RC:
mp:
RC:
The suppliers are required to manufacture parts with the specs Porsche provided. So if the specs are OK, from an engineering point of view but the supplier didn't "respect" these specs, who is to blame? Suppliers are bound by contract, this is no game. Porsche cannot control every single part they receive, no car manufacturer does this.
Please THINK before you write...
Porsche doesn't have to outsource anything. They choose to do so ( as many other companies) to either increase profits, or to acquire parts from those with better/ proven expertise, etc.
Bottom line, customers usually don't care where the part was made. My clients didn't care if we were to blame or our subcontractors. They would always hold us accountable.
Outsourcing isn't a bad thing, especially not in the car industry.
Take my new family ride, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. The 8-speed automatic is from ZF (latest gen), the chassis/adaptive dampers system is from Bilstein and there are many many parts around the car who are made by the same suppliers others use, including Porsche...or even Ferrari. The panoramic roof of the car looks exactly like the one used on the Cayenne, almost 1:1.
I think you are getting things very very wrong about outsourcing but I don't blame you. Car manufacturers hide this outsourcing pretty well.
Hi RC,
Fully agree to what you write..but this blaming on the suppliers - its too easy - in the end there are just two possibilities:
a) supplier delivered faulty parts - or below specification; in this case - Porsche is still partly to blame (e.g. Porsche chooses its supplier and should make sure before starting with them that they had a very good record)
b) supplier delivered according to specification..but specification was in general "too low"..meaning that even if every part is OK..long term there would still be issues as the parts were simply not designed for the immense stress of a GT3 engine.
I fear its point b)..because of cost savings (e.g. "it must be possible to built a cheaper engine") - all this makes me sad..because Porsche has the knowledge, its employees are like us "petrolheads"..I remember when I drove with my GT2 a few months ago to the musueum and the factory..all facory employees walking outside put up their thumbs..when I talked to some employees later in the sales..even their eyes where sparkling when we talked about the 997 GTs..they all loved them. Immediattely we shared a common passion. So far the 997 GTs have been ruling the tracks around the world..from the simple 3.8 GT3 (not the fastest car..but a solid-fun car to the GT2RS - the killer car)
No, I´m not blaming any employee of Porsche on this issue here..but from what I heard - this story is not yet over .- worse is to come, but I therefore clearly blame Porsche´s Management - its time for them to come out of their "hiding position"..and to take the consequence for their decisions. I have already in mind who should be that..but I wont mention the name here. Given that its about the GT3, about the racing etc..it must come from there (R&D).