Tripped pays up

As a retired Automobile Worker this lawsuit is troubling.

At TMMK (Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky) we were always encouraged to bring up any inefficiencies or problems in Manufacturing. Every Toyota Production line has an Andon that each employee has the responsibility to pull it if the tiniest fault or inefficiency in production is discovered. They then immediately receive help to solve the issue. In fact an employee would receive disciplinary action if they knowingly didn't stop the line and bring attention to a fault that they had noticed.

Employees actually receive recognition when they identify a problem. The problem and its countermeasure are openly discussed with all and then shared with other Toyota Plants to see if they can also implement the countermeasure. My impression is Toyota cared less about whose fault it might be or who was told about the fault their primary and only concern was the countermeasure-implementation-follow-up and open communication of the fault.

When I worked in Engineering we often would go the Fremont California Toyota Plant and participate in a working visit to identify potential problems and countermeasures to the problems. Tesla now uses this Plant as their Manufacturing Facility. I would enjoy a tour of that Plant today and see how it has changed.

 

I also participate in another forum for a PHEV we have. I won't mention the name of the forum since it isn't a Toyota.
Some time ago there as a discussion about that vehicle and comparison to a Toyota made vehicle.

Somehow in the discussion an Individual who formerly owned a Prius said he actually got to tour the Toyota Kentucky Plant (TMMK) and mentioned it was a group tour you had arranged. He went on to say what a nice guy you were and how much he enjoyed the tour.

Thought I would pass on the complement you received and how much that individual said he enjoyed the tour of TMMK.

They do have a nice Visitor Center and they consider their customers to be part of the Toyota Family and the only reason they exist is to fill the customers need so they want to treat them right when they visit. We were always encouraged to smile and wave back when the trams of visitors passed

 

It sounds to me like there's a pretty big difference between what you speak of and what Tripp did. You describe using your chain of command or company program to report issues to (hopefully) make the company become more efficient. Going straight to the media, secretly, with every production problem and getting it palstered all over the news isn't quite the same thing....

 

I would tell you that happens a lot in industry.

Toyota is and was a great caring place to work where people are treated like family.

There are websites where Toyota employees openly pan the company and make it seem like it is a slave labor camp.

When Union organizers attempt to organize there are employees who sign union cards and talk to the press in a very one sided way making Toyota appear to be uncaring about people and quality - a complete distortion of Toyota Company Values. and the true culture of the plant.

Would agree some people have a distinct way of highlighting a fault but I still think the focus should be on the countermeasure to the fault not on the individuals lack of character and ethics.

That being said I understand your point completely and would have never dreamed about going to the press about a work problem.

 

I wouldn’t be troubled by it. If you look into the lawsuit, you will find this:

This is from the article: Nevada court (mostly) rules in favour of Tesla vs Tripp - electrive.com

If you want further confirmation I am sure it can be found at Reuters as well.
Whistleblowing is one thing, hacking and selling data to third parties is quite another.

 

That is a completely different matter and deserves prosecution.

I did not read the article and your quote entirely changes my perception Thank you for pointing that out.

He certainly should have been prosecuted and found guilty - that is a definite breach of trust and workplace ethics

 

all you have to do is buy a Tesla, then your ticket to quite a spectacle can soon being scheduled. You won't regret it. The place is EEUUUGE



& don't forget to take note of our bumper sticker

.

 

Also interesting:
According to a court filing describing the settlement, Tripp did not contest Tesla's claims that he stole trade secrets, and acknowledged that his counterclaims were funded by a short seller of Tesla stock

Are they going to reveal who this was?

Mike

 

I will always hold the view that short selling (among other things) should be illegal

Most of the corruption seems to settle in that market, make it illegal and then you can persecute the individuals/entities in that realm for another reason besides the obvious immoral behavior

 

I get the purpose of short selling. It is the fact that they aren't held to the same standard as a stock owner when it comes to public statements and stock manipulation that is the problem.

 

The reason short selling should be illegal is the same reason glass-seagal should have never been overturned.

I would argue short sell naturally leads to illegal behavior and cannot be properly regulated thus make it illegal, betting on poker games is best left in Vegas not in large financial systems where entities are free to manipulate and microtrade any semblance of free market away.