Scott Osborn

An automobile is only as good as the sum of its parts, and one doesn’t need a doctorate from MIT to appreciate that an automaker held in low regard by its suppliers is doomed to experience a litany of recalls. While it’s no surprise that Ford -- far and away the industry leader for serious safety recalls -- doesn’t command the respect of its suppliers, it’s alarming the poor relationships have gone from bad to worse. The consulting arm of Plante Moran publishes a closely watched annual survey of leading automotive suppliers asking them about their relationships with six major North American automakers across eight purchasing areas. Toyota and Nissan knocked it out of the park with 30 point-gain improvements, followed by Honda with a 13-point improvement, Stellantis with a 7-point improvement, and GM with a 2-point gain. Ford suffered a 22-point decline. “The most important feedback we receive comes directly from our suppliers," Ford spokesperson Jess Enoch told the Detroit News. "We are resetting our relationships with our existing suppliers and simultaneously introducing new suppliers into our product portfolio. Our focus is on working with suppliers that can deliver best-in-class quality and cost, on time, to Ford.” Really? Here’s what Ford spokesman Ian Thibodeau – Ford has a brigade of spinmeisters – told the Detroit Free Press last year when the company’s ranking plummeted 23 points.  "We’re working more closely than ever with our suppliers to create value through the Ford plan," the automaker's overall business plan. "Together, we’re taking bold actions to improve quality and reduce costs." In terms of trust, Toyota, Honda and GM maintained their high levels of trust with suppliers; Nissan improved somewhat, Ford dropped significantly again this year, and Stellantis was unchanged in last place. Ford remains problem plagued under CEO Jim Farley, who received $27 million for his 2023 performance. Chair Bill Ford was paid $21 million. The Detroit Free Press recently revealed that Ford is working to reinspect more than a quarter-million vehicles after the company discovered flawed work and false billing by dealership technicians during the required replacement of dangerous Takata air bags. Meanwhile, the NHTSA is investigating the safety and adequacy of Ford’s remedy for 42,000 Mexican-made Bronco Sport and Escape SUVs that were recalled because a fuel leak could lead to an engine fire. Although it’s rankings improved slightly, Stellantis ranks even lower than Ford in its supplier relationships. Given that Stellantis is suing three suppliers over cost disputes, that hardly bodes well for the company’s future relationships. In addition to Nissan dramatically improving its relationships with suppliers, the company’s workers at a components distribution center in New Jersey recently voted overwhelmingly to decertify the UAW after four years of representation. https://lnkd.in/g3i6jVAM #ford #gm #stellantis #toyota #honda #nissan

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In order to provide an accurate replacement engine for you, we always need the engine serial number. Here is an example of how to find your CAT 3046 engine serial number. #CAT #DieselEngine #EngineSerialNumber #DieselSales

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Watch the pendulum moving from left to right, from right to left. A very strange thing is happening. When the pendulum is going to the right, you see it as going to the right. Ask the mechanic: he will say that when the pendulum is going to the right it is gaining momentum to go to the left; when it is going to the left it is gaining momentum to go to the right. So when you are unhappy, you are gaining momentum to be happy. When you are happy, you are gaining momentum to be unhappy. When you are loving you are gaining momentum to be hateful, and when you are hateful you are gaining momentum to be loving. Once you understand this subtle mechanism, that mind tends to be always moving towards extremes, you stop cooperating with the mind. Pessimist or optimist, both are within mind, and the real man of understanding is beyond it. To the whole way! Remember to stop in the middle. That will bring balance, that will bring centering. For the first time you will feel unperturbed, undistracted, and you will be able to accept both. Your acceptivity will become total.

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WE MUST FIGHT BACK BY ELECTING DONALD TRUMP IN NOVEMBER'S ELECTIONS! BELOW IS THE PLAN OF THE RADICAL MARXIST ELITES/GLOBALISTS: At important meetings throughout years of 2021-2024, powerful leaders from government, finance, media, and business who support the World Economic Forum’s plan for a Great Reset of capitalism launched a new “call to action” titled the “Great Narrative.” The Great Narrative campaign seeks to use the decay of traditional values throughout the West and new and future advancements in technology—including in the areas of artificial intelligence, automation, the metaverse, robotics, and more—to seize control of economies and societies in North America and Europe. The elites behind these proposals even plan to impact the way people across cultures and the planet understand what it means to be human and to have free will. According to the leaders of The Great Reset and Great Narrative movements, by the year 2030, your world will be fundamentally transformed.

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Spending time with our engineering teams at ZF North America the last couple weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into some of our most cutting-edge technologies. One that really stands out is our electro-mechanical brake (EMB) system also known as Brake-by-Wire— an innovation that’s redefining what’s possible in braking. What impresses me most about ZF's EMB system is how it completely rethinks traditional braking methods. By eliminating the hydraulic system & fluids, we’re not just enhancing safety and reliability; we’re also paving the way for more sustainable vehicle designs by improving fuel economy. The precise control offered by electric motors is a game-changer, especially for the next generation of software-defined and electric vehicles. This system isn’t just about braking — it’s part of a broader vision we have at ZF for a fully networked chassis, where steering, braking, and suspension work seamlessly together. The freedom it gives our engineers to innovate is remarkable, allowing them to design systems that are more responsive and adaptable to the needs of modern vehicles. By-wire technology like this isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a transformation. It allows us to remove mechanical limitations, offering a driving experience that’s more intuitive, safer, and ready for the future of driving. It's great to see the excitement from our team, and their commitment to innovation. You can learn more about ZF's EMB system here:  https://lnkd.in/dkxzq5ej  #ZFGroup #FutureStarter #EMB #BrakebyWire #AutomotiveNews #ZedHeads

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I got one rejection letter. In college I wanted to work in automotive aftermarket SO bad that I would spend hours pouring over photo galleries of race cars and modified cars noting every company and then looking them up to see if they might have an engineering group. I wrote letters to over a hundred of them looking for an internship. K&N Engineering was the only company to respond, saying they didn't have any internship positions. thank you, K&N. I started going door to door, shirt, tie, and resume in hand on days when I didn't have too much homework. at one company they told me they didn't need me but another company might. I went and knocked and I did a mini two week internship there. I was unpaid, but was authorized to keep all the CAD drawings I made in that time for a portfolio. I used that effectively to land the job after getting an interview with a man I met at a car show. One spring break we were staying with my in-laws in southern California and I spent a day driving all over Orange county knocking on doors. I had a great interview JE Pistons , and was tentatively offered a summer position by Chuck Johnson, PMP, CSM , though he left before I could capitalize. there's no replacement for hustle, but there's also no replacement for applying your brain to a smart search. College students, get yourselves out there. Make a plan, when that one doesn't work, adjust it or make a new one. Keep going. You aren't owed a job upon graduation, so be thoughtful, smart, and hunt for those opportunities.

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