how much blood they will have to spill in the form of liquidity and market cap before they get there.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#27
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From personal experience I can say that I am certain that both Dieter Zetsche and Harald Krüger know more about basically every aspect of producing cars than Elon Musk ever will. Both are very much hands-on people and have 3-4 decades of experience.

You know all 3 of these people well? Wow.

"Zetsche joined Daimler-Benz in 1976, working in the research department. In 1981, he became Assistant Development Manager at the Vehicles business unit. He became a member of DaimlerChrysler's Board of Management in 1998 and served as the President/CEO of Chrysler Group from mid-2000 to 31 December 2005, where he was credited with a turnaround of DCX's American operations. Since 1 January 2006 he succeeded Jürgen Schrempp as Chairman of DaimlerChrysler (now Daimler AG), being succeeded in the position of Chrysler Group CEO by Thomas W. LaSorda."

and

"Mr. Krüger joined BMW in April 1992 and served as Director of its Production Strategy, Control and Planning Division. He managed BMW Group's engine plant at Hams Hall in the UK and served a number of positions within the Human Resources division. He served as the Chairman and Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. from May 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013. Mr. Krüger serves as a Director of BMW Manufacturing Co. LLC."

Yep, quite a fair bet that any of those two know far more about auto-making than Musk ever will.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#28
post #7
post #5

Learn much from overcommitting and under-delivering yet [1] Still waiting on the self-driving vaporware that thousands paid advance for... 1. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/823727035088416768 3 months maybe, 6 months definitely 23 Jan 2017

The NHTSA faulted Tesla for the last fatal crash and its likely they will get faulted for the current. I am just shocked that after this one that they haven't suspended its use. The level of chutzpah this company operates at is very dangerous to its future but the public as well. The production issues are a whole different can of worms but the autonomous driving accidents are what the public sees. People need to unde…

The same rationale that applies for allowing cars with Cruise Control? Is it impossible to have a fatal crash when you set the car on cruise control and doze off? Chances are probably exponentially higher than that of a Tesla on an Autopilot.

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#29
post #26
post #11

I have no interest or involvment in Tesla. But from an outsider's perspective I can't help but notice that when you're this little company with no chance of making it, the press is very bulish about your company. As soon as you become large, they look up at you and can't wait to see you fall, overly negative. Who thought making cars was difficult? And mass production? And electrical cars, pushing the boundaries or ba…

There seems to be a strong anti-Tesla campaign afoot. I'm not surprised given that the entire auto industry wants them to fail and a significant portion of the auto industry (and unions, etc.) want EVs to fail in general. Tesla seems to be having some severe growing pains, but I have learned not to count Elon or any of his ventures out. Self-landing reusable rockets were impossible too according to pretty much the en…

> Self-landing reusable rockets were impossible too according to pretty much the entire aerospace industry.

I guess they didn't ask the people who designed and built the Apollo lunar landing modules in the 1960s?

Re: Tesla’s Musk Takes Charge of Model 3 Production as Problems Persist

#30
post #3

Musk has tweeted: “Can’t believe you’re even writing about this. My job as CEO is to focus on what’s most critical, which is currently Model 3 production. Doug, who I regard as one of the world’s most talented engineering execs, is focused on vehicle engineering.” https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/status/98091067176319385...

He has also tweeted : "About a year ago, I asked Doug to manage both engineering & production. He agreed that Tesla needed eng & prod better aligned, so we don’t design cars that are crazy hard to build. Right now, tho, better to divide & conquer, so I’m back to sleeping at factory. Car biz is hell …"

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/980913157739765761

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