Factory tour

[HBradley]

Great factory tour today, even met Andy Palmer on the way to the gents! An interesting comment from him when I said I was on my 2nd V8V, 'You'll be ready for a new in 2018'. Read into that what you will!

Edited by HBradley on Thursday 24th November 08:42

Edited by HBradley on Thursday 24th November 08:50

[BamfordMike]

that man must live on the production line??

I just opened my current copy of autocar, they have a piece on DB11 showcasing his personal sign off of the first 1000 cars.

His approval is 40 mins on each apparently, that's a 666 hr commitment.
So instead of a CEO making board / corporate decisions, they have a high paid quality inspector for about 3 full months of his working life?

Your car looks as cool as ever!!

[HBradley]

Thanks Mike, enjoying every minute of the car, it's driving really well!
When we met he was fully togged up in his overalls & wetproofs having finished a stint preparing DB11s for shipping.
I have to say that it was good to see him mucking in with the troops, one would hope that he's burning midnight oil with his desk work after the plant closes.
It was really interesting to see the combination of technology & hand building involved in the whole process. I was also struck by the size of the workforce for a low-volume producer. Excepting the fact that there were approx 250 from the new facility in Wales undergoing on-the-job training, there were still 2500 people working in the plant!

[BamfordMike]

HBradley said:

Thanks Mike, enjoying every minute of the car, it's driving really well!
When we met he was fully togged up in his overalls & wetproofs having finished a stint preparing DB11s for shipping.
I have to say that it was good to see him mucking in with the troops, one would hope that he's burning midnight oil with his desk work after the plant closes.
It was really interesting to see the combination of technology & hand building involved in the whole process. I was also struck by the size of the workforce for a low-volume producer. Excepting the fact that there were approx 250 from the new facility in Wales undergoing on-the-job training, there were still 2500 people working in the plant!

For sure, it's an intriguing concept that running a feeler gauge along shutlines and checking stitching and leather gather needs a CEO over a time served tradesman, it's romantic if nothing else.

Dürheimer's crew(e) churn out approx. 11k cars and develop new with about 4000 employees total.
Aston are about 2500 staff for about 3k cars - yeah, the staffing numbers are indeed striking.

[Manwhoneverwas]

Could it be that he is finding out what everyone is doing in the factory.
2,500 employees to produce circa 3,000 cars

[old phart]

Coming over mid July. What would I need to do to schedule a tour?

[matrignano]

BamfordMike said:

Dürheimer's crew(e) churn out approx. 11k cars and copy&paste new with about 4000 employees total.
Aston are about 2500 staff for about 3k cars - yeah, the staffing numbers are indeed striking.

Fixed that for you

[Bincenzo]

It's an incredible commitment from the CEO to sign off the first 1000 DB11s. In doing so he gets to know the workforce, although from what I have witnessed he's routinely on the floor talking to the team. He does his core work during the day, then spends until about midnight most days doing final inspections. I, for one, applaud him for that.

[Terminator]

Bincenzo said:

I, for one, applaud him for that.

Did you get the job you were after?

[BamfordMike]

matrignano said:

Fixed that for you

I've worked in each company's product development department, the relationship of pulling kit from parent of Bentley felt the same level of engineering work needed to apply to the car as pulling kit from Ford or Jag to me.
A fair comment from the outside, yes. Let's see the copy / paste come Full Merc integration, going forward from their current legacy of Ford product pull, it would need a bigger copy / paste for the business to check out because the R and D pocket is small, so your comment could well need revision in future after Aston have finished tweaking old ford empire tech and need entirely new

[Dewi 1]

HBradley said:

Your car looks great Humphrey.

I notice that AML ought to have their stonework cleaned.
The high structure with their logo, is now looking very shabby.
My own photograph shows a comparison, from a couple of years ago.

[Bincenzo]

Dewi 1 said:

I notice that AML ought to have their stonework cleaned.
The high structure with their logo, is now looking very shabby.
My own photograph shows a comparison, from a couple of years ago.

And if they did, I've no doubt somebody would claim that as being a waste of money and resources that should go into other things. There's really no pleasing some people.

[HBradley]

Dewi 1 said:

HBradley said:

Your car looks great Humphrey.

