The bullshit being spouted by the CEO of GM before the House of Representatives hits home, it is so typical.
The design defect
Barra was called to testify as part of congressional probes into GM's delayed recall of 2.6 million vehicles that could have faulty ignition switches that unexpectedly cause engines to stall and prevent air bags from deploying and power brakes and power steering systems to operate normally.
The problem was known
In the email exchange, one of the engineers, John Hendler, said his team was prepared to continue using a switch that was made by Delphi Automotive and approved by GM, even though Delphi told the automaker in early 2002 that the switch did not meet GM's performance specifications.
Why was nothing done?
The change would have cost an extra 90 cents per unit and additional tooling costs of $400,000, one email showed. Those tooling costs typically are amortized over several years.
The end result
General Motors Co in 2005 decided not to change an ignition switch eventually linked to the deaths of at least 13 people because it would have added about a dollar to the cost of each car, according to an internal GM document provided to U.S. congressional investigators.
As usual the previous management will be blamed maybe some engineers demoted and fired but the cost cutting culture will remain. This type of decision making cost me my corporate career, since I refused to play ball, oh sorry, be one of the team without the I or some such crap.
I wrote a report stating the failure mode of a product before it was released and the dangers of such failures. I sent it to my global director, after long arguments with the product director. Nothing was done and production was scheduled anyway. I then wrote a note to the CEO with my analysis; which was ignored. The worst thing about this was, I was proved right, and the product had to be recalled. Was I promoted? Was I hell, I was given the roasting of my life.
After a few days of tears and rage and because I could afford to do so, I resigned.
I bet I am not the only engineer that reads or writes on Kos that has done the same thing, I know from talking with other engineers that I am not, nor was my previous employer alone in this mentality.
We all know the defects, we have all seen components swapped for cheaper alternatives without adequate testing at some point in our careers. Have you ever been accused of negativity when pointing this out, I have.
The pressure to conform are immense within global corporations, your career can be shredded in an instant, for many silence is the only way and you know senior management will always find a scapegoat. I could have been one by not stating my objections forcibly enough, but might have been fired if I had done so.
In my contracts now before we even start there is a clause that if any changes are made to my specifications in any way, without my express permission, the contract is terminated immediately and payment in full is due. So far I have never had to enact this clause. I have refused to leave it out when company lawyers ask me to do so, and have lost work as a result. So what I say, I am not going through that mess again.
8:27 AM PT: I have a diary up calling for engineers to see if we can set up our own group. Opinions welcome, data would be better.