Toyota to cut auto parts costs by 30%, reports say
12-23-09, 11:54 AM
#31
Lexus Test Driver
As far as I know, systems like drive by wire and brake by wire have redundancy, but with the main ECU, when it fails, it just goes to limp mode, no redundant ECU. I am sure the rest of ECU for the smaller systems are the same way.
12-23-09, 12:44 PM
#32
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toyota must be very careful, because pressuring suppliers into lowering costs can mean in many cases that those suppliers have no choice but to cut corners, which may not show up in year one of vehicle ownership, but years 2-5 as things break.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
12-23-09, 12:53 PM
#33
toyota must be very careful, because pressuring suppliers into lowering costs can mean in many cases that those suppliers have no choice but to cut corners, which may not show up in year one of vehicle ownership, but years 2-5 as things break.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
12-23-09, 01:04 PM
#34
toyota must be very careful, because pressuring suppliers into lowering costs can mean in many cases that those suppliers have no choice but to cut corners, which may not show up in year one of vehicle ownership, but years 2-5 as things break.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
12-23-09, 01:05 PM
#35
thats why ecus dont fail often.... it makes no sense assuming that anything new that they do will fail. But i am sure there will be failsafes in the ecus, these are not stupid people, there is whole reason that entire japanese industry is working on it together.
12-23-09, 04:10 PM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
There goes Toyota quality. You cant produce a parts for 30-40% less and expect the same quality and reliability. I hope they can keep it together
12-23-09, 05:45 PM
#38
The Japanese company has set more aggressive cost-cutting targets under a program called RRCI, which combines two cost-reduction initiatives currently under way, the person said. RRCI stands for "Ryohin (quality), Renka (low-price), Costs and Innovation."
12-23-09, 05:51 PM
#39
The plan involves seeking cost reductions on a wide range of auto parts — including those for the undercarriage, engine and electrical devices — for all new models.
12-23-09, 06:58 PM
#40
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12-23-09, 07:31 PM
#41
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12-23-09, 07:46 PM
#42
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The only concern here is the appearance and feel of the material cost cutting but even here Toyota may just be suggesting new more efficient manufacturing processes that yield the same quality for less money. This happens all the time. Most things get better while either staying the same price or falling.
One of Apple's first home computers were $20,000 (in today's dollars). And it did nothing in comparison to a cheap cell phone. Now you can get an iPhone for $99 that does everything under the sun.
Take my Yaris as another example. El cheapo interior materials that will last longer than wood and leather filled luxury interiors. Why? The plastic doesn't wear the way the natural materials do in luxury cars. So here's a case where "cheap" is more reliable. There's an owner who has around 400,000 trouble free miles on his '07 Yaris (been posted here). Low cost can still be bullet proof.
12-23-09, 08:19 PM
#43
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toyota must be very careful, because pressuring suppliers into lowering costs can mean in many cases that those suppliers have no choice but to cut corners, which may not show up in year one of vehicle ownership, but years 2-5 as things break.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
GM and Ford both fell into this trap in the 80s, plus they had a lazy and arrogant management and manufacturing workforce that didn't give a crap about quality. toyota cares about quality, but pressuring suppliers can be very dangerous, as even if relations with them are good now, those suppliers may not divulge everything they had to do.
One consoling fact, is that Toyota does help it's suppliers engineer a lot of their parts, hence the fur flying when some of their suppliers started selling Hyundai said parts.
Toyota, please don't become the GM of this decade.
12-23-09, 09:02 PM
#45
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