Comments on: BMW Cuts 5,600 Jobs

By: Raskolnikov

Raskolnikov — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:59:10 +0000

Good for those workers that Starbucks and WalMart are hiring in Germany.

After all, who needs manufacturing jobs?

America doesn’t…………………right???????

By: Brendan

Brendan — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:42:58 +0000

Fix your roof when the sun is shining.

The falling dollar is really going to screw them. Their SC plant is their only safety net.

By: Redbarchetta

Redbarchetta — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:04:39 +0000

robot assembly won’t fix software bugs, electrical glitches, design flaws, or wear parts.
I realise its not going to fix those problems but it should make mechanical flaws and some design flaws easier to spot and then once addressed and then fixed it should produce a consistently reliable product, at least in theory. I keep forgetting about the huge number of electrical gremlins manf. are putting into their cars these days.

By: NICKNICK

NICKNICK — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:53:20 +0000

# Redbarchetta :
February 28th, 2008 at 11:13 am

You would think their cars would be more reliable too with so much robot assembly.

robot assembly won’t fix software bugs, electrical glitches, design flaws, or wear parts.

By: Redbarchetta

Redbarchetta — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:13:56 +0000

I wonder how this cut is going to effect their cars in the future, I mean they were hugely profitable and they are cutting the workforce. I hope these cost cuts don’t come at the expense of quality employees who would be bringing better products in the future. Hate to see what the cuts will be like when they have a year with heavy losses.

Side note: Just the other day I saw ‘Some Assembly Required’ and they were showing the assembly of the 3-series diesels. There were hardly any employees working on it, the engines were the only substantial hand assembly. The platform and body assembly looked like it was run by 10 people in the whole building. Like something out of Star Wars watching machines make machines in a huge sterile line. You would think their cars would be more reliable too with so much robot assembly.

By: guyincognito

guyincognito — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:47:25 +0000

Well it only makes sense to do this after their most profitable year ever. How will they show growth after that? Gotta keep the I-bankers happy.

Still, wouldn’t a material cost reduction, like maybe 400lbs worth in each of their vehicles save alot more?

By: danms6

danms6 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:29:50 +0000

If only they could trim the fat on their cars as well.

By: Frank Williams

Frank Williams — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:54:09 +0000

starlightmica
Bloomberg reports 8100 cuts total

Yep. That’s the 2.5k previously cut and the 5.6k they’re planning this year.

By: starlightmica (Richard Chen)

starlightmica (Richard Chen) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:50:14 +0000

Bloomberg reports 8100 cuts total:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=azLVApR0qQXU