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Harley plant undergoes whirlwind of change

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- York, Pa. - For a look at what's to come for Harley-Davidson Inc., the best place to start is the company's largest motorcycle factory, where change has been described as "leaning into a hurricane."

Where 41 buildings once stood on 232 acres, there's now an enormous vacant lot.

Gone are about half of the 2,300 jobs that, for decades, supported families in this blue-collar town.

The old buildings, some of them dating back to World War II, were demolished as Harley-Davidson wiped the slate clean and developed a new manufacturing system that's the template for changes coming to Harley plants in Wisconsin and Kansas City, Mo.

"It's like Cortez burning the ships when he reached the New World. There's no going back to what this factory used to represent," said York General Manager Ed Magee,

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Submitted Apr 16, 2012 By: Cakes77

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Sparky19038 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:2,213 Points:606,865 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 3:14:44 PM Ignore Sparky19038 Report Abuse Isn't it better to lose half of the jobs than all of the jobs?
60s-Riviera Veteran Author Los Angeles Posts:465 Points:203,175 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 2:22:55 PM Ignore 60s-Riviera Report Abuse Whenever the shareholders of a company see it fit to put the bean-counters in charge, this is what happens. Sad.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,306 Points:1,651,020 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 11:34:39 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Here's a good link direct to the article. I also got the error message on attempting to read the full article. http://www.jsonline.com/business/harley-plant-undergoes-whirlwind-of-change-vc4srit-146568165.html
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,306 Points:1,651,020 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 11:32:41 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Not a happy and content group of employees in the wake of all the demolition and outsourcing of most Harley parts! "They say the company has taken a "cookie cutter" approach to manufacturing, and that hourly paid workers are empowered to make changes only when it's convenient for management. "I think the partnership days are gone," said Scott Parr, an assistant district director for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Milwaukee. "I can't see it helping the company's efficiency and productivity when morale is going to be down the toilet." Some workers say they miss the old days when there was a sense of rugged individualism in the plants and the company cared more about keeping people employed in tough times. "This whole company used to be family. It's not that way anymore," said Brian Zarilla, a 23-year York employee. Some say they remain worried about losing their jobs before they can retire in a few years. "The biggest problem is the fear," said Tom Santone, directing business representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in York. "It's hard to go to work, being afraid to say anything to management, because they're going to come after you." Some employees even say they're afraid to report injuries because they could get reprimanded or fired. And small things bug them - such as the reading of the company vision statement, aloud, at meetings. It's just too corporate for their way of thinking. "The feeling of pride is gone. The men and women who work in that plant now, for the most part, can't wait until they get the hell out of there. They just don't treat people like adults," Santone said."
Tacodan Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,462 Points:681,180 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:23:57 PM Ignore Tacodan Report Abuse don't forget they moved one to India ! so much for American madeINDIA
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,201 Points:821,285 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:05:39 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse I had a '50 Panhead with a hard tail frame and springer front end (w/o brakes). Those were the days. I'm glad to see HD coming back. Thanks for the nostalgia, Cakes77 .
Cakes77 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:5,290 Points:1,678,270 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 2:33:42 PM Ignore Cakes77 Report Abuse Thanks for your nice comments folks on this article. Keep them coming!
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 2:07:11 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse Maybe they will make them as reliable as a Honda......................
kc58veteran Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,666 Points:614,080 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 1:17:45 PM Ignore kc58veteran Report Abuse Robots REPLACING People? from the article: "...there’s now a production line with more than 100 robotic smart carts traveling on five rows of thin magnetic tape." "...the new manufacturing system will eliminate several hundred jobs but will lower costs and make the plants more responsive to changes in the motorcycle marketplace." The FUTURE Of U.S. Manufacturing! [Edited by: kc58veteran at 4/16/2012 2:20:29 PM EST]
Wildhare57 All-Star Author York Posts:847 Points:381,365 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 11:20:11 AM Ignore Wildhare57 Report Abuse If you really want to know what happened in York talk to someone who worked at the Harley plant here - this article obviously was written by someone in with the company - when they moved the corporate HQ for Harley from York to Milwaukee it was the beginning of the end. And the union did not help any either. It was an imperfect storm for the workers in York
naiiawah Champion Author Boise Posts:2,530 Points:717,550 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 11:12:27 AM Ignore naiiawah Report Abuse Hopefully, they can pull it off.
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:2,051 Points:877,270 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 10:57:36 AM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse OK
sedonaJ All-Star Author Arizona Posts:646 Points:206,435 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 10:52:31 AM Ignore sedonaJ Report Abuse What a shame ,seems like such a waste in many areas? JOBS #1 Also could not continue reading story here.
fullcirclethink Champion Author Washington Posts:2,010 Points:159,905 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:38:14 AM Ignore fullcirclethink Report Abuse Bad link!
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,396 Points:165,955 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:21:51 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse Just hope they don't start trying to produce hybrids or electric Harleys.
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,904 Points:815,380 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:10:57 AM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse too bad can't clink on the suggested link (see below) directly.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,615 Points:758,920 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:08:01 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Unable to read the full article.
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,586 Points:558,555 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:06:31 AM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse Try this link for the article: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view/20120413winds_of_change_bear_down_on_harley-davidson_plants/srvc=home&position=also
orcar Champion Author Boise Posts:2,158 Points:803,790 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:58:33 AM Ignore orcar Report Abuse In manufacturing it is either keep up or get out.
djwhit Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,152 Points:1,236,155 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:18:39 AM Ignore djwhit Report Abuse WOW.......
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,571 Points:544,800 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:14:50 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Bad link to Read the Full Article.
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,655 Points:1,154,770 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:09:20 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse Thats one way to fight the unions.
Happytalk Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,276 Points:605,565 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:05:15 AM Ignore Happytalk Report Abuse What a stupid thing to do