[WarOnPrivacy]

>> Still, part of the problem for the shortage of manufacturing jobs is the lack of education and training, according to Farley.

>> He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years.

>> The current system is not meeting the standard, he added.

I fully agree with your opinion .... but this guy's quote is bizarre.

What system is failing to meet the 5-years-to-learn-how-to-remove-one-particular-engine standard?

High school trades? Community college? Private $xx,000 high-debt mechanic school?

None of these are remotely capable of teaching Ford's hyper-narrow specialization. Trying to would be a disaster.

[bell-cot]

> What system is failing to meet...

Not Applicable. If it somehow took an engineering degree to toast a Pop-Tart, the "failing to meet" would have nothing whatsoever to do with any education system for engineers.

EDIT: On another read...I'd say the bizarre quote is just Farley desperately trying to throw the blame somewhere, somewhere far away from where it belongs - with him and Ford.

[toomuchtodo]

The solution is simple, right? Ford should be offering paid training and a talent pipeline, to build this talent pool that they supposedly need. Why don't they? Are they willing to spend the investment required? These are the root causes of the system failure imho, everyone (current state, US specific) wants the best talent possible at the cheapest possible cost, on demand with as little long term economic obligation or liability possible.