[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Well, yes and no. It happened while she was CEO so ultimately she has to bear responsibility for what the people who report to her do. But would this have happened if Mark Reuss or Dan Ammann had been selected as CEO instead of Mary? Yes it would have. Because the CEO is not the one who signs off on product design or validation tests or FMEA. That's on the head of the vehicle program, as well as the chief engineer for the engine. The head of each vehicle program reports to the head of Product Development. The head of Product Development (currently Ken Morris, reporting to Mark Reuss) is that person and of course Mark reports to Mary.

Interesting side note that comes up in the video. One of the biggest "here's why we don't want EVs" issues that keeps coming up is "who wants to pay $20,000 for a battery replacement". I have replied to some of those by saying that it is similar in cost to an engine replacement and that the cost of battery replacement comes down with the improvement in cost of battery cells. So what was the documented cost of engine replacement in the video? $21,000. For an engine that has a mature and mostly capital depreciated cost structure. Interesting.

The owner mentioned in that video might be Canadian, so that $21000, is most likely Canadian dollars.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by 90503

For starters....lol

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2023/01...re-in-schools/

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/05...usive-company/

Mary Barra may not be a DEI hire herself, but gm has gone that way.

Hiring practices based solely on race, etc., is indeed discrimination. (Likely soon to be recognized as illegal and unconstitutional and the end of a "woke" creation.)

Pretty sure GM isn't hiring anyone solely on race, creed, sex or orientation. One thing GM's HR is good at is making sure they don't get sued.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by truckrglenn

How much do you get paid? Have you ever worked in an auto plant?
Did you know that when you work in an auto assembly plant you can't go to the bathroom without having someone relieve you at your position on the line?

And if that relief person is already covering someone, you have to wait. The area that you work in is usually the length of a refrigerator or two. And your stuck there for 2 to 2.5 hours at a time.

Only the newer plants in the last 25 or so years have air conditioning and proper ventilation? The plant that I worked in had a misty oily air 24/7. 1/3rd of the plant was die cast, where they poured molten metal into dies. Part of the plant was where they stamped out parts with 500 ton presses. Another section was where the plastic injection machines were. Have you ever smelt hot melted plastic? Did you know that it's toxic?

I could go on and on, but unless you've worked in an auto plant, you don't have a clue. Even today, with all of the safety features, people are getting hurt everyday.

Let's not mention that when companies open over seas or in Mexico, there is no government safety. Towns are polluted, rivers and water sources are polluted.

I'm out

Worked in a GM plant many years ago. It was never as bad as you suggest. We got multiple breaks including lunch and in the end I worked 6.5 hours and got paid for 8. And the job I did was defined by the union as a 2 man job for that station. Well, it turns out the guy I replaced went on sick leave so it ended their scheme of the one guy punching them both in and the other punching them both out as they worked 4 hours each. In my case we worked 30 minutes on an off so I really only worked a bit over 3 hours and got paid for 8. Good gig but college was the plan. It was funny when I got a cut on my finger most of the folks around me wanted me to go to medical and get leave. I just wanted a band aid.

But my last employer had an assembly plant without AC and it was brutal work for sure.

And I can assure you all assembly plants have recordables for ergonomics and other issues. But it is interesting that some of the things we know GM did for ergonomics led to them being un competitive with the competition. For example, we knew Toyota was using power ratchets in their door install stations and it was responsible for 50% of that plants recordables. GM had to use much larger tools with assist devices, had to have an inch of clearance to the IP and had to use mat thread fasteners with no hand starting in GM plants (most plants I've worked in or around have this). GM had bigger hinges with larger stand offs than Toyota simply for those reasons. And that's just one.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Pretty sure GM isn't hiring anyone solely on race, creed, sex or orientation. One thing GM's HR is good at is making sure they don't get sued.

I had 13 years in a former Bethlehem steel mill and currently almost 18 years in a power plant and I can tell you both had times where there were outside influences that suggested hiring based on race and gender. Both companies complied. Shouldn't a business be allowed to hire based on the merits and content of character of the applicants no matter the race, creed or orientation?

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by 90503

Has anyone ever rebuilt their own EV battery

Not yet but I guarantee you there will be battery refurbishment places just like there are for hybrids. For example you can get a Prius battery refurbished with a 5 year warranty for around 1500-2000. That’s not a bad price at all. It will be that much for me to replace the clutch in my SS 1LE whenever it goes out.

