http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/top-level-management-changes-bmw

 

The most thought provoking part of this is that the potential CEO in waiting at BMW is the same age as me. Jeez.

Young, dynamic, go-getter?

Well clearly, though I thought Mark Fields was the youngest to run a car company with Mazda at 42.

Elon Musk CEO of Tesla at 43 is probably the most go ahead and has the electric personality.

Elon Musk CEO of Tesla at 43 is probably the most go ahead and has the electric personality.

Impressive chap, but far more an entrepeneur than the captains of global car manufacturers. The amount of capital, cash, employers, legal responsibility etc is not to be underestimated.

Nice that there are Ladies at the top of Citroen & Smart.

 

Not so sure how much a CEO of BMW or VW are actually making the biggest decisions, or are there as fall guys.

The German Manufacturers certainly have big issues with the new Emissions come Euro 7, that they pushed for

and then tried so hard to have relaxed.

Nice that there are Ladies at the top of Citroen & Smart.

 

Not so sure how much a CEO of BMW or VW are actually making the biggest decisions, or are there as fall guys.

The German Manufacturers certainly have big issues with the new Emissions come Euro 7, that they pushed for

and then tried so hard to have relaxed.

And therein lies the sometimes painful politics of the relationship between the CEO and the supervisory board / shareholders. It is a precarious balancing act.

Young, dynamic, go-getter?

 

 

Today's Dilbert had good timing for this thread.

On my death bed, of alI the things I have done, I will most regret having to attend meeting like that.

On my death bed, of alI the things I have done, I will most regret having to attend meeting like that.

 

If you can just use the word "Cyber" before every noun you'll be compliant with the current trends in executive double speak.

Nah. There's no value stream mapping in that business processing. All you need is a bunch of KPIs and a bucket of kaizen.

Really intelligent & educated people that must communicate with other very intelligent and educated people now just say 'So' before answering anything.

No matter what they are asked, the answer starts with 'So'.

 

the worst i have heard is the co-founder of 'Twitter' i listened on the radio for 20 minutes and every answer he gave started 'So', 

and before him and interview after interview was at the time of Flight disruption due to Volcanoes & the Spokesperson for the 'ATC Communications'.

Nah. There's no value stream mapping in that business processing. All you need is a bunch of KPIs and a bucket of kaizen.

Interesting concept. Although if you look at Toyota and the concept of 'kata' the belief is kaizen 'change for better' is now being viewed as; empowering people to be able to take initiative to drive a company forward, through creating routines which allow the correct behaviours to be made a habit.

The concept of having several kaizen events per year is changing. If this concept is used, people wait for these events; making continuous improvement and growth a specialist division. Instead it's being suggested that improvement processes or behaviours should be built into 'everything we do.'

Sorry that went off topic, it was interesting as I rarely hear anyone mention kaizen or VSM outside of my workplace. Have you had experience of kaizen if you don't mind me asking?

Worked in the auto industry for most of my career, in tier 1 sales roles into Honda, Toyota Nissan etc, and several years for a Japanese tier 1 supplier. Kaizen and genchi genbutsu are far more noble management principles than American euro bull speak, do my comments not really valid! VSM though can take up huge resources for Western companies, mainly because of poor up front planning, usually driven by the indigenous short term capital and financial pressures.

It's awesome to see someone else from a similar background. People often stare at me blankly when I mention 'Lean Manufacturing.'

Genchi Genbutsu and Gemba are key management tools used in my organisation to 'go see' or understanding what is actually happening versus what we believe is happening. Something not always fully understood. As you've probably guessed my organisation is American, we have some twists on Japanese principles such as 6S instead of 5S. Although we do use Jidoka and poka-yoke principles to help resolve problems.

You're right about poor planning causing issues with successfully VSM events. However the payoff from a good VSM can be a strong rapid continuous improvement plan designed to make the right changes, with the right resources and organisational direction. If successful this can help offset the initial capital investment of a VSM.

Double post

My wife gets annoyed when a try to operate the kitchen appliances to a fixed takt, and the fridge on a kanban system

Haha.

I try and leave Lean at work (apart from 5S in the garage).

I reckon I'd be single if I tried setting up the cupboards using kanban, or gave my girlfriend a takt time to do the washing up!

Don't know which is worst for it's technical gobbled **** buzz words or phrases etc. Automotive Industry, Aerospace, M.O.D. Electronic/ Computer Industry.

I've been involved in the 1st three for the passed 40 years (post apprenticeship) , latterly the Automotive(old and new) for 30 years and god I've seen some changes, thankfully for the better. In particularly in the Design, Manufacturing processes and the controls therein.

Hence the vast improvements in Quality and product reliability.

The use of all these wonderful tools is great but running a business is an amalgam of broad based business specific knowledge ,great leadership skills in team management /selection of technical and non-technical personnel. Developing and understanding the Market place needs and requirements and the creation for it's potential future.

Oh! Making a bloody good profit!

All this stirred together with bucket loads of Common Sense!!K.I.S.S

I hope the new appointees, outlined in this thread, can inspire us all and give us a great car enjoyment in the not to distant future.

Edited 18 January, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Don't know which is worst for it's technical gobbled **** buzz words or phrases etc. Automotive Industry, Aerospace, M.O.D. Electronic/ Computer Industry.

I've been involved in the 1st three for the passed 40 years (post apprenticeship) , latterly the Automotive(old and new) for 30 years and god I've seen some changes, thankfully for the better. In particularly in the Design, Manufacturing processes and the controls therein.

Hence the vast improvements in Quality and product reliability.

The use of all these wonderful tools is great but running a business is an amalgam of broad based business specific knowledge ,great leadership skills in team management /selection of technical and non-technical personnel. Developing and understanding the Market place needs and requirements and the creation for it's potential future.

Oh! Making a bloody good profit!

All this stirred together with bucket loads of Common Sense!!K.I.S.S

I hope the new appointees, outlined in this thread, can inspire us all and give us a great car enjoyment in the not to distant future.

If people knew just how much product design, testing and validation took place by the component supplier. The minutae of detail we get into, the amount of time negotiating specs, drawing tolerances, the cost of a sub component to tenths of a penny. It's not surprising that modern cars all feel the same, simply because they're made up from the same pool of component suppliers, who are all trying to find the most cost effective solutions.