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Environmentally Profitable
lemmingEffect writes: "Came across this NYT article about how many companies are finding unexpected cost-savings for using more environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes and materials. Kinda like getting paid to clean your room--sure would have made me happier as a kid. =)"
I was a GM dealership automotive technician for many years and I worked my way through college in an independent garage for 4 years. I can tell you that the problems with cars manufacutered by the Big Three had nothing to do with technology and everything due to the fact that the bean counters seemed to be in control of the engineering department. The Japanese imports had to conform to the same emissions standards as their American counterparts yet suffered none of the reliability problems. For instance, the materials used in the American cars were absolutely inferior. After about 2-3 years the old barrel-type coolant sensor connector on a GM car would crumble in your hands. My wife's 1988 Celica's coolant sensor connector, and for that matter the vacuum hoses, radiator hoses, and many other platic parts that are subject to strain and engine heat are still original equipment and in seemingly good condition after 188,000 Mi. The American counterparts would all tend to be brittle and/or broken at this age and mileage. Another example is gasket design and material. The Japanese had gone to rubber/neoprene type gaskets for things like valve/cam covers where the US cars were still using cheap cork or RTV compound. For that matter the Japanese cam covers (of course the Japs had OHC engines that were also much more advanced than the rewarmed 1950's and 1960's OHV relics that GM was using) themselves were molded aluminum as opposed to the cheap American stamped steel valve covers that would bend as you tried to pry loose the leaking RTV (Actually, I got really good at sealing these things, but it is an art). These problems also were present in the fuel systems, the electronics, the ignition systems, etc. So really this has nothing to do with technology and everything to do with underengineering and putting profit above product quality.