I notice that AML ought to have their stonework cleaned.
The high structure with their logo, is now looking very shabby.
My own photograph shows a comparison, from a couple of years ago.

Thanks David, yours too.
The light did your photo a few favours. I was going to ask if I could have a shot from the 'bridge' but it was late, the light was fading & the M40/M25 beckoned.
It was a great day, the sort of pilgrimage to Mecca that all Aston owners should make.

[JohnG1]

HBradley said:

Thanks Mike, enjoying every minute of the car, it's driving really well!
When we met he was fully togged up in his overalls & wetproofs having finished a stint preparing DB11s for shipping.
I have to say that it was good to see him mucking in with the troops, one would hope that he's burning midnight oil with his desk work after the plant closes.
It was really interesting to see the combination of technology & hand building involved in the whole process. I was also struck by the size of the workforce for a low-volume producer. Excepting the fact that there were approx 250 from the new facility in Wales undergoing on-the-job training, there were still 2500 people working in the plant!

Did the paint plant issues get resolved? Or will Andy Palmer get a bunch of grumbly phone calls and emails when the dreaded bubbling paint appears on DB11?

Genuine question.

I wish him well in his endeavours, I think he's a good guy (and clearly engaged in quality in a manner that his predecessor did not seem to be, although UB did seem to love driving at the 'ring at a substantial cost to the firm).

[williamp]

old phart said:

Coming over mid July. What would I need to do to schedule a tour?

buy a car or join the AMOC and see of their tours are timely. Or find a dealer and ask very, very, very nicely. They dont do them for the public

[JohnG1]

williamp said:

buy a car or join the AMOC and see of their tours are timely. Or find a dealer and ask very, very, very nicely. They dont do them for the public

If you own an Aston Martin, just phone the factory and tell them about your situation. I part organised a trip for 30 or so people from pistonheads to have a look around the factory. I spoke with a gentleman called Mark Gauntlett at AML Gaydon and he was very helpful.

[hornbaek]

If the CEO has to go an inspect the first 1000 cars off the production line he clearly has zero confidence in his co-workers and as such his management style is a shambles. I chair a company that produces a lot of its products in the Far East. You have to put trust into your workforce that they can deliver a perfect product. If you need to check every product leaving the factory personally you have either no confidence in your people or they are not very well trained. You can't win with that strategy.

[Jon39]

williamp said:

old phart said:

Coming over mid July. What would I need to do to schedule a tour?

buy a car or join the AMOC and see of their tours are timely. Or find a dealer and ask very, very, very nicely. They dont do them for the public

Does Steve need to own two Aston Martins, to be eligible for a factory tour?

[Muzzer79]

hornbaek said:

If the CEO has to go an inspect the first 1000 cars off the production line he clearly has zero confidence in his co-workers and as such his management style is a shambles. I chair a company that produces a lot of its products in the Far East. You have to put trust into your workforce that they can deliver a perfect product. If you need to check every product leaving the factory personally you have either no confidence in your people or they are not very well trained. You can't win with that strategy.

Whilst I wouldn't go as far as 'shambles' but, if it's true, it is an odd concept.

I can understand him going and spot-checking a few of the first cars personally but 1000?

I can't imagine a CEO committing that kind of time to such an endeavour. As pointed out, just get a very good quality inspector instead?

[Bincenzo]

hornbaek said:

If the CEO has to go an inspect the first 1000 cars off the production line he clearly has zero confidence in his co-workers and as such his management style is a shambles. I chair a company that produces a lot of its products in the Far East. You have to put trust into your workforce that they can deliver a perfect product. If you need to check every product leaving the factory personally you have either no confidence in your people or they are not very well trained. You can't win with that strategy.

I don't think anybody has said he 'has' to, or 'needs' to do this. He has chosen to do this and I'd imagine the workforce are pretty impressed with his dedication and trust in them to produce the product ready for his inspection. As with any final inspection, things may be found whoever looks them over. As the senior pilot of a military flying unit, I'd routinely fly with my pilots to make sure they are doing things as they should be. Did I mistrust them or have no confidence in them? No way. A shambles? Only time will tell, but I doubt it.