Kcmo plant closed
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 1,494
From: Santa Barbara
As a V-Rod owner it's unfortunate to see KC close. Mo, to you and your fellow coworkers, thanks. My bike has been flawless from Day 1.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,015
Likes: 6,909
From: NC
Corporations profit are soaring. CEO salaries saw unprecedented growth. Yet workers salaries lost value because of inflation. Corporate America, driven by shareholders, is only about the short term profits. Not long term viability.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
I call this predatory capitalism. Capitalism is the best system, but only when you have an ethical basis. We have a weird mix of ethical capitalism, predatory capitalism, crony capitalism. A company like Kwik-Trip, that treats it workers well, has excellent customer service, and excellent value is totally dominating the marketplace. Its astonishing how much better quality control a privately owned company, with a long term plan, than a corporation worried only about quarterly reports.
I dont know anything about the KC plant, but I have posted previously that I think HDs Board of Directors is out of touch, and misleading the company.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
As has already been stated there was union and non union labor at this plant. The Union Monster isn't the issue, slowing sales is.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,673
Likes: 5,069
From: Georgia
Just one state as an example, Illinois twenty three thousand retirees receiving over one hundred thousand per year of your tax dollars. Seventy one thousand active employees of the state receive more than one hundred thousand. That CEO may earn a truck load more than the guy on the line but he ain't going to be the reason your taxes will balloon and the state won't give a **** if you cannot pay your taxes and just take your stuff.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 595
From: Living in a van down by the river
Thanks for building my Low Rider Mo. You did a great job. Best of luck to you.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,462
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Who exactly gets to determine what a mans labor is worth? Real slippery slope there bud.
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Joe Kucinski
Banned
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 23,816
Likes: 57,355
From: Tampa, FL
It is sad that it's been closed but you can't keep a plant open when there is a decline in purchasing of the product produced. Having been through a couple of layoffs myself, I wish those affected good luck and the ability to find meaningful work elsewhere. If you are one, look into trade school or college to improve marketable skills or skills that can lead to business ownership.
Harley has been consolidating its operation since Keith Wandell was the CEO, back in 2008.....the crisis affected everyone and H-D was no different.
By that time, their core consumers have been diminishing as they kept putting even more bikes on the streets (remember the 90's when H-D had a waiting list?)
Since then, Capitol Dr. Plant has been closed and consolidated into Pilgrim Rd. (and now is a U-Haul location and self-storage...been there last week), Franklin Dist Center was closed and outsourcing was the solution.
Remaining are Tomahawk (fiberglass), York (final assembly) and Pilgrim Rd (Powertrain).
Another point to notice is that it's more interesting to have a single facility that can do just about everything from end-to-end than several different properties scattered through the country.
Other partners also shut down its doors as part of Wandell's reorganization....CastAlloy in Australia is an exampla.
On the other hand, HD has it's international Mkt growing and its expansion with an all new Assembly line in Brazil (the 1st was opened in 1999 and now expanded in 2012), the India operation and now Thailand are examples that the investment is going elsewhere....not to say they're thinking in also having a similar operation in Europe.
Note, that despite the many assembly lines overseas....all components are US-Made (i've seen at the Brazilian Plant).
By that time, their core consumers have been diminishing as they kept putting even more bikes on the streets (remember the 90's when H-D had a waiting list?)
Since then, Capitol Dr. Plant has been closed and consolidated into Pilgrim Rd. (and now is a U-Haul location and self-storage...been there last week), Franklin Dist Center was closed and outsourcing was the solution.
Remaining are Tomahawk (fiberglass), York (final assembly) and Pilgrim Rd (Powertrain).
Another point to notice is that it's more interesting to have a single facility that can do just about everything from end-to-end than several different properties scattered through the country.
Other partners also shut down its doors as part of Wandell's reorganization....CastAlloy in Australia is an exampla.
On the other hand, HD has it's international Mkt growing and its expansion with an all new Assembly line in Brazil (the 1st was opened in 1999 and now expanded in 2012), the India operation and now Thailand are examples that the investment is going elsewhere....not to say they're thinking in also having a similar operation in Europe.
Note, that despite the many assembly lines overseas....all components are US-Made (i've seen at the Brazilian Plant).