Date: Sun, 08 Sep 2002 17:16:11 +0100 From: Johannes H Andersen <johsnopsamanytime.co.uk> Subject: Re: GM Influence
Mike wrote: > > >> But, Dave, don't you know that everyone can only be good at ONE THING > >> each? ;) > > > >Do I sense some jealousy that engineers outside the US may sometimes have > >better skills and knowledge? (Not invented here syndrome). I don't imagine > >that the same people are designing aircraft and cars at Saab. But the > >aircraft engineering side may inspire some rigour into the process. > >Technical teaching in Sweden, and of course her neighbors..., is second > >to none in the world. > > > >Johannes > > Johannes, > > Of course there are better engineers outside of the US (I like to > think Canadian engineers are pretty good.. ;-) > > I highly disagree the aircraft side (if they actually still in > business? Or at least still developing new planes?) have any actual > engineering influence on the car side. I think only engineers within > Saab Sweden can answer that. I can tell you at GM, engineers from > different groups (and even within the same plants!) doesn't > communicate much with each other unless their parts/systems directly > interact with the other! (This is the US, and I can only speak for > what I see at GM). But it is the culture as Dave also pointed out, not necessarily the details. > Also, saying Sweden technical teaching is second to none in the world > is a pretty strong statement... How many engineers/scientist do you > interact with around the world? How many different industries? Sure, I don't actually like to make general statements involving nationalities, but I was tempted in this case since I know many Scandinavians. There are many centres of excellence in many different countries. > Semiconductors, and even automotive technologies wise, its still the > Americans thats ahead. Now, when it comes to actually making it > (work), thats a different story.. It has to do with the amount of > resources (money) thats involved.. I agree, the US is virtually running the show in computing & related at the moment, although much of it started in Europe; UK, Germany, Scandinavia. Johannes