tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60431253922870529782024-03-13T06:49:14.292-07:00Digital AutomakingBlogging the analogue to digital road from rebuilding cars in high school<br>to digital automaking futurist watching, waiting and starting up an automaker...John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-77254997382903501312010-05-17T00:18:00.000-07:002010-05-17T01:11:41.034-07:00Start Your Motors!!!After a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devfPUUWwjo">successful debut at Isle of Man,</a><br />arguably the most famous motorcycle venue<br />in the world that <a href="http://world.honda.com/MotoGP/history/Man-TT-Declaration/">single handily launched<br />Honda from the garage into a global force</a><br />digital bikes just ran the 1st USA race<br />a few miles from where I grew up at<br /><a href="http://www.infineonraceway.com/multimedia/news/573132.html"><br />Sears Point nka Infineon Raceway.</a><br /><br />New racing benefits helped<br />spectators, crew, workers, etc.<br />talk normally during a race and<br />it only cost $100 in fuel to power<br />the entire field of a dozen vehicles!<br /><br />Economically, the field showed that<br />the USA is leading the digital 2-wheel race<br />for now with a hybrid team effort running fastest.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thisisbrandx.com/2010/05/zeroemission-superbike-racing.html"><br />According to Brand X Daily, 10 of the 12 teams<br />were from California most riding<br />Designed and/or Made in USA Digital Cycles!</a><br /><br />Higbee took the analogue checkered flag<br />in an international hybrid collaboration<br />gliding a frame with Santa Cruz, CA DNA<br />amped by an <a href="http://www.agnimotors.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=72">Agni Indian (as in India)<br />direct current (DC) motor</a> based in the UK<br />designed by a<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt1K2bTvu4Q&feature=related"><br />digital genius who has worked<br />his whole life for this moment of joy!</a><br /><br />The digital vehicle event received dozens of<br /><a href="http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn&q=ttxgp">positive reviews from the press, spectators,<br />participants and even the traditional race crowd.</a><br /><br />Compared to the 1st Gen Digital Prius love hate<br />it's GREAT to see that digi-racing is here to stay!<br /><br />Quiet ripples across a global quiet ocean storm brew<br />as teams of positively charged revolutionary mag heads<br />accelerate the world's biggest yet damaging business<br />towards a cleaner safer and faster future...<br /><br />Men and Women Start Your Motors!!!John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-73473843797378284002010-02-11T18:41:00.000-08:002010-02-11T19:09:10.243-08:00Porsche Drives Digital Fast!!!Just got an email from Porsche<br />and they've caught up in the<br />digital race that's revolutionizing<br />the world's biggest and farthest reaching<br />business (automaking + related and supporting industries)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.porsche.com/microsite/intelligent-performance/usa.aspx"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ai8jpdN_YXA/S3TAg-RC2GI/AAAAAAAAAGk/oNcBpPuCj5U/s320/911+GT3+R+HYBRID.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437182322845866082" /></a><br /><br />What do you think of digital hybrids now?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dailytech.com/Porsche+911+GT3+R+Hybrid+to+Debut+in+Geneva/article17666.htm"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 141px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ai8jpdN_YXA/S3TGMcScstI/AAAAAAAAAGs/wWtHpY0bTsk/s320/911+GT3+R+HYBRID+SEE+THROUGH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437188567197332178" /></a>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-74259733871242454402010-01-21T14:35:00.000-08:002010-01-21T14:36:47.582-08:002 Toyota PrinciplesHaving researched the auto industry for several years culminating with a 170+ page MBA thesis (The Hybrid Phenomenon) that exceed expectations by boiling down 1,000 pages of research into publication (The Futurist) after a three year investment that included visiting a Toyota production line in the USA and talking to end users in Japan...<br /><br />I have boiled Toyota (including lean) down to a few basic principles:<br /><br />TOYOTA PRINCIPLE 1<br />The first is that Toyota is NOT a car company in an industry full of struggling car companies.<br /><br />Toyoda started out as a loom copmany, so it's DNA started with a very simple high volume low defect rate production system. Manufacturing was simple, few moving parts with empowered machine operator.<br /><br />The founder's son I believe, started Toyota. He ventured into cars because of his passion. But in Japan, sons almost always obey and respect elders, especially fathers, so the DNA of duplicating simple materials with a low defect rate were transferred to the new subsidiary.<br /><br />Even Today, almost all of Toyota's car products look similar. For example the shape of the Camry, Corolla and Prius noses share the same lines.<br /><br />So from the old school Toyoda non-car company DNA, I believe lean was inherited from a simple loom (few moving parts) producing a high volume amount of cloth with almost no defects. A very simple, yet automated process with few moving parts and an operator that stopped the machine anytime a problem arose...<br /><br />TOYOTA PRINCIPLE 2<br />After visiting NUMMI for a factory tour, my second principle became crystal clear. Aside from all the details that follow Japan's DNA of kaizen, Toyota's production line had one SIMPLE process that differed from anything in any production line, let alone the world's largest business (auto and realted industries).