Harley-Davidson MIA With Coronavirus Response Ads

Is Harley-Davidson committed to lending a hand?

It’s not obvious that Harley-Davidson execs realized their normal marketing plans will no longer cut it as COVID-19 overtakes nearly every facet of American life!

I’m not talking about an empty kumbaya ‘Let’s Ride’ sentiment.  Clearly, the typical messaging in the motorcycle marketplace isn’t going to work the same way as prior to the WW coronavirus pandemic.

Stating the obvious, one would think that Harley-Davidson would play into the motor company’s more than 116-year history and remind consumers how the company has responded during world wars and during previous disasters in America.  While buying or servicing your motorcycle may not be top-of-mind at the moment, offering up some type of payment relief program to consumers affected by this disaster would not only provide some peace of mind to customers, it would reaffirm that the motor company is really focusing on the consumer health situation vs. self-serving attention in suspending U.S. production to disinfect manufacturing equipment and pulling financial guidance for wall street.

Digital Advert — ‘Breathe’ by Droga5

The last significant digital advert (‘Breathe‘ — February 10, 2020), by Droga5, was a message of the outdoors and the experience of riding in a world that is humdrum.

In case you missed it, the world is no longer humdrum…  Droga5 should waive client fees for ‘pivoting’ H-D creative and media to be more reflective of the current situation.

Where is Harley-Davidson marketing?  Not only to pivot the current creative, but how about immediately trying to get a little bit of free publicity via “specially curated images” for video conference backdrops. Spitballing here… It’s important to be reassuring right now and not try to say to people ‘Rush into your Harley dealership for a sales event.‘

Where is the Harley-Davidson Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Harley-Davidson Inc.?  Where is Harley-Davidson Credit?  How about offering a program giving new motorcycle buyers very low-to-zero percent financing and the option to delay their first payment for 90 days?  Where is Harley-Davidson Service?  Maybe provide free service or reduced costs for people who only have a motorcycle for transportation?  And lastly, where is the “We’re With You Every Step” inspirational statement from the United Steelworkers and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’?

The COVID-19 pandemic is producing economic and social disruptions not seen before, and major industries have already felt the impact. People aren’t buying as much stuff. People are getting laid off. Despite government reassurances, the anxiety of closed businesses and lost employment and wages weigh heavy on people.

But, lets bring it back to the local situation in the northwest.

As of this morning, March 30th, the Coronavirus situation is:
Oregon: 13 deaths, 548 cases — Oregon numbers
Washington: 195 deaths, 4,896 cases — Washington numbers
United States: 2,600 deaths, 143,532 cases — U.S. numbers

While not essential for health, sustenance, shelter, and hygiene—it’s time for Harley-Davidson to step up and find a way to exist, operate, and communicate in ways that offer one of some combination of help, hope, and entertainment.

To Be Fair:  It is important to note that Harley-Davidson, it’s dealership network and the Harley-Davidson Foundation have made significant charitable contributions over the years.  From donating motorcycles to the Haitian Earthquake to funding Red Cross for the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and to natural disasters in the U.S. like hurricane Florence.

Photos courtesy of Harley-Davidson

All Rights Reserved © Northwest Harley Blog

Read Full Post »

Harley-Davidson Absenteeism

Productivity.

It’s the manufacturing mantra of the corporate world.  It’s about making X number of  “widgets” an hour and reducing unplanned absences to maintain plant productivity.

Harley-Davidson’s CEO and President, Keith Wandell, told analyst during the Q4 2009 revenue results that the company intends to enhance profitability through continuous improvement in manufacturing, product development and business operations.

I would submit that H-D doesn’t have a productivity problem.  They have an absenteeism problem!  If a worker calls in sick that is considered an unplanned absent which brings down manufacturing productivity.  In fact, a company document indicates the motor company incurred some 382,000 hours of missed work time during 2009 which was worth about $13 million.  The document doesn’t state whether that number refers to the company as a whole or some other subset of operations, but we do know that one of the major considerations cited for moving the York Vehicle Operations from PA. to another state was the excessive absenteeism at the Springettsbury Township plant.

As a result of the concessions to keep the plant in York, changes in work culture and a new attendance policy was negotiated as part of the multi-year restructuring process.  A point system was created and the new policy gives an employee points or partial points for failure to appropriately report an absence in addition to the actual absence.  Now there are reports the Union (IAM) is whining about unilateral policy changes and trying to move the debate from absenteeism to policy.