Not sure what a full EV battery refurbishment will cost but I’d be willing to bet it’s less than a cam/lifter replacement in an L87 which seems to be extremely common place today

[DaveC113]

Originally Posted by m6-lt1

Not yet but I guarantee you there will be battery refurbishment places just like there are for hybrids. For example you can get a Prius battery refurbished with a 5 year warranty for around 1500-2000. That’s not a bad price at all. It will be that much for me to replace the clutch in my SS 1LE whenever it goes out.

Not sure what a full EV battery refurbishment will cost but I’d be willing to bet it’s less than a cam/lifter replacement in an L87 which seems to be extremely common place today

A prius battery is around 1.5 kWh, a full EV is closer to 100 kWh.

[redcoats1976]

Originally Posted by FarmerFran

You know Dodge has the ICE Hurricane Charger coming back, right? Not maybe, it will be on lots soon.

Now all the sudden all of you are IF NO V8 IT IS TRASH!

How many here would take a Buick GN? Turbo V6?

Stoking the fire

im happy with my 2015 RS,but i would be happy with a mint GN also...i must admit im spoiled with being able to run 87 octane gas.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by DaveC113

A prius battery is around 1.5 kWh, a full EV is closer to 100 kWh.

That is true but typically the repairs are just replacing dead cells and when batteries go bad it’s just a dead cell or two.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

The owner mentioned in that video might be Canadian, so that $21000, is most likely Canadian dollars.

Let's assume it is. So still $14,500 to replace an engine that is built at the rate of 1/2 a million a year in a 2019 GM truck.

Versus $15k to replace a battery in a 2012 Model S. Still seems a bit out of whack. Both numbers include parts and labor. This is a quote a member on the Tesla forum that I follow was just quoted.

[m6-lt1]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Let's assume it is. So still $14,500 to replace an engine that is built at the rate of 1/2 a million a year in a 2019 GM truck.

Versus $15k to replace a battery in a 2012 Model S. Still seems a bit out of whack. Both numbers include parts and labor. This is a quote a member on the Tesla forum that I follow was just quoted.

With the quality control of vehicles post pandemic, If I were shopping for a new appliance to get me from a-b I’d trust an EV to get me to 150k miles over today’s trucks. Sure a Camry will definitely get me to 250k but most people buy trucks and suvs these days. See L87 and the Toyota tundra as an example. Actually whatever I buy is getting the longest extended warranty possible. Ford now uses belt driven oil pumps that require maintenance every 150k miles

[FlukeSS]

Originally Posted by Number 3

And the job I did was defined by the union as a 2 man job for that station. Well, it turns out the guy I replaced went on sick leave so it ended their scheme of the one guy punching them both in and the other punching them both out as they worked 4 hours each. In my case we worked 30 minutes on an off so I really only worked a bit over 3 hours and got paid for 8.

Funny, I worked for a Union Shop as well, and that's exactly the same situation for me.

30 minutes on 30 minutes off between 2 people for 8 hours.

For a 2 man job that only required 1 man to do. They moved me off that job into the worst job in the entire plant.

Unions are good and bad. Good when you need them, bad when you don't.

Incidentally, I was 3 minutes late for work one time, I was told to wait for 45 minutes for the Union supervisor who was also late, then suspended for a week.

They wanted me to return to work, and I told them to get ef'd. I was working back to back 16 hour shifts. On top of which they had me working with Nitric Acid, without any protective gear other than eye glasses which is a violation of OSHA regulation as far as I was aware.

You don't pull that crap with me and expect me to respect your authority much less in an unsafe environment.

And the reason they did all this to me? Because my Dad was 2nd highest in the company who was trying to get rid of the Union and people learned who I was.

Toxic work environment is an understatement to say the least. And my Dad didn't blame me for quitting.

[speedyink1]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Let's assume it is. So still $14,500 to replace an engine that is built at the rate of 1/2 a million a year in a 2019 GM truck.

Versus $15k to replace a battery in a 2012 Model S. Still seems a bit out of whack. Both numbers include parts and labor. This is a quote a member on the Tesla forum that I follow was just quoted.

Maybe engines these days are not as reliable as older vehicles...

But I still drive a 1998 Ford Ranger, original engine, no rebuild, 340,000KM.
Before I sold it a year ago, I had a 1992 Mazda MX3, no rebuilds, 270,000KM.
I was amazed at how well the Mazda ran still for its age, and my truck just goes and goes.

