why did for announce it?

bathurst77 · 20-07-2007, 03:49 PM

I cant help wondering why ford made the announcement regarding the engine plant so early.

Given that the plant is to stay in production for over two years, and they have Orion due next year, it seems strange that they didnt sit onthis until mid 2009 or something. For the next 2-3 years the ford will have this black cloud over them? I thought that you got bad news over quickly?

While it is good for the workers that they have as much notice as possible and goo don fordfor that, and i hope the workers do find other work, it seems to make no business sense.

Already people are saying "ford are canning the falcon" rather then jsut the engine. When the orion is released, people will think and reports may higlight that its the last of the old, that its a dinosaur with old tech rather then its the shining new. That its a dieing swan, kinda thing. It could cost them sales if people think its going to be axed.

Also over the next few years as workers find new jobs and leave the engine factory, who will replace them to build the last of the engines? What skilled person would take a job in that factory knowing that it will be closed soon? How will they get new quality workers?

sgt_doofey · 20-07-2007, 03:50 PM

Wasn't it because someone leaked it to the media?

King Nothing · 20-07-2007, 03:58 PM

I was wondering the same thing today. This has gotten HUGE media exposure. Who is going to want to buy the "old tech" falcon? I think it's going to be a very lean 2.5-3 years for ford aus.

XWGT · 20-07-2007, 04:33 PM

Simple really.

I think Ford view this as a POSITIVE change for the brand and the business. It has a painful tinge at the moment, but it gives them ample time to now concentrate on locking in a good version of the new engine, plus leverage off any announcements about enhancements or further redesigns as they happen over the next 2 years basically giving them free hits at Holden in the marketing arena with no actual product on the market

**Polyal** · 20-07-2007, 04:35 PM

Im worried about disgruntled workers, it will be interesting to watch the barra warranty claims from here on in.

Squalo · 20-07-2007, 05:07 PM

There's as much over-reaction right here on FF as there is in the media.

Simple answer is 'duty of disclosure'. As a publicly listed company, Ford is required by law to disclose anything that will have an effect on their profit and loss forecasts, budgets etc. When they do it is up to them, and usually the announcement of such decisions is timed to best suit the company (eg. just before end of financial year, when they are wrapping figures up). The timing of this seems to me to allow the aforementioned profit/loss data to have the best part of a year to absorb the information and see how the market views it - in the short term Fords share price would of course be expected to fall, but in 9 months things could be totally different and the damage inflicted by this announcement could be completely mitigated.

Simple business decision made by a business. FoMoCo is not an enthusiast's group out to make faster cars than Holden/HSV, despite what many people would like to believe.

Van D · 20-07-2007, 05:13 PM

I'm sure the workers aren't too disgruntled being given 3 years (maybe that's part of the reason they did it).

A thought I had is that maybe it's so when they actually do make the change it doesn't have such a negative impact on the new car sales straight away? Sort of like easing into it I suppose.

rodderz · 20-07-2007, 05:20 PM

Yes apparently media heard that the engine plant was shutting down, and decided to run with the story that 600 workers will be sacked.

Not sure when the planned news release was but there could be more to the story that they cant release yet, such as the new model to be manufactured here, a new R & D facility and who knows what else, maybe manufacturing parts for the new V6 or other cars? As Ford did say, a lot of the 600 workers at the engine plant could be slotted in at other locations within the company.

The Stylist · 20-07-2007, 06:04 PM

I've heard it was leaked by the same person who leaked the Orion FPV CGI's.

**Fordman1** · 20-07-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Stylist

I've heard it was leaked by the same person who leaked the Orion FPV CGI's.

I wonder if it was a fired FPV manager ?

In hindsight it has really hurt FoA. I hope they have some good news soon.

fou_bleu · 20-07-2007, 06:15 PM

We shouldn't worry, Ford'll find a way through... hopefully!

**Luke Plaizier** · 20-07-2007, 07:14 PM

So can anyone recall what it was like back in the mid 80's when the Holden 6 was canned? I'd imagine that they were flogged in the media as well at the time.

There is a lot of good news behind the announcement. It is a pity that the focus is the number of jobs lost, but I have a feeling, as do some of you here, that there are some good announcements coming up that will counteract that.

One Ford. It has both bad and good implications. We always ask for the bad news first right? So here we are.

Lukeyson

Nostalgia · 20-07-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Im worried about disgruntled workers, it will be interesting to watch the barra warranty claims from here on in.

Funny you should say that as in today's Geelong Advertiser, someone sent a text to the editor. Here it is "Hey tom gorman, after sackin us what incentives are ya going to give us to not make every motor for next 3 years a reject? Ponder that 1! Missing bolts".

LUXO_8 · 20-07-2007, 07:55 PM

im sure quality control would pick that up through production.....anyone caught doing that would be out the door immediately wouldn't you reckon?....

