manager

maintenance technician

human resources specialist

human resources generalist

Futaba Indiana of America

Overall our department seems to have a constant struggle with the maintenance department over product quality concerns such as machine upkeep that produce the parts and a struggle with the production department over operator knowledge and training levels, outflow of bad parts, and a general lack of commitment to product quality.

These problems can be caused by several reasons, but the first is accountability. Just as kids throwing a fit in the store, it happens because parents allow it to happen. When senior managers allow their subordinates to vie for attention, power, and resources, it usually ends with the haves and the have-nots. This lowers the level of commitment and effort among those looking on because it’s not right or efficient, but it is mentally draining to compete in a game you can never hope to win. Trying to compete with the teacher’s pet, as it were, is a lose-lose proposition.

Secondly, constant strife and bickering is just an outward representation of the lack of boundaries outwardly, and a lack of respect for coworkers inwardly. Oftentimes when departments are unable to work together effectively, it is usually just a symptom of a power struggle at the department head level. This represents itself in low trust levels among the members of each department where each has heard the behind-the-scenes bashing of the other department and is unable work together effectively on the floor. In other words, hidden conflict at the department head level is manifesting itself among intro-departmental trust exchanges at lower levels. This lack of cooperation drains resources, cuts innovation (by taxing mental energy that could be used to foster innovation instead of how to get someone to do their job), and is the antithesis to unity.

Third, due to the fact that this behavior is accepted and allowed to go one, by not making anyone accountable, and intro-departmental cooperation is discouraged, these factors combine to create a sort of paralysis to change the status quo. Work becomes a delicate balancing act in which one cares about ones job, but not caring enough to cause conflicts.

Lastly, there is no incentive to change. Lack of accountability, intro-departmental bickering, and keeping the status quo remain permanent fixtures in failing companies because they are allowed to. Until some event that forces change or upsets participants enough to change on their own, this lack of unity, innovation, and cohesiveness will continue. Incentivizing accountability would eliminate the chaotic atmosphere that is prevalent in dysfunctional organizations. Changing departmental formats or reorganizing how departments are made up (i.e. into teams or cells) would eliminate the fiefdom mentality and force intro-departmental cooperation.

In conclusion, the attitudes that prevail in any organization start at the top, but requires consistent and constant cooperation among upper managers. Unless effort is put forth by management to pursue and rectify the behavior discussed above, the company culture will suffer manifesting itself in stifling innovation resulting in an exodus of human capital which will affect the bottom line.

FIA is a hard employer to work for during the first year with very limited benefits. After a year it is a very good and stable job with advancement possibilities. The Human Resources is very fair with it's employees and they truly do care about their staffing. Work would start with a morning meeting with every department before each individual would branch off into their own areas to perform the tasks assigned for the day. The quality department is a very small department in which an inspector is looked to for answers as to what could be causing any number of problems. In quality, inspectors are taught how to use a variety of measurement tools I.E. torque wrench, caliper gauges, surface indicators, and taper gauges. The hardest of being a quality inspector is at first learning how to adjust to low staffing and being able to complete multiple jobs in a timely yet accurately manner. The highly enjoyable moments of the job is when an inspector is able to answer questions to get the production cells running and continue making high quality vehicles.

When I started 3 years ago it was a good place to work. I’d wake up and look forward to going to work. It was kinda my get away from home and I enjoyed it. I loved my AM, supervisor, and team leaders at the time. Well about a year ago management changed and they made a whole bunch of changes which included moving AM’s, supervisor’s, and team leaders to other areas. The new supervisor and team leaders we were given are nothing compared to what we had. They’re a buddy system, they’re just out for themselves and not us team members, and don’t have a clue as to what they’re doing in our area. Everyone in our area is over it and ready to find another job. We have no one to talk to in our are that we can trust when it comes to a team leader, or supervisor. They don’t run things how am we are used to how our previous ones ran our area and it’s frustrating. Now instead of being excited to go to work, every morning it takes  everything I have to get up and go. I absolutely hate it.

Long Hours, Management required to work in process when Staffing and Attendance are low.  Based on this it is very difficult to find time for Continuous improvement activities.  I believe that the company wants to improve but has not made it a priority for its management. The people in management were very easy to work with, they put forth a good effort to fill the daily orders.  Toyota is not an easy company to be a supplier for, they have a huge double standard but FIA Management dare not say anything for fear of being penalized with Documents.  FIA has a lot of potential and are willing to be a better company but there are several internal struggles that are preventing this from happening.  I believe that if you are a person that does not mind working, following rules and policies and putting in overtime then FIA is a good choice to support your family.

I received a lot of on the job experience here. I met a lot of good (and a lot of not so good) people here. The HR manager while I was there was trying to improve the quality of the employees being hired, which received mixed reviews from workers on the floor as this led to not having enough people to cover all the jobs each shift. Every work day for 85%+ of the plant was at least 10.5 hours, plus usually Saturday and/or Sunday work. The favoritism between each shift was ridiculous and led to a lot of anger among workers. Also, if a supervisor or above decided one day not to like someone, that person's job would be in jeopardy. People would be fired over the slightest things, yet others could physically threaten someone and never receive disciplinary action. All in all, it's a place to earn a fairly good wage, but your home life will suffer greatly.

The job was great. The interview was easy and the staffing were wonderful. The only thing I didn’t like about the interviewing process was we had to go through a staffing agency if we hadn’t worked two years or better in a factory situation. But other than that it was great. The job is quick paced and there is a lot of heavy lifting. It’s one of those jobs you hat you have to creat a rhythm for the way you work. Now there were some higher up workers that were just low down and didn’t care about anybody, but the job was worth the while. I highly recommend this job to anyone who wants to make a buck and get to the top. 

I worked there for 11 years and it’s A good place to work. When I was there over time was the norm not the exception. You made good money but it made the family life hard. I started working there out of H.S. as an operator and held a couple of lower managment positions and had opportunities to climb higher but chose not to. They allowed me to transfer to maintenance without a degree. They trained me in house and sent me out for some training. I only left the company due to moving away from the area. The guys in maintenance are a good group of guys to work with. They function well as a team and overall are easy to get along with.  If you work hard and show the will to learn you can go anyplace you want in the company.

I have learned a great deal while working there however the work schedules are very harsh, leaving very little time to be spent with family and loved ones. Every weekend is a "mandatory weekend" and injuries go unnoticed there is very little or no concern for the workers. some very dedicated people and VERY hard workers there but overall the hours weigh heavy on everyone. upper management is 50/50 some that care and some that use their positions in the wrong manner.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Coworkers. The pay rate is higher than most to start. The point amount is okay.  

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The hours required.  You can't spend any time with your family. They don't care about the employees. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Terrible.  Constant stress and they lie to you daily.  They make promises of time off and they have lied. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Misery. You are treated like a piece of equipment and like you don't matter.  If you have pain it's doesn't matter.

Futaba has a great workforce and overall is an average company to be employed by. The employees are over worked at most times only due to canidates do not meet the "new" hiring regulations. Therefore manning is low causing a larger work load on those employed. Department managers will give opportunities for advancement however give those opportunities to employees who are not qualified for the position. These employees have little to no experience within a department. Which in turns causes defects to reach the customer.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Manager 2 salaries reported	$80,000 per year
Maintenance technician 1 salary reported	$19.50 per hour
Human resources specialist 1 salary reported	$40,000 per year
Human resources generalist 1 salary reported	$47,500 per year

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