<br /><br />ANY employee, team member, manager, temp, etc. had the ability to STOP THE PRODUCTION LINE for ALMOST ANY RELATIVE REASON!!!<br /><br />When each second could cost the parent company millions of dollars, why would Toyota build in this stop safe into the world's leading production line?<br /><br />Let's go back to the loom company (Toyoda) that Toyota really is. Think of machines weaving cloth run by one worker each. When a defect or accident occurred, every yard or meter of cloth thereafter would be ruined. In other words Toyoda, decades before Toyota, learned that stopping the production process immediately yielded higher quality in the longer run.<br /><br />After all, if anything interfered with the production of a material, it was naturally apparent via the human eye. Lean relies on the operators.<br /><br />I believe that lean is a HUMAN PROCESS OPPOSING the view of much of the literature and comments above that treat lean as a system of machines and processes.<br /><br />I disagree with the Western's interpretation of<br />"lean" and "waste" and "continuous improvement"<br />from my decade long analysis of the auto industry<br />and years living in and researching Japan on the ground<br />as well as visiting NUMMI's production line!<br /><br />SUMMARY<br />If you want lean, give ANY team member, worker, temp,<br />employee, partner, supplier, downstream customer, etc.<br />THE ABILITY TO SHUT DOWN YOUR OPERATIONS<br />SO THAT YOU LOSE REVENUES IN THE SHORT RUN<br />in exchange for continous change (literal translation of kaiken)<br />and an acceptance of mistakes for higher quality in the long run.<br /><br /><br />ACHESON'S TOYOTA FORMULA<br /><br />empowering everyones' mistakes<br /><br />-<br /><br />rewarding short term revenue loss<br /><br />+ <br /><br />acceptance of continuous change<br />(not necessarily improvement)<br /><br />=<br /><br />LEAN<br /><br />defined by John Acheson as<br /><br />"holistic organizational viability"<br />that values internal and external members<br />while empowering inwards and delivering<br />highest quality utility outwards!!!<br /><br />by John Acheson, CEO, MBA<br />Author of the Hybrid Phenomenon<br />www.johnacheson.blogspot.com<br /><br />PS Did you know???<br /><br />The Toyota brand is over 500 different companies including a few that build and sell houses in Japan???John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-628045962927634242010-01-19T17:51:00.000-08:002010-05-19T16:32:15.234-07:00NissanSport's Leaf Analysis<a href="http://revengeoftheelectriccar.com/leaf-gets-iphone-control/"><br />Leaf iPhone UPDATE!!!</a><br />showing the benefits of the digital<br />automaking revolution that is compatible<br />with our daily digital lives!!!<br /><br />FOR EXAMPLE we can pull into an electron station<br />to fill up, walk across the street to have a cup<br />or tea or coffee while surfing our iPhones or<br />catching up on email and voice mail while<br />the cloudy grid works for us and notifies<br />us when we're full on our iPhone!!!<br /><br />I wonder if the charging stations<br />will bring FULL SERVICE BACK???<br /><br />My 1st job at a full-service gas station<br />a few miles from where the 1st digital<br />motorcycle race was just held was my<br />favorite job to date decades later!!!<br /><br />I took pride in those days (early 80s)<br />in offering various grades of fuel and<br />always asking full service customers<br />if they would like me to check the oil,<br />check all four tires including the<br />windshield washed as well.<br /><br />With the Leaf we can check the tires,<br />no oil but maybe fluids and electron levels<br />and of course the windshield will always need cleaning<br />no matter a gas guzzler, diesel, sugar burner, hybrid or EV!!!<br /><br /><br />PRIOR POST<br />As I turn over a new leaf from desktop<br />to mobile iPhone post over hot drink<br />comfy chair and free wifi...<br /><br />what could be better than taking<br />look at another new leaf???<br /><br />In the words of Ochenreider<br />Publisher of Nissan Sport<br />in the Issue 12,<br /><br />"over a century ago,<br />electrics ruled sales and<br />even held land speed records."<br /><br />it's true and noisy gassers took<br />some time to venture out beyond<br />the infant analogue grid to roll<br />over the cleaner quieter EVs...<br /><br />Ochenreider writes,<br />"It may happen once again."<br /><br />in fact all of Teslas sales are EVs<br />and records are being broken every<br />few months at NEDRA races by<br />the likes of the White Zombie,<br />Killacycle and other Lithium launchers!!!<br /><br />But these racecars and roadsters<br />aren't really using the digital grid<br />now known as the smart grid...<br /><br />Turning the page over to the Nissan Leaf<br />in his mag shows a picture of a dashboard<br />that's the beginning of the changing game<br />from pipeline to fiber optic cables...<br /><br />More simply, networked cars like the Leaf<br />will tell you when you're running out of<br />fuel and where to buy it from a grid that<br />hopes to make the fuel at the cheapest<br />possible and cleanest way.<br /><br />Could you imagine if your car told<br />you when and where to buy gas<br />to save your wallet and planet<br />without touching any buttons?<br /><br />And you don't even need GPS.<br /><br />Digital automaking takes us into<br />an era of networked transpo<br />so things like turning on the<br />Leaf's AC with your cell phone<br />are easier than checking facebook.<br /><br />Kudos to Nissan Sport for showing<br />us pictures of the first mass produced<br />networked drivetrain dashboard and<br />the Lithium pack that many will lease.