American Factory

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

That's for sure. Dayton, the State of Ohio, and the Chinese all invested a lot in this (I think the plant cost $500 million) and they were all let down by the managers of the operation. Both the Americans and Chinese had a lack of respect for each other and a lack of understanding of their different cultures, and neither of them had learned much by the time the film ended.

Two things really stood out to me:
When the "chairman" came over to inspect the new plant and told them to move the fire alarm strobe from it's proper position on the wall to under the table (!). He had no curiosity as to why it was placed where it was, he just wanted it moved. I'm not sure he even knew what it was, and he sure didn't care.
Then when the US delegation visited the headquarters in China and showed up looking like a bunch of hillbillies dressed for a funeral. No one told them to show some respect by wearing ties and suits that fit. At least none of them pulled out a can of Bud Lite during the meeting. I think the Chinese took one look at that delegation and figured they could roll this bunch of dumbasses easily.
The Chinese had too much control over everything and the US guys had nobody telling them how to act. Half a billion dollars spent on a total sh11t show.

Yep, dress at corp is coat and tie at most major companies. They didn't show much respect.

As far as the misunderstanding of the different cultures that rests mostly on the Chinese management.

They hired all the local management and hourly team. They trained the team. They should have made expectations clear from the start. Hopefully they gave the local management/hourly teams significant training in the methods that they expected. They shouldn't go into a facility and expect associates to buy into an antiquated system. But it seems that is what they did. The foriegn management team was strictly an ineffective Theory X management style.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Icemaster

Journalists I know personally research the material before writing on it, including the ones who write on movies.

Watched it over the weekend, there were arguments on both sides. Former union folks used to a high pay rate and a pretty controlled workplace vis-a-vis hours/work week, pay, safety, other stuff. Chinese are used to the wild west with no regulation, more or less. The movie drew a good contrast between expectations and work ethics of the Chinese and US working class.

I didn't get any shades of Michael Moore's typical recipe of celluloid swill.

Of course they do. Where in my post did you get the idea that I thought reviews were written by anyone who didn't see it and had no other info?

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Of course they do. Where in my post did you get the idea that I thought reviews were written by anyone who didn't see it and had no other info?

I mashed together your first two sentences, reading to fast. Error on my part, sorry.

[island911]

My take; Patrick wants to push a political propaganda piece here in OT.

One misfit Chinese company coming in to 'save' a misfit group of American is just that, and only that.
The China CEO saying "American workers are not as productive as the Chinese." was stupidity.
Sure, maybe THOSE particular workers were not so productive.
Put down the broad brush.

30 years ago the Japanese did some similar things. The competent ones survived and thrived.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by island911

My take; Patrick wants to push a political propaganda piece here in OT.

What "political propaganda" did you get from the video?

[Zeke]

AF came up on the strip of recommended videos last night so I clicked. Just what I thought it would be, a classic take on the oppressed and the oppressor. The factory opened in 2010 and started production within a year. According to the movie, Fuyao had losses of 40 million in just the one year they mentioned. Just before the credits text on the screen said they were profitable in 2018.

They managed to completely leave out how and when the 2 cultures, American and Chinese, balanced out to turn the factory around to a profit.

The movie was a complete waste of time other than to show culture conflict — biased at that. The interview between the Obama's and the filmmakers was utter bullsiht.

Was I surprised that Americans looked fat, uninspired, sluggish with a tendency to complain? Not even. All I have to do is go into the Home Depot to validate.

This is not a complete review of my thoughts on the movie, just the cliff notes.