Nostalgia · 20-07-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

im sure quality control would pick that up through production.....anyone caught doing that would be out the door immediately wouldn't you reckon?....

Hope so. Not the best situation for workers to be in but no need for comments like this. (if it was a worker at all).

Bucknaked · 20-07-2007, 08:09 PM

I think it would dissapointing to hear that any disgruntled worker could potentially put lives risk by leaving bits out of an engine or any other part of the car in order to teach Tom Gorman a lesson. Most of Australia I'm sure will show there support in one form or another to these employees and their families, but to think that a disgruntled worker would repay that support by risking the safety of the public. I can't see it. These guys have pride in their work and I'm sure right up to the day the doors finally close, they will continue their work. And I guess they still have their bills to pay and mortage repayments to make.

Nostalgia · 20-07-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

I think it would dissapointing to hear that any disgruntled worker could potentially put lives risk by leaving bits out of an engine or any other part of the car in order to teach Tom Gorman a lesson. Most of Australia I'm sure will show there support in one form or another to these employees and their families, but to think that a disgruntled worker would repay that support by risking the safety of the public. I can't see it. These guys have pride in their work and I'm sure right up to the day the doors finally close, they will continue their work. And I guess they still have their bills to pay and mortage repayments to make.

I agree mate. When we went back to work for 3 months in April, at Coghlan Russell, morale was extremely low but never did anyone of us produce a inferior product.

BENT_8 · 20-07-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

I think it would dissapointing to hear that any disgruntled worker could potentially put lives risk by leaving bits out of an engine or any other part of the car in order to teach Tom Gorman a lesson. Most of Australia I'm sure will show there support in one form or another to these employees and their families, but to think that a disgruntled worker would repay that support by risking the safety of the public. I can't see it. These guys have pride in their work and I'm sure right up to the day the doors finally close, they will continue their work. And I guess they still have their bills to pay and mortage repayments to make.

But i have read on here never to buy a car built on Mondays or Fridays as they are dodgy yet the same quality control that would allow them to leave the assembly line can prevent disgruntled workers from 'accidently missing a few bolts' on the engine line?

Bucknaked · 20-07-2007, 08:37 PM

Wednesday cars were always the best to buy. I think that's more myth than anything. But it could be true.

SuperMono · 20-07-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

So can anyone recall what it was like back in the mid 80's when the Holden 6 was canned?

Well they had the announcement of big investment into making 4 cylinders for export back around that time as well to offset the negative side of things.

Holden always seem to play the marketing/PR game better than Ford or any other company locally.

Falc'man · 20-07-2007, 09:12 PM

And I'm not sure it was Tom's decision in the first place. I'm sure a decision like this would come from FOMOCO head office.

Anyway guys read this post I got off FAF by "Superfresa" and keep ya heads up!

Quote:

Also, on another note, I'm kinda glad this happened now. Its over and done with. People will think that as of Yesterday, 600 jobs were lost, and Ford is sourcing their engines from overseas today. In two weeks, nobody will care. Its then when ford starts pumping out the good news. We've had several strikes - the loss of Fairlane, the closure of Geelong factory, the sliding sales numbers.

Lets hope Mondeo wins Wheels car of the year as it should, and Ford makes a huge fuss out of it. Then, Orion, reviewed and seen as better than the VE. Then, Orion, car of the year. Focus to start assembling cars in australia - 600 jobs GAINED. T5 project in development.... Its all good from here guys. Almost all.

And the australian public will forget 600 jobs were "Lost" by the time it starts getting warmer. This summer will be a good one for Ford.

Stand strong guys. Through good times and bad. The hardest blow has hit. Get up, move on...

vztrt · 21-07-2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

Wednesday cars were always the best to buy. I think that's more myth than anything. But it could be true.

This is a Myth, quality of the cars depends on the amount of workers that show up to assemble the cars each day as if the guys are under the pump mistakes are made and the quality is bad.

As for the whole loss of 600 jobs, Ford will offer the package to all of the workers in the manufacturing sector. When I went through the down balance last year we had operators that were leaving the office crying because they couldn't get the package. Ford will find 600 people that will want to quit.

As for timing, I guess it was leaked (not really sure). But I find it funny that the I6 is dropped the same time orion will be ready for LHD testing.

FPV8U · 21-07-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EAadam

Funny you should say that as in today's Geelong Advertiser, someone sent a text to the editor. Here it is "Hey tom gorman, after sackin us what incentives are ya going to give us to not make every motor for next 3 years a reject? Ponder that 1! Missing bolts".

Sounds like a W@nk#r to me.

SpoolMan · 21-07-2007, 10:47 PM

closing this one, its being very much covered in the Orion Forums and most of the questions can be answered in this thread here.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=109525