<br /><br />This look at the future gives me hope<br />as billions continued to dream of<br />owning their first car or truck!<br /><br />by John AchesonJohn Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-65099488838189076502010-01-19T17:48:00.000-08:002010-01-19T17:51:49.799-08:00First mobile postI'm sitting at Borders with hot chocolate<br />after driving and hauling in heavy rain<br />enjoying free wifi on an iPhone 3GS<br />that has become the tool of choice<br />for running several online stores.<br /><br />During this rare break from 24/7<br />entrepreneurship the wifi and<br />magazines in comfy chair<br />have spawned this first<br />ever mobile blog post!<br /><br />Let's hope this new leaf<br />keeps going as we prepare<br />for the move to EV country!John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-61514927023028104302009-12-18T00:52:00.000-08:002009-12-18T00:58:19.447-08:00Electric-car maker Tesla preparing IPO<a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10402752-54.html">"Tesla would mark the first public offering from a U.S. automaker since Henry Ford's Ford Motor debuted its shares in 1956."</a><br /><br />Congratulations! Finally a digital automaking<br />beach head on the edge of the world's largest<br />and farthest reaching businesses while five<br />billion 5,000,000,000 customers dream of<br />driving their first cars and trucks!!!<br /><br />MORE than eight out of 10 humans<br />Planet Earth still do NOT own<br />their own cars or trucks!!!John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-39165041178393859002009-12-03T17:21:00.001-08:002009-12-18T00:59:31.862-08:00High Voltage WiFiThere's a story about Tesla helping his friend<br />who had broken down on the side of the road in<br />an analgoue or tube electric car long before<br />computers were invented...<br /><br />Tesla proceed to tell the friend to hold on<br />and ran to the hardware store and built a<br />small device much like a radio black box<br />and told his friend that he would simply<br />catch electricity from the air to fix the car.<br /><br />Within the same day, Tesla had the black box<br />receiving energy and hooked up his friend's<br />car who drove away in his wireless electric car.<br /><br />According to the article below the digital version has arrived!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/smallbusiness/0911/gallery.next_little_thing_2010.smb/">Wireless electricity.</a><br /><br />Can we imagine never having to fill up<br />or charge up our mobile devices including<br />the next generation of rolling high voltage computers?John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-80901021774538626592009-11-04T02:55:00.000-08:002009-11-04T03:10:21.404-08:00Williams Less Digital F-1 Boost<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/04CarbWxX4o&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/04CarbWxX4o&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Williams throws out the battery<br />for a gyro run by flywheels turning<br />up to 80,000 RPMs in theory...<br /><br />How did it perform in the field???John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-8733332279646734042009-11-04T02:52:00.000-08:002009-11-04T02:54:44.495-08:00Ferrari's F-1 Digital Racing Tranny (in Italian)<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R-A6ZcenX7s&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R-A6ZcenX7s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Much More Complex than the Crankshaft Approach<br />but believe it or not MUCH LESS sophisticated<br />than Toyota's Secret Hybrid Synergy Drive<br />that hides 500+ patents in a similar setup...John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-214989313441426152009-11-04T02:48:00.000-08:002009-11-04T02:51:31.276-08:00Mercedes F-1 Digital Racing Development<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VqOcsi9ga3c&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VqOcsi9ga3c&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Mercedes-Benz Delivers the Lightest F-1 Digital DesignJohn Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-47517207663407196042009-09-25T01:49:00.000-07:002009-09-25T02:07:59.778-07:00White Gold News LinksTo celebrate A123 (AONE) better than expected IPO today<br />which officially starts the race towards White Gold (Lithium)<br />I'm providing you with some of the better news stories recently:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a3NegOF.UndI">Orocobre Plans to Start Lithium Output in Argentina (Update1)</a><br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2009/09/24/the-daily-start-up-a123-systems-strikes-while-lithium-is-hot/">The Daily Start-Up: A123 Systems Strikes While Lithium Is Hot</a><br /><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/172535/new_material_aims_to_make_lithiumion_batteries_safer.html"><br />New Material Aims to Make Lithium-ion Batteries Safer</a><br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034936_saudi-arabia-of-lithium-to-produce-batteries-by-2016">'Saudi Arabia of Lithium' To Produce Batteries By 2016</a><br /><br /><a href="http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=21710">Western Lithium Looks to Expand Carbonate Production in Nevada</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Why-Warren-Buffet-is-investing-in-lithium-21124-3-1.html">Why Warren Buffet is investing in lithium</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE58N52R20090924">Ghosn (CEO of Nissan), Immelt (CEO of GE owner of A123 Lithium battery leader) see future for electric cars</a> as WHEN not IF<br /><a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/cars-transportation/china-electric-cars-47091807"><br />Will China Beat the US in the Electric Car Race?