Fast Eddie
VIP MEMBER
Regarding the labour shortage issue, there are many clever people saying that this problem ain’t going away. In fact, as economies pick up again it’s going to get worse over the next 5-10 years and beyond.
It turns out that a LOT of "clever people" who said such and such, have turned out to be complete idiots.Regarding the labour shortage issue, there are many clever people saying that this problem ain’t going away. In fact, as economies pick up again it’s going to get worse over the next 5-10 years and beyond.
The "able" part is simple - MOST people are "able" to do unskilled labor.How do you make a workforce 'willing and able' and stay competitive???
A lot is made of hourly rates being the reason for not being competitive, and in some very labour intensive industries it is true. But often it is not. The real ‘end to end’ total cost includes many things that can outweigh hourly labour costs in manufacturing. I have seen this myself too many times to recall. One of the worst was a U.K. automotive company who shipped V6 cast iron blocks from Mexico to England. The total cost was an absolute bastard fortune, yet they were blinded by ‘factory piece part costs’!It's a difficult call. And no 'overnight' solution either. Undoubtedly we need 'top end', but the bottom end needs to be fit for purpose too...
How do you make a workforce 'willing and able' and stay competitive???
Agreed.The "able" part is simple - MOST people are "able" to do unskilled labor.
The "willing" part is where the problem lies. MANY are simply unwilling to work for less than they feel they "deserve", and/or are unwilling to do menial work of ANY sort.
As long as "unemployment" "benefits" exist [political content purposely omitted], the problem will continue.
Isn't Toyota the company that's reeling from dipping their toes into the electric vehicle market?A lot is made of hourly rates being the reason for not being competitive, and in some very labour intensive industries it is true. But often it is not. The real ‘end to end’ total cost includes many things that can outweigh hourly labour costs in manufacturing. I have seen this myself too many times to recall. One of the worst was a U.K. automotive company who shipped V6 cast iron blocks from Mexico to England. The total cost was an absolute bastard fortune, yet they were blinded by ‘factory piece part costs’!
Too much is made of getting cheap labour doing badly thought out processes, when what your really want is efficient, well designed processes operated by people who are willing and able to engage in the work and in workplace improvements.
It’s not fairytale stuff, you only have to look at companies like Toyota to see how it’s done, and they will actually gladly show you around their factories and tell you how to do it !
I'll have to relate my bona fides on this topic and add that I'm speaking from a family with working-age kids (2) working-age grandkids (3) and numerous working age nephews and nieces.Mind you, getting totally philosophical here, what we need is a sixteen-twenty year old in the conversation.
At fifty-sixty we can all look back on 'how things were', and perhaps conceitedly assume they've: 'gone downhill'
To a youngster 'now' is the 'normal'.. Perhaps they don't see 'problems?'
That's trueMind you, getting totally philosophical here, what we need is a sixteen-twenty year old in the conversation.
At fifty-sixty we can all look back on 'how things were', and perhaps conceitedly assume they've: 'gone downhill'
To a youngster 'now' is the 'normal'.. Perhaps they don't see 'problems?'
"But it's only a 25' tape..."You have more of a chance training a 16 year old than an 18
The first thing I ask them is to show me 1110mm on a measuring tape
You'd be surprised what they come up with
Yes, while passing on wisdom, it's good to listen to the thinking of those you are lecturing. True that many things they will tell you seem weird/wrong, but are they? For instance, many under 30 today are all about work/life balance. I wish I could go back 40-50 years and start practicing that! I talk to quite a few people born this century (that's a weird thought) and their lives are so different from mine at their age. For one thing their lives require a smart phone - I wished for a private instead of 4-party line.Mind you, getting totally philosophical here, what we need is a sixteen-twenty year old in the conversation.
At fifty-sixty we can all look back on 'how things were', and perhaps conceitedly assume they've: 'gone downhill'
To a youngster 'now' is the 'normal'.. Perhaps they don't see 'problems?'
They wouldn't know what that isVHS or Betamax??
"Work/life balance" says it all reallyYes, while passing on wisdom, it's good to listen to the thinking of those you are lecturing. True that many things they will tell you seem weird/wrong, but are they? For instance, many under 30 today are all about work/life balance. I wish I could go back 40-50 years and start practicing that! I talk to quite a few people born this century (that's a weird thought) and their lives are so different from mine at their age. For one thing their lives require a smart phone - I wished for a private instead of 4-party line.
As long as you've got two lives to even it up"Work/life balance" says it all really
Does working 2 jobs count ?
I obviously don't know - I'm 72 and still have two even though I need none"Work/life balance" says it all really
Does working 2 jobs count ?
The trouble is when you get older you can't buy that time backAs long as you've got two lives to even it up