10% hike on MSRP across all Ford models?

[4WD]

Yep.
I am pretty sure my company, and boss, never gave me a raise because they thought I was cute.
And as soon as I wasn't needed, out the door I went! "Don't let the door hit ya..."

Basically, companies pay the going rate. The labor market has always been this way, at least in for-profit companies.
If Henry could have paid $2 per hour with satisfactory results, he would have.

Supply vs Demand. In this case, the employees are providing the supply and employers are providing the demand.
As a given wage increases, supply will follow. More people want that job.

And nobody wants unhappy workers as productivity suffers. And every employer knows unwanted turnover hurts.

My boss got a new Aston Martin - told him it was stunning. He said listen son, keep working hard, work smart, and long hours - and I will get another one next year

 

[JeffKeryk]

If my boss doubles my pay he can move in full time if he likes.

Once my boss, a hard nosed gal from Vietnam, called me into her office. I was scared. I was sure it wasn't my looks... Thought I was a goner...
Turns out my corporate forecast database app was recognized by the C-Staff, even though it was still technically in development. She handed me my 1st big stock option.

Sometimes you get lucky.

 

[UncleDave]

Once my boss, a hard nosed gal from Vietnam, called me into her office. I was scared. I was sure it wasn't my looks... Thought I was a goner...
Turns out my corporate forecast database app was recognized by the C-Staff, even though it was still technically in development. She handed me my 1st big stock option.

Sometimes you get lucky.

Sometimes when you hold yourself to a high standard good work stands out.

I'm willing to bet that had a lot to do with how lucky you were.

Let me guess - the harder you work the luckier you were ?

 

[JeffKeryk]

Sometimes when you hold yourself to a high standard good work stands out.

I'm willing to bet that had a lot to do with how lucky you were.

Let me guess - the harder you work the luckier you were ?

"I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." T. Jefferson

My app, in support of Semiconductor Manufactring Equipment, was bottoms up forecast, from sales reps to C-Level commit to Mfg commit.
Bookings, Shipments, Formal Customer Acceptance, Revenue Recognition (SAB 101 and 104), Cust Sat (Service Contracts, Billable Service Spare Parts). Bank Management (Treasury), Production Control (Operations Bill of Labor). Currency management for overseas including Deferred Revenue. Full Cost Accounting, both forecast and actual.

Forecast = Actuals for Closed Fiscal Periods + Forecast within the Relevant Range.
If you had access to 2 regions or 2 BUs, you were an insider.

Reports to the SEC, with the CEO and CFO on the line. Our President, Dr. Hanley, named it, "Fort Knox, because that's where the gold is."

 

[Pablo]

Enough about you, would like to see my artwork?

 

[UncleDave]

Enough about you, would like to see my artwork?

I'm always interested in the work or hobbies of interesting guys.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Enough about you, would like to see my artwork?

A well performing database is a work of art... What ya got?

 

[Snagglefoot]

I suspect it can't be helped, Steel and Aluminum are going through the roof.

This is correct. There is a 25 % tariff on imported steel and aluminum that went on a few days ago. The USA does not produce much of its own aluminum. Its not political. Its just a fact.

 

[fdcg27]

Cost increases due to tariff increases impact all players. Those who are most agile in playing or negotiating loopholes will be ahead of those who are less so.
Let's not forget that tariffs are a tax on the importing nation, not the exporter.
Also, even if we can really bring back American manufacturing in any significant way, do we really want to increase demand for blue collar workers in an era when we don't have enough of them to begin with for largely demographic reasons that are only eased by allowing large scale immigration? I see some internal contradictions here.

 

[cptbarkey]

Enough about you, would like to see my artwork?

I would like to see more of your wood.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

If tariffs really happen look for another 25%

 

[GON]

Cost increases due to tariff increases impact all players. Those who are most agile in playing or negotiating loopholes will be ahead of those who are less so.
Let's not forget that tariffs are a tax on the importing nation, not the exporter.
Also, even if we can really bring back American manufacturing in any significant way, do we really want to increase demand for blue collar workers in an era when we don't have enough of them to begin with for largely demographic reasons that are only eased by allowing large scale immigration? I see some internal contradictions here.

If the U.S. doesn't bring manufacturing back, along with exporting more than we import, history points out the U.S. will financially fail as a nation.

International royalties from music videos, software licensing, movies, and sporting events produced in the U.S. will not replace exporting of goods. Agriculture exports are beneficial, but not enough to offset manufacturing.

Your point of people not wanting to work in a factory is a very good and relevant point.

 

[fdcg27]

OTOH, I had an economics professor way back when who said something to the effect of "Why not just let the Japanese make all of our durable goods while we all just sit back puffing on our big cigars?"
It isn't the Japanese anymore, but it's worked pretty well thus far.
Why do we want to bring back dirty, polluting and worker injuring heavy industry?
We can export intellectual property, as we do, which has more value added than manufacturing anyway.

 

[4WD]

If the U.S. doesn't bring manufacturing back, along with exporting more than we import, history points out the U.S. will financially fail as a nation.

International royalties from music videos, software licensing, movies, and sporting events produced in the U.S. will not replace exporting of goods. Agriculture exports are beneficial, but not enough to offset manufacturing.

Your point of people not wanting to work in a factory is a very good and relevant point.

