http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/28/r...-applications/

Is the US car industry falling behind again?

 

Not surprising...

Were losing engineering "muscle" in this country as fast as we're losing manufacturing ability.

 

As FUTURE OF GM mentioned, perhaps it is a side effect of the loss of engineering jobs at the Big Three. Around 5 or more years ago, the big 3 focused their efforts less on hybrid technology than their Japanese counterparts. But more recently, from 2006 on, the brightest and top engineers are more interested in how to get out of the automotive industry rather than excelling in their current automotive job or being pro-active in creating new and revolutionary technologies.

So, in the last 3 or so years, when the US auto industry needs their engineers the most, the engineers are all trying to jump ship.

I was an engineer in the auto industry and I jumped ship in 2006. Even then, I seen signs of outsourcing and layoffs as a couple of people in the CAD department got laid off in favor of an Indian out-sourced firm.

But now, my new place of work is much more secure and is in a different industry. They take good care of me and I'm happy there. In return, I'm enthusiastic in my job and I look for new and creative technological solutions to various problems. And that's the morale and mindset that leads to patentable designs.

However, for all of my engineering friends in the auto industry here in SE Michigan at the GM tech center and elsewhere; it's the polar opposite. They don't care nearly as much about doing good in their jobs. They're too busy asking me every other week if there are job openings where I work. They ask me for help on their resumes, and check back with me after I put in their resumes to managers I know.

That's not the kind of mindset that will help produce new patents. I'm not saying that's the reason we are lagging behind, but again it might be a big factor. One thing is for sure, it certainly doesn't help.