Can we expect an EV battery to last 30 Years without rebuild? Am I crazy for hoping my Camaro will still be running in 30 years with good maintenance

I'm not trying to stoke ICE vs EV at all, both are fine, just genuinely curious.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Worked in a GM plant many years ago. It was never as bad as you suggest. We got multiple breaks including lunch and in the end I worked 6.5 hours and got paid for 8. And the job I did was defined by the union as a 2 man job for that station. Well, it turns out the guy I replaced went on sick leave so it ended their scheme of the one guy punching them both in and the other punching them both out as they worked 4 hours each. In my case we worked 30 minutes on an off so I really only worked a bit over 3 hours and got paid for 8. Good gig but college was the plan. It was funny when I got a cut on my finger most of the folks around me wanted me to go to medical and get leave. I just wanted a band aid.

....

When I was a co-op student one of my assignments was in the engine plant. This happened...

There was a guy who for the sake of this story will be called Skip. I can't remember his real name, although I did know him during the occurrence of these events. Skip was a utility man, meaning he worked across a number of departments filling in for absentees and vacations. He pretty much knew every job in the plant. All the supervisors loved him because he knew all the jobs and had perfect attendance.

I was working in Industrial Engineering, so I spent a fair amount of time on the floor and saw Skip working in multiple capacities. One day Skip got injured on the job and needed to be taken to medical. He tried not to go, but the injury was such that they would not let him leave the property without treatment. So they get him to medical. In filling out the paperwork they asked for his employee number. Probably social security number. This was the early '80s. He couldn't remember it.

After some checking they came to find out that Skip was not an employee. Here's how that came about...

The Buick engine plant was running 7 days a week and on overtime for years. The 3.8L V6 was installed in everything and this was the only plant that made it. So the employees were banking tons of $$ but didn't have enough free time to spend it. One day an employee asked his neighbor, Skip, to punch in for him and cover his shift. He paid Skip in cash. It worked so well that other employees asked him to set up the same hookup with Skip. Over time, Skip had so many "customers" that he was in the plant everyday. Nobody (except his customers) realized he was not actually on the payroll. Lots of people were fired.

Another assignment I was in the sheet metal plant working 3rd shift to help set up a machine maintenance program. Got to know the crane operator really well. He showed me where all the "stores" were in the plant. One guy sold coffee. There was a popcorn vendor, a hot dog and sausage vendor, a candy vendor. Probably the coolest thing he showed me was the steel coil beds. He was the crane operator who would deliver the large steel coils to the stamping presses. At the start of each shift he would tell all his friends which coils were scheduled to be picked up. Then they would set up cardboard beds inside the coils at the opposite end of the inventory bank and take their naps there. It was quite a wild time in the plants.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

When I was a co-op student one of my assignments was in the engine plant. This happened...

There was a guy who for the sake of this story will be called Skip. I can't remember his real name, although I did know him during the occurrence of these events. Skip was a utility man, meaning he worked across a number of departments filling in for absentees and vacations. He pretty much knew every job in the plant. All the supervisors loved him because he knew all the jobs and had perfect attendance.

I was working in Industrial Engineering, so I spent a fair amount of time on the floor and saw Skip working in multiple capacities. One day Skip got injured on the job and needed to be taken to medical. He tried not to go, but the injury was such that they would not let him leave the property without treatment. So they get him to medical. In filling out the paperwork they asked for his employee number. Probably social security number. This was the early '80s. He couldn't remember it.

After some checking they came to find out that Skip was not an employee. Here's how that came about...

The Buick engine plant was running 7 days a week and on overtime for years. The 3.8L V6 was installed in everything and this was the only plant that made it. So the employees were banking tons of $$ but didn't have enough free time to spend it. One day an employee asked his neighbor, Skip, to punch in for him and cover his shift. He paid Skip in cash. It worked so well that other employees asked him to set up the same hookup with Skip. Over time, Skip had so many "customers" that he was in the plant everyday. Nobody (except his customers) realized he was not actually on the payroll. Lots of people were fired.

Another assignment I was in the sheet metal plant working 3rd shift to help set up a machine maintenance program. Got to know the crane operator really well. He showed me where all the "stores" were in the plant. One guy sold coffee. There was a popcorn vendor, a hot dog and sausage vendor, a candy vendor. Probably the coolest thing he showed me was the steel coil beds. He was the crane operator who would deliver the large steel coils to the stamping presses. At the start of each shift he would tell all his friends which coils were scheduled to be picked up. Then they would set up cardboard beds inside the coils at the opposite end of the inventory bank and take their naps there. It was quite a wild time in the plants.

This was worthy, thanks, James
I kinda like "Skip", feels like he is the OG of makeshift private subcontractors, haha. And hey, you said it yourself, he could do (and did) all the jobs to his supervisors' satisfaction, so no practical harm done. Until he got injured, that is.