</a>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-27019046486412778642009-09-25T01:38:00.000-07:002009-09-25T01:48:41.813-07:00Digital's Analogue BottleneckAlthough I preach and cheer for faster digital development<br />of automotive technologies, I must admit that the car of<br />the future cannot become completely run by computers...<br /><br />Many argue that Lithium is the analogue bottleneck,<br />or in this case, the big supply & demand question mark?<br /><br />Some writers think there will never be enough<br />and others think there's plenty of it worldwide.<br /><br />What's known for sure, is that the Lithium reserves<br />on planet Earth are distributed differently than oil.<br /><br />According to <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10357588-48.html">Enough lithium for hybrid boom? Most say yes</a></span>,<br />the USA is the most serious about leveraging<br />Lithium reserves and is getting the most to<br />market proportionally while Bolivia with the<br />most reserves in the world.... sits tight...<br /><br />Locating lithium<br /><br />Shares of global lithium supply by country<br /> Production Reserves<br />Chile 39.30% 22.10%<br />China 13.30 16.20<br />Australia 11.00 2.40<br />Russia 10.80 n/a<br />Argentina 9.80 14.70<br />United States 8.40 0.60<br />Bolivia 0.00 39.70<br /><br />Source: Meridian International Research, 2005 levels <br />adapted from http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10357588-48.html<br /><br />PS Lithium has tripled in price during The Hybrid Phenomenon!!!John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-62404316763493179472009-09-22T15:46:00.000-07:002009-09-25T02:03:17.612-07:00Analogue vs Digital WRECK<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5CU-k0XmLUk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5CU-k0XmLUk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />What's the difference between the analogue car that would have killed you<br />and the digital car that would've saved your life???<br /><br />Computerized (aka "digital") safety devices!!!<br /><br />Computers save lives!!!John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-27257696810411469422009-09-22T15:42:00.000-07:002009-09-22T15:44:38.384-07:00Analogue Cars and Trucks KILL MILLIONSDid you know cars and trucks<br />kill more people each year<br />than AIDS and other diseases???<br /><br /><a href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/group-warns-of-global-road-death-epidemic/?nl=automobiles&emc=wheelsema2">Group Warns of Global Road-Death ‘Epidemic’</a><br /><br />How many less deaths would there<br />be if the fleet was digital and<br />networked like our other devices?John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-28045737677063560962009-09-16T21:18:00.001-07:002009-09-16T21:18:34.267-07:00VW Digital Hybrid L1<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wolwKR9tIbM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wolwKR9tIbM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-1944571795989131622009-09-16T21:17:00.001-07:002009-09-16T21:17:21.565-07:00VW Digital E-Up!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MWXaVPLUBPk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MWXaVPLUBPk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-57158544317329300962009-09-16T21:15:00.000-07:002009-09-16T21:16:04.596-07:00Renault Digital ZEC<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8b-9rUZMXk8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8b-9rUZMXk8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-80503263713779988282009-09-16T21:12:00.000-07:002009-09-16T21:14:10.056-07:00Audi Digital Concept<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N_YsVF9taSs&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N_YsVF9taSs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-45833682402118803332009-09-16T20:51:00.001-07:002009-09-16T20:55:50.450-07:00Message from Frankfurt: Hydrogen’s Out, EVs Are In; Software Is KeyIt's good to see the masses <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/earth2Tech/idUS70232959020090916">finally keying in on the fact that automaking's destiny is digital.</a> Software is a foreign language written in digital known as 1s and 0s to a computer's Central Processing Unit (CPU or engine) which can't really understand anything other than a digital stream of code more commonly known as software.<br /><br />Did you know that some modern cars have almost 100 small analogue to digital processing units or mini computers already in them???<br /><br />Why not go electric and eliminate many of those redundant systems and software to save money, create more jobs to help society on a larger scale???John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-74365381651435956402009-09-16T20:18:00.000-07:002009-09-16T20:44:03.373-07:00BMW Complicated Digital Concept<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztIOno-o0Jp8NBJeJIclV-wZ7XDrDyZQojz5_aTSfw70rT3HR-X0LpDMEtW5gpBpVgh534TDYZdWlDFhY2Jg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-4223542015786498432009-09-10T13:13:00.000-07:002009-09-16T20:37:12.786-07:00Million Word Video<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do4LBVrDSrA"><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Some videos are worth a million words!!!<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span></a><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/do4LBVrDSrA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/do4LBVrDSrA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-79229696606432061272009-08-05T03:12:00.000-07:002009-08-05T15:56:39.012-07:00Shockgun WeddingsHere's a digital ten billion dollar list of<br />shotgun weddings that will change the<br />world's largest business forever!!!