I've had a technician here for the last several days. He came to service one of our machines and we were talking about German production systems. He had just come from a cabinet plant in Germany where he was servicing a combination machine. Two sided tenoner, edgebander, bore & insert dowels. There were two of these machines linked. The second one did the other two sides. running speed turned out 42 fully machined, banded, doweled parts per minute. No hand work needed. I'm impressed! Maybe too easily. There's always a better way!
From contributor Pa
It would be nice to be able to sell something that required those sort of production times. I guess maybe Steelcase?
From contributor Jo
The labor cost is so high in Germany that they have no choice but to invent machines to do that sort of thing. It's not because they necessarily want to build machines like that; it's a matter of minimizing the labor component.
John
From contributor Ad
You sound like a GM line worker from 1985 talking about the Japanese.
They only work smarter because...(you can fill in the blank).
The Germans also invest in equipment and are highly innovative. They have the best apprenticeship programs in the world. They value the trades and invest heavily in them.
From contributor Al
When we toured shops in Germany 17 years ago the 8-10 man shops had 2-3 million in equipment and were very automated.
They also had limited colors they sold and standards they built to which the consumer accepted. At that time to buy a home I think they had to put about 40% down.
Business loans were simpler to get if they kept people employed and were lower or no down.
A-
From contributor Pa
I did a job a few weeks ago for an engineer that worked at a can manufacturing co. They made thousands of cans per minute.
My accountant does the taxes for a guy who did a 15 year machinist apprenticeship in Germany. He oversees a manufacturing company where he gets more out of the machines than the manufacturer specs that he will be able to. His salary is more than most of us gross.
Sometimes I have this passing thought that there is a lot to know about making stuff.
