• AUTOMOTIVE NEWS»
• BREAKING NEWS»

• Article Tools:
• Print
• Email
• Order Reprints

Not long