<br /><br />Compact Power, Inc. (LG Chem, Ltd.) received $151,400,000 of your tax dollars to produce the lithium-ion polymer battery cells for the Chevy's Volt for GM who will invest $240,000,000 of your tax dollars into batteries<br />Bosch (BOM) and BMW<br />Ener1 (HEV) got $118,500,000 of your tax dollars to build batteries for Nissan (NSANY)<br />Daimler and Tesla Motors<br />Johnson Controls (JCL) and Ford (F) got $100,000,000 for batteries<br />GE and A123 who landed $249,100,000 for battery packs and systems preferred by many EV race car drivers<br />Buffet and BYD<br />Valence and Segway<br />Panasonic EV Energy and Toyota (TM)<br />Sanyo and Ford<br />Saft and MercedesJohn Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-78564196986842258272009-07-26T03:22:00.001-07:002009-07-26T03:37:08.503-07:00Lightning in the WheelsTesla let the electric genie out of the bottle<br />and England/Wales just put Lightning IN THE WHEELS<br />unleashing 700 digital horsepower wrapped in 007 like lines!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/gallery.php"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ai8jpdN_YXA/Smwvipl_xSI/AAAAAAAAAGc/2dTv7jmkbzY/s320/LIGHTNING.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362713528618698018" /></a><br />This is the beginning of computers quickly invading<br />the wheels after only a few years of <br />disrupting drive trains with Lithium...<br /><br />Add GPS and networking to a digital all wheel drive<br />and you've got an automobile that should be able<br />to beat anything with four wheels in theory!!!<br /><br />Thank you Lightning for upgrading Porsche's in wheel electric concept<br />that powered his world's first 100+ year old hybrid<br />to many land speed records and racing wins!!!<br /><br />It's about time we reinvented all four wheels :)John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-79423017367718847772009-05-28T00:59:00.000-07:002009-05-28T01:05:25.656-07:00The Big Digital 3with the pending GM bankruptcy as well as Chrysler<br />and dozens of companies in the 1,000 family of<br />operational businesses that those giants run<br />face a new digital dawn it might be time to<br />predict the new Big D3...<br /><br />in other words the top 3 companies in terms<br />of digital units produced...<br /><br />what is a digital unit??? a car or truck that<br />incorporates computers in it's drive train which<br />is the parts from the engine to the wheels...<br /><br />most hybrids quality, all electrics, all plug-ins,<br />all fuel-cell vehicles qualify as digital so long<br />as there's computers saving you energy in the drive train<br />delivery you more control and performance or efficiency only:<br /><br />many argues that Toyota is #1 but #2 and #3 are for the taking<br />and many analysts are saying that Honda is the only company<br />that will turn a profit this year and by making 20 million<br />engines with only a few hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles<br />could this group of 500 companies become #2???<br /><br />if so, you may want to read our team's report on the multinational<br />which could be summarized as Japan's black sheep of automaking going global:<br /><br />Group Project Report: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.<br />By:<br />John Acheson <br />Judy Padilla<br />Darryl Smith<br /><br />Instructor:<br />Michelle Dominguez, MBA<br />Business 280B<br />May 10, 2009<br /><br /> <br />Table of Contents<br /><br /><br />1.0 Introduction ………………………………..…………………………………………………………3<br />2.0 Business Structure …….…………………………………………………………………………….4<br />3.0 Overview of Multinational Operation..……………………..………………………………….5<br />4.0 Legal Environment …………………………………………………………….…………………….7<br />5.0 Advantages and Disadvantages of Operating Abroad ……………….…………………8<br />6.0 Recommendations / Conclusions ……………………………………………………………….9<br />7.0 Bibliography / Works Cited ……………………………………………………………………….11<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1.0 Introduction<br /><br />Honda is headquartered is in Japan and the founder of the company is Mr. Soichiro Honda (1906-1991). He had no formal education and was an apprentice car mechanic at a garage from 1922 until 1928. His father was a blacksmith and his mother a weaver. <br /><br />At the age of 17 he was the mechanic for car racer Shinichi Sakibahara, who won the Chairman’s trophy at Tsurumi. Mr. Honda started his own auto repair business (Art Shokai) at the age of 22 in 1928. In October of 1946 Honda Technical Research Institute was established and the first product was launched--an auxiliary engine that had been used to power radios for use in powering a bicycle. Subsequently, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. was established on September 24, 1948 and was led and expanded into a multinational by President and CEO, Mr. Tadeo Fukui. <br /><br />Mr. Honda’s first focus was on building small capacity motorcycle and developed the Super Cub which was similar to a modern moped. Honda stumbled upon a cheap yet valuable vehicle for societies looking for affordable and flexible mobility. Before he knew it, his Super Cub was being exported all over the world, and America was a natural place for the larger bikes and engines Honda moved up to. <br /><br />Honda's business partner Fujisawa made the call to start with America arguing that if Honda could make it in America, it could make it anywhere. Even though he knew that it would be easier to start with Southeast Asia, which still relies on more motorcycles than cars today, Honda's business head chose America and in 1959 setup a sales office in Southern California with eight employees. This small office was the beginning of Honda’s international business that went on to become a global multinational powerhouse. <br /><br />By 1960 Honda was an international business. Honda kept tinkering for years working on engines to become a piston ring expert: his mastery of engines started early and was called the “Japanese Henry Ford”. Today Honda produces more engines than any other company, in some years over 20 million units. Most recently, Honda started making airplane engines. As of March 31, 2008 Honda has 178,960 (consolidated) employees and 501 subsidiaries. Its chief products are motorcycle, automobiles, power products, and of course engines. Their main competitors are primarily in the automobile industry (Nissan, Toyota, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors). Services offered by Honda includes: financing, customer service, satisfaction and sales, research & development, and racing.