Many would debate that unions cripple companies.  The debate often centers around how they are anti-technology, anti-productivity and pro-wage growth.  It’s like they live in a virtual reality world where price points, product-market pressures, and capital returns don’t matter.  The net-net is that unions are adept at demanding the highest dollar for the least amount of time worked.  And as worker costs escalate firms cut back on technology, plant investments and business process improvements.  Sound familiar?

Still don’t believe me that H-D has an absenteeism issue?  Well let’s look at the numbers.

H-D has about 9000 employees worldwide.  Taking H-D supplied numbers of 382,000 hours and divide it by the total number of employees (9000) equals 42.44 hours of unplanned absence per employee.  That’s more than one work week of absenteeism for each and every employee!  This in addition to the 15 work days of annual leave (vacation + holidays) employees typically receive in U.S. based companies.  Wow, talk about “iron-clad” benefits!  Yet, it’s actually worse because to correctly analyze the absenteeism number you need to take into account standard manufacturing practices which are based on the number of Full Time Equivalents (FTE) and available work hours a year (1928 hours) per FTE.  Calculating absence using this method means there were 198 employees (FTE) absent all year during 2009.

I don’t know if this situation is an accurate reflection of the mental state of the H-D work force or if it’s an edge case due to issues like H1N1?  However, an absenteeism rate which effects ~20% of your work force is a systemic issue and without a doubt one of the most significant factors to affect quality in an assembly line along with negatively effecting employee morale.  Let’s hope they get a handle on this issue.

Photo courtesy of Scribd.

All Rights Reserved © Northwest Harley Blog

Read Full Post »

Harley-Davidson Fond of York

The WAIT is over.

Sometimes, fame comes to York.  The famous author, John Grisham wrote about York, PA in “The Associate” as it was the main characters hometown.  In fact, many of its residents have gone on to fame.

But, in the case of Harley-Davidson the bleak economy means financial fame in York.

It’s been a rough year for the factory tour capital of the world.  After a reduction of over 600 employees earlier this year the company announced today it will keep its operations in York, after ratifying a new labor agreement with IAMAW which involves nearly a 50% cut in jobs.  Under the new agreement structure, the plant will have about 1,000 hourly workers reduced from the current level of 1,950. Of the 1,000 workers, 700-800 will be full-time unionized workers and about 200-300 will be unionized “casual” staff, who work according to seasonal demand and as managers deem.

H-D expects to have about 150 salaried employees, or a little more than half of the current number.  The company will invest about $90 million in the restructuring of the plant and expects about $200 million in restructuring charges tied to the plant into 2012.  The restructuring is expected to generate about $100 million in annual operating savings compared with the current structure.

Many claimed that H-D employees were out-of-touch with the ‘real’ work world.  But, being faced with the prospect of operations moving to Kentucky they voted to cut their workforce, change their work rules to allow managers to shift workers around to various tasks in the plant and agreed that new hires will earn significantly less.

Sure it’s a positive note in a sea of bad news, but isn’t that just the point, the plethora of bad news?  The companies statement can be read in full HERE.

All Rights Reserved © Northwest Harley Blog

Read Full Post »

Harley-Davidson Contract Surfaces

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

The York Daily Record reported that union workers at the Harley-Davidson Springettsbury Township operations got their first look at a proposed contract that if approved will stop the motor company from relocating the York Vehicle Operations to an alternative site in Kentucky.

You can read the detailed contract highlights HERE.  Briefly, it’s a 58 page document that covers the next 7 years.  H-D will commit to investing up to $90 million to restructure the operations and stop efforts to relocate to Kentucky.  For those workers who lose their job as part of the restructuring there are a number of alternatives from lump-sum payout to volunteering for the reduction and receiving benefits if they lose their job.  Workers received copies of the contract today at the Toyota Arena where members met. They will vote to ratify or turn down the deal on December 2nd.  The company has until December 12th to approve.

Reading the “tea leaves,” I anticipate the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (District 98) will ratify the new contract.  Do they have any other choice?  The company has worked all angles during this down economy to their advantage and will obtain significant concessions from the workers who need a job.

UPDATE: December 3, 2009 — H-D announced the union ratified the 7 year labor agreement.

Photo courtesy of IAMAW

All Rights Reserved © Northwest Harley Blog

Read Full Post »