Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Aug 1st 2011, 11:36 am
#16
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Since they've announced this year the new Nissan 'pick up' is to be produced in Barcelona, that hardly seems likely. Besides which, if they were closing their Spanish plant, why seek out Spanish workers (they're looking for new recruits)?
http://www.catalannewsagency.com/new...uced-barcelona
I think the best answer is they are keeping their options open. At the moment the pound is weak against the Euro so it makes sense to keep production high at Sunderland. But by placing some Spanish engineers in there, they can quickly transfer production back over to Barcelona if the pound strengthens against the Euro.
http://www.catalannewsagency.com/new...uced-barcelona
I think the best answer is they are keeping their options open. At the moment the pound is weak against the Euro so it makes sense to keep production high at Sunderland. But by placing some Spanish engineers in there, they can quickly transfer production back over to Barcelona if the pound strengthens against the Euro.
Setting up production lines for specific models is a long term commitment for each plant involved.
Switching production of a model from one plant to the next at the drop of a hat is not an option.
Maybe they want to send some guys up there to see how the job can be done properly and efficiently, before bringing them back to spread the word ?
Aug 1st 2011, 12:11 pm
#17
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Setting up production lines for specific models is a long term commitment for each plant involved.
Switching production of a model from one plant to the next at the drop of a hat is not an option.
Maybe they want to send some guys up there to see how the job can be done properly and efficiently, before bringing them back to spread the word ?
Switching production of a model from one plant to the next at the drop of a hat is not an option.
Maybe they want to send some guys up there to see how the job can be done properly and efficiently, before bringing them back to spread the word ?
Nissan, the Japanese automotive giant, has quietly started looking for around 100 Spanish engineers to relocate to the UK to keep their Sunderland factory open. Lower wages, and a lack of suitable talent amongst British engineering graduates are the reason for the need to import workers from abroad.
As I said earlier I'm sceptical about all this. I still don't believe we don't have the necessary talent anymore in the UK. But maybe I'm wrong?
Aug 1st 2011, 12:36 pm
#18
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
I'm sure we do, but unless you come from the NE, I can't see many wanting to move there! There are still a lot of the "stars" from the BBC that are refusing to go up to Birmingham.
Aug 1st 2011, 12:55 pm
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
I shall put out a few feelers to try and get to the bottom of it, but as stated maybe the low wage levels have as much to do with it as anything.
Aug 1st 2011, 12:57 pm
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Aug 1st 2011, 1:13 pm
#21
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
From what feedback I've already had it seems clear that Nissan are not prepared to pay the going rate for UK engineers.
They are simply looking for qualified workers on the cheap.
Quite agree with you Steve about these so called stars.
I wouldn't give most of them the time of day and there again I probably wouldn't even recognise them if they jumped up and bit me on the nose.
They are simply looking for qualified workers on the cheap.
Quite agree with you Steve about these so called stars.
I wouldn't give most of them the time of day and there again I probably wouldn't even recognise them if they jumped up and bit me on the nose.
Aug 1st 2011, 1:35 pm
#22
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Apparently another factor is that a lot of skilled workers have left Nissan for better pay and conditions on the continent and also quite a few have gone onto the oil rigs so basically it all seems to boil down to pay.
Aug 1st 2011, 6:51 pm
#23
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Interesting that the new Audi X3 4x4 is going to be built in the SEAT factory in Barcelona.
VW are pretty fussy about quality.
VW are pretty fussy about quality.
Aug 1st 2011, 7:10 pm
#24
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
I think it is Salford that the BBC is relocating production to. Personally I think they would do well to remember the old adage that nobody is indispensable.
Aug 1st 2011, 7:14 pm
#25
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Depends what you mean by quality.
German cars, especially some VW and Audi models have featured pretty low in reliability surveys in recent times.
They may be fairly hi-tec and nice to drive but at the prices they charge reliability should come as standard.
I don't know precisely where they were all built, but I don't see them being offered with 5 or 7 year guarantees as standard and the cost of spares and repairs is horrendous.
Aug 1st 2011, 9:27 pm
#26
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Interesting point.
The Which satisfaction survey of 63000 owners for the current year put Skoda in 4 of the top ten places beating Porsche and Lexus - Skodas of course are also VW cars.
The Which satisfaction survey of 63000 owners for the current year put Skoda in 4 of the top ten places beating Porsche and Lexus - Skodas of course are also VW cars.
Aug 1st 2011, 11:44 pm
#27
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
Skoda itself had a long and interesting history in a great many fields before being taken over by VW.
They were the original designers and manufacturers of the Panzer tanks later used by the Germans when they occupied the country.
They had quite a good reputation quality wise before the Ruskies took them over and even then did the best they could with what was available.
I still have a 1973 Zetor tractor (made by Skoda) which was fairly advanced for its time and is still going strong.
Aug 2nd 2011, 5:34 am
#28
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Re: Nissan seeking Spanish engineers to work in Sunderland
I remember once seeing on tv a (not terribly scientific) 'blind' consumer trial of an unbadged car which got rave reviews from all and sundry...... only to be gobsmacked when they realised it was a Skoda.