<br />2.0 Business Structure<br /><br />Honda’s mission statement is, “Maintaining a global viewpoint, we are dedicated to supplying products of the highest quality, yet at reasonable price for worldwide customer satisfaction.”<br />Their basic principle is respect for individuals and the three joys (buying, selling and creating). On Honda’s website this statement is listed that would best describe their business philosophy: “Dreams inspire us to create innovative products that enhance mobility and benefit society. To meet the particular needs of customers in different regions around the world, we base our sales networks, research and development centers and manufacturing facilities in each region. Furthermore, as a socially responsible corporate citizen, we strive to address important environmental and safety issues.” <br /> <br />Honda Business Structure (www.honda.com/profine/organization/)<br /><br />On April 28, 2008 Honda commemorated its milestone of a 5 millionth vehicle made in Canada since starting manufacturing vehicles in the country 23 years ago. During this downward economy, Honda has been experiencing worldwide decrease in production since November of 2008 (first time in five years), although production in Asia and China set al-time fiscal records. Honda Fit was the best selling car among new vehicle registration for March 2009. During their press release last month, Honda announced that their consolidated net sales and operating revenue reflected a 41.6% decrease compared to last fiscal year. Projection of return profits to shareholders for 2009’s first two quarters is 22%, 11% for the third quarter and 0% for the fourth quarter. <br /><br />Honda takes its corporate responsibility very seriously and their key phrase is “Together for Tomorrow” which captures the spirit of Honda. http://world.honda.com/community/<br /> A few of their initiatives are educational, environmental, traffic safety and community, are dedicated to worldwide philanthropic activities. Honda has started a new venture with GS Yuasa in the creating Blue Energy Co., LTD, a company designed for manufacturing, sales, research and development of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles. Construction started April 2009 and is scheduled to begin production around Fall of 2010. This is part or their commitment to a safer and cleaner environment through exhaust emission reduction and the development of alternative fuels to help ensure harmonious coexistence with host communities. Honda FCX Clarity [hydrogen fuel cell] was named 2009 World Green Car and Honda was recognized for their commitment to environmental leadership. Another of their environmentally friendly cars is the Civic Hybrid. On Earth Day, April 22, 2009, Honda launched its second generation 2010 Honda Insight hybrid electric vehicle (40mpg under $20,000) along with the lightweight CR-Z sports hybrid concept vehicle. <br />3.0 Overview of Multinational Operations<br /><br />Honda, the company, is actually a group of hundreds of companies, so it's difficult to understand the day-to-day operations, without understanding the structures of the different companies across national borders. For example, there are several American Honda Companies that may or may not send products outside of North American borders. This is quite different from other companies that mainly import into America. BMW, Mercedes, and most luxury brands don't have factories in America so they primarily build overseas and import to America. <br /><br />Honda is very different—in fact, it decided from day one, that it would setup in America, and keep the money made in America, to create more jobs by building more products and factories. Taking a look at Honda's global website at http://world.honda.com/ visitors are immediately blasted with everything but cars, including medical walking devices, flower accepting robots and even brain machine interface technology. So the best way to think about Honda's America's multinational parent Honda Motor Company, Ltd. (Honda Japan) is kind of like a General Electric (GE). GE runs everything from banks to airplane engines to nuclear power plants.<br /> <br />Management Organization of Honda’s Corporate Governance for Decision Making, Execution, Supervision and Others. http://world.honda.com/profile/governance/zoom.html<br /><br /><br />Honda R&D Americas works ideas into patents, and dozens more including financials like American Honda Finance Corp. and American Honda Receivables Corp. American Honda Finance Corporation dba Honda Financial Services helps customers looking to lease or buy. It represents the financial strength of the brand to Wall St. It operates smaller Honda banks like the one in Canada that loans people money to buy Honda products or the company that leases products. Honda vehicles rank near the top of assets that hold value so Honda's banking operations are strong. American Honda Receivables Corp. works with banks like U.S. Bank, Barclays, Deutsche Bank to turn all those loans that customers owe them for vehicles and other products into big money on Wall St. It's the American part of the Honda Bank described above.