Which Microchips Are Delaying Deliveries

[85Mustangman]

Union employees aren't going to want to do the chips, As long as the plant is furloughed they are still getting 75% of their pay and if they are current union members and paid up on their dues then the union will pay the missing 25%.

Exactly my point, there is simply nothing in it for them. Even the after they are recalled, UAW will not agree to do the retrofit work, its outside of the job description as laid out in the collective agreement and the membership is quite unwilling to take on out-of-scope work without proper compensation (read; more money)...

Not sure i disagree with them either, the UAW didn't do anything to cause this mess. Unfortunately for us, they will also fight Ford on the contracting out as well, viewing it as the thin edge of the wedge. the UAW position will be to hire more UAW workers.

That's why i say, there is no elegant way out of this mess for Ford, they should never have "half-built" the trucks at all.

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[Redskins5]

Exactly my point, there is simply nothing in it for them. Even the after they are recalled, UAW will not agree to do the retrofit work, its outside of the job description as laid out in the collective agreement and the membership is quite unwilling to take on out-of-scope work without proper compensation (read; more money)...

Not sure i disagree with them either, the UAW didn't do anything to cause this mess. Unfortunately for us, they will also fight Ford on the contracting out as well, viewing it as the thin edge of the wedge. the UAW position will be to hire more UAW workers.

That's why i say, there is no elegant way out of this mess for Ford, they should never have "half-built" the trucks at all.

a-men

 

[85Mustangman]

I'm sure that the manufacturers of the chips are making sure the car manufacturers in their countries are taken care of first.

Unfortunately, the whole issue isn't as simple as it sounds. there may be several companies in several countries involved... take the windshield wipers for example.

Company 1
The 'chips' are grown in one of these multi billion dollar foundries we have heard about. When the wafer is cut up, the chips are set into IC's (which may/ or may not be part of the same operation).

Company 2
The IC's are then incorporated into PCB's along with other electronic components and connectors. For automotive and industrial applications this is often hermetically sealed in an epoxy or similar casing. Usually there is no access to the IC, unlike the motherboard of your PC where you can upgrade RAM etc.

Company 3
The PCB's are then added to a mechanical elements to make the wiper subcomponent.

THIS is the part Ford Buys.

Then they have to retrofit this into the truck...in this case there is a significant amount of work involved in the installation into an otherwise built truck... (ask your local auto mechanic what the man-hour standard is for Re-Re of such a component). It is not simply a matter of "popping" in chips as misguided media reports may suggest.

But yes, i agree there are probably some cozy deals in far east/ Japanese countries.

 

[85Mustangman]

I think it’s beyond all that.

Have you ever seen what happens to a vehicle that sits out in the weather parked untouched for weeks/months?

Had they parked these trucks in vacant warehouses, they probably could have gotten away with going back, installing the parts, give them a quick wash, maybe a jump start and put them on the train.

I dread flying home from a two-week stint knowing what my car is going to look like parked outdoors at the off-site Airport lot.

I can’t imagine what it would look like after two MONTHS! And you know those brand new batteries are toast. They’re NOT “deep cycle” they’re designed to remain topped off.

There’s a good reason they’re shipping trucks ordered in March while trucks ordered months before that, half built and parked are not.

Not to mention the inevitable rodent problem.

All great points UNIKRN, I'm consoled by the thought that mine is not started yet, so *won't likely* succumb to the same fate.???

I'm with you, why on earth would they not have leased some warehouse space? Cant they not foresee the future warranty liabilities in the first few years of ownership. there is going to be a steady stream of patrons flocking to teh service departments with warranty claims. its going to make the warehouse rental look pale.

I'm in Oakville Ontario where they make the Edge... every square foot of vacant parking lot at the plant AND Fords Corporate Canadian office seems to be filled with them. course that could also be that the Edge is not on the best sellers list.

and good point about the mice and rats... I know a contractor locally who has had his Tundra rewired about 4 times because of the little pricks eating the harnesses in our cold Canadian winters.

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