The factory jobs is another chicken or the egg debate - no, wait … that might get them stirred up over eggs again

 

[GON]

The factory jobs is another chicken or the egg debate - no, wait … that might get them stirred up over eggs again

I thought I had solved the coloring easter egg situation with an alternate event, installing a led light in plastic easter eggs, hide the plastic lighted eggs, turn off the lights, and have the kids do an easter egg hunt in the dark.

Then I realized my alternate solution to painting easter eggs in no way solves the reported edible egg shortage problem......

 

[4WD]

I thought I had solved the coloring easter egg with an alternate event, installing a led light in plastic easter eggs, hide the plastic lighted eggs, turn off the lights, and have the kids do an easter egg hunt in the dark.

Then I realized my alternate solution to painting easter eggs in no way solves the reported edible egg shortage problem......

Well, our shelves have plenty and not freaking out over $4.22/dozen. In other news - those guys who are always hunting down demons might want to learn more about BlackRock …

 

[PWMDMD]

Did they take the buy out? From my reading a number of Ford dealers didn't want to invest in ev's so Ford corporate offered a buyout. GM did the same thing with a number of Cadillac dealers.

I found a small blurb in the local paper - owner simply said the past 10 years had been challenging and that at 74 he was ready to retire.

 

[GON]

OTOH, I had an economics professor way back when who said something to the effect of "Why not just let the Japanese make all of our durable goods while we all just sit back puffing on our big cigars?"
It isn't the Japanese anymore, but it's worked pretty well thus far.
Why do we want to bring back dirty, polluting and worker injuring heavy industry?
We can export intellectual property, as we do, which has more value added than manufacturing anyway.

Is there is a reason he was a professor and not a successful business person? I was a professor at a top 30 rated institution for four years--- I won't say any more.

just sit back puffing on our big cigars?"
I guess it works as long as an importing nation can print money, and the nation exporting the manufacture goods accepts IOUs. At some point, history clearly shows that nation importing more than it exports will financially fail.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Your point of people not wanting to work in a factory is a very good and relevant point.

That is unfortunate. I have been in almost every kind of factory you can be. There are definitely ones I would not want to work in, but for the most part, there a pretty good gig.

Lets start with there are no backbreaking factory jobs anymore. No one lifts stuff. Hurt backs are expensive. Most operators - the lowest level of actual production person in most US factories, monitor one or more machines. They may load or unload bins, usually small parts. They might cycle or restart machinery if there is an issue. Mostly there simply keeping an eye on the machine to make sure its operating as intended, and not making bad parts, so they may inspect or measure things throughout there shift.

If its assembly, they may install certain small parts, but the majority of those jobs have been replaced by robots, or at minimum operator controlled assists. For example if a bolt needs to be installed manually - an operator may start the bolt, then move a suspended impact gun, preset to proper torque, into position and actuate it.

Operators in steel mills sit in air conditioned operator rooms, and mostly watch screens and HMI's. There are windows they can look out at the actual process, but unless something goes wrong, the hardest part is staying awake. The factories know this, so they cycle operators pretty regularly - they switch spots often. The upside is everyone is cross trained and no one does the same job for too long at once.

Long gone are burly men moving heavy stuff around. In fact I would say in the more technical plants the majority of operators are often women. Not saying women can't lift heavy things, but the point being they no longer need to.

If I had a child that didn't know what they wanted to do after high school - I would tell them to go get a factory job. They will start at $18-20 an hour and have to work nights, but in a year they will likely be moved up and making closer to $30. Or they can apply around and move to the next factory. Factories have a hard time finding staff. I am told there biggest issue is finding someone that can pass the drug test, show up on time, and show up sober.

 

[GON]

That is unfortunate. I have been in almost every kind of factory you can be. There are definitely ones I would not want to work in, but for the most part, there a pretty good gig.

Lets start with there are no backbreaking factory jobs anymore. No one lifts stuff. Hurt backs are expensive. Most operators - the lowest level of actual production person in most US factories, monitor one or more machines. They may load or unload bins, usually small parts. They might cycle or restart machinery if there is an issue. Mostly there simply keeping an eye on the machine to make sure its operating as intended, and not making bad parts, so they may inspect or measure things throughout there shift.

If its assembly, they may install certain small parts, but the majority of those jobs have been replaced by robots, or at minimum operator controlled assists. For example if a bolt needs to be installed manually - an operator may start the bolt, then move a suspended impact gun, preset to proper torque, into position and actuate it.

Operators in steel mills sit in air conditioned operator rooms, and mostly watch screens and HMI's. There are windows they can look out at the actual process, but unless something goes wrong, the hardest part is staying awake. The factories know this, so they cycle operators pretty regularly - they switch spots often. The upside is everyone is cross trained and no one does the same job for too long at once.

Long gone are burly men moving heavy stuff around. In fact I would say in the more technical plants the majority of operators are often women. Not saying women can't lift heavy things, but the point being they no longer need to.

If I had a child that didn't know what they wanted to do after high school - I would tell them to go get a factory job. They will start at $18-20 an hour and have to work nights, but in a year they will likely be moved up and making closer to $30. Or they can apply around and move to the next factory. Factories have a hard time finding staff. I am told there biggest issue is finding someone that can pass the drug test, show up on time, and show up sober.

Good post.

I have worked full time since my early teens, and have never been unemployed a day in my life. Yet, I have never worked in a factory so have nothing to contribute about factory work. Earlier in this thread someone posted about working in a Ford factory in the early 1900s, and that the work was hard. I also reflected on "Rosie Riveter", that when people have a mission for a common good, people will go above and beyond.

In the meantime- a little "shift work"