<br /><br />Honda joined 70 of the biggest global multinationals headquartered in Tokyo; so we can assume taxes are low. Honda's tax strategy is much deeper and much more local than a company like Mercedes or VW that simply imports into American and exports our cash without paying all those local taxes from payroll, to the electric bill, to disability or worker's compensation. For example, Honda in Torrance, CA sells Honda cars to dealers in Las Vegas. Those dealers are not Honda—they are exclusive customers of Honda so they pay all the taxes in Nevada. But Honda of Torrance pays gasoline taxes on the trucks, transportation taxes and fuels, taxes on the income and sales, and of course anything related to employees both for the sales and transportation part of it. This doesn't include all the companies from idea to factory to Honda in Torrance. Honda’s American bank manages the money for Honda America whereas other companies send the money back overseas. There is a central bank in both countries to assist with international activities such as obtaining funding. Japan’s central bank has the second largest foreign exchange reserves after China.<br />4.0 Legal Environment<br />Honda has a compliance and risk management system. This was established so that each Honda organization, under the lead of the director in charge, can deal with legal compliance issues and risk management in a systematic manner while enabling verification of such situations on a regular basis. The Risk Management Officer oversees the risk management department and the Compliance Officer is responsible for the enforcement of legal compliance. There is also a Business Ethics Committee which is responsible for the deliberation of matters of corporate ethics and legal compliance. Honda has also established an Ethics Proposal Line for suggestions concerning corporate ethics and serve as a link to actual execution of improvements<br />Their government’s economic liability is the third largest public debt of any nation and this information can be obtained in the World Fact Book under public debt. Zimbabwe has the highest public debt. Japan ended its period of economic expansion in October 2007 and entered a recessionary period in 2008. In 2009 the return on interest rates are near 0%. The economy of Japan had been very solid and was considered the second largest economy in the world after the United States. The current worldwide economic crisis has impacted all nations, including Japan. Japanese workers are highly educated and Japan also has a high level of savings and investment rate. They are highly dependent on imported energy and approximately fifty percent of energy in Japan is from petroleum, one fifth from coal and fourteen percent from natural gas. Japan’s dependency on imported energy has projected Japan’s goal towards fuel economy and more diversification in its sources. <br /><br />Honda is presently a member of The International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences; it is also a member of the United Nations (1956), World Trade Organizations (1995), and The World Health Organization.<br /><br />5.0 Advantages and Disadvantages of Operating Abroad<br /><br />Honda was the first foreign auto maker to setup foreign operations in the U.S. and is believed to be the first to open factories in the U.S. They also structured the U.S. Honda to keep all of its profits in the U.S. to continue to invest, hire American workers and expand operations. In fact, Honda sales have been dropping in Japan for decades as the company relies more and more on foreign operations. <br />For the first quarter of 2009, Honda was the only automaker to turn a profit out of the Top 10 including Toyota, VW, GM, Ford, etc. They don't sell the most vehicles but have always made the most profit consistently, kept the money local, and invest more into R&D. For example, Honda has significant research facilities in the US while other companies have smaller or none.<br />Honda is one of the most diverse automakers because expertise in engine manufacturing took them into many industries! In addition to vehicles of all kinds, the lawnmower, airplanes, cars, trucks, power generators, robots, etc.; and you can find Honda in almost every situation used by almost any nationality or minority. The only area Honda lacks diversity would be in the Japanese companies and especially management. Abroad, Honda has expanded their customer service initiative, enhanced their approach of cooperative ventures with suppliers, ensures diversity in employment, encourages development in staff abilities, builds healthy working environments and enforces occupational health and safety.<br />Without starting its operations abroad, Honda would have never gone from a small Japanese company to a global international multinational powerhouse of 500 companies operating all over the world making more engines and moving machines that any other company!<br />6.0 Recommendations/Conclusion<br /><br />Honda’s advantages definitely outweigh its few disadvantages. Since Honda took globalization seriously from the beginning, they have the ability to be the most flexible multinational in auto making. With local operations in each region, they are the best automaker at adjusting the amount of production. Exporters relying on a few factories cannot change things as quickly as Honda. So in the economic downturn, Honda was able to react faster and more local than all the other automakers. Therefore, Honda is more innovative and profitable than competitors, while delivery quality and value!<br /><br />The price that Honda has paid is its reputation in a highly educated Japan. Without any formal education, Honda was an outcast and never taken seriously by Japan’s elite and upper class businessmen. Many customers in Japan prefer Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Mitsubishi and other brands over Honda. Honda was kind of the black sheep car company in Japan and after World War II; engineers would apply to Nissan and Toyota and if they didn’t get hired they would chose Honda as a last resort. Although things changed by the 80s, Honda has always had to fight for respect in Japan coming from an uneducated blue collar background. The disadvantage has led to a long decline in Japanese market share while the company grew abroad.<br /><br />So in weighing the advantage of being one of the top global brands and multinationals in the world vs. a declining Japanese presence, it’s pretty obvious that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because our modern world is becoming more and more global.<br /><br /> Honda’s mission is definitely global with a focus on providing quality to benefit societies around the world while saving customers money. To do so Honda sets up sales, R&D and factories in each region to provide goods and services locally. That’s much different than competitors who produce in one country and export to others. Honda seems to care more about adapting to foreign places and serving diverse customers than other Japanese companies. In fact, not only is Honda the first automaker to setup in America and build a factory, it’s really the only Japanese multinational that operates independently abroad and keeps those earnings in house to invest in each region. The result is that Honda’s benefit to society is more than just products. It’s a way of life providing jobs to Americans for example and reinvesting into each local community.<br /><br />Clearly, Honda could NOT achieve its mission and goals if it stays in Japan and exports. It may have worked with the simple moped motorcycles, but starting with cars and other complicated products, customer tastes, regulations, rules, and of course costs would prohibit success. It might be possible for Honda to deliver quality from Japan, but they would not be able to achieve their philosophical goals and societal benefits including reasonable prices to customers without having setup in each region. Honda is really the only Japanese automaker that has let go of the importance of its home country’s sales to focus on worldwide success. Interestingly, it was Toyota that followed Honda to American with factories and products like hybrids. Since Honda’s disadvantage is its reputation and declining presence in Japan, the company could improve by investing more at home. <br /><br />Therefore, some avenues might be an acquisition, such as taking a large position in an automaker like Mazda, or even buying another company outright. A good example might be buying a supplier like Sanyo, which is the world leader in batteries used for mobility. Honda could leverage this technology into its various operations around the world as a steady supply of batteries for products from robots to medical devices to hybrid vehicles—a good way for Honda to add Sanyo’s integrity, history and reputation to help Honda’s presence in Japan.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />7.0 Bibliography<br /><br />Honda Worldwide. 2009. Honda Motor Co., LTD. 4 May 2009 http://world.honda.com/about/<br /><br />Honda. 2009. Wikipedia. Web.4 May 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda#Background<br /><br />Honda. 2009. Wikipedia. Web.4 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soichiro_Honda<br /><br />Honda Worldwide. 2009. Honda Motor Co., LTD. 4 May 2009 http://world.honda.com/profile/globaloperations/>.<br /><br />Honda Worldwide. 2009. Honda Motor Co., LTD. 4 May 2009 http://world.honda.com/news/2003/c030421.html<br /><br />CIA - The World Fact Book. 04232009. Japan. 4 May 2009 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html#Govt.<br /><br />Phelps, Mark. "HondaJet Facing Delays; Deliveries Expected by Year End 2011." Article 433 of 444, Web.8 May 2009. http://www.flyingmag.com/news/1512/hondajet-facing-delays-deliveries-expected-by-year-end-2011.html<br /><br />Sato, Masaaki. The Honda Myth: The Genius and His Wake. First American Edition. Random House, 2006. Print. (Sato 1-480)John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043125392287052978.post-7980574801111276032009-05-20T01:26:00.000-07:002009-05-20T01:37:49.558-07:00Investing in Digital AutomakingHow can one invest in the future of the automobile<br />after over one hundred years of analogue development<br />during this cusp of a massive industry wide transition<br />to digital technologies from clean diesel to electrics???<br /><br />Daimler just gave you the chance by swallowing 10% of Tesla.<br /><br />As most digital automakers like Telsa are privately traded<br />you cannot buy their stock on the public markets so since<br />Daimler is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange<br />and owns 10% of Tesla as of the same day MPG and greenhouse<br />gas emissions standards started the American digital automaking<br />race you can research and invest in Daimler to place bets on<br />clean diesel luxury automaking along with Tesla power trains.<br /><br />Investing $50M for almost 10% of Tesla roughly values<br />the leading electric sports car maker almost at half<br />a billion dollar company after only delivering<br />a hundred or two roadsters to customers, WOW!!!<br /><br />Here's some helpful links for you:<br />NYSE: DAI on <a href="http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:DAI">Google Finance</a> or <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=dai">Yahoo Finance</a>John Achesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08990557009822032304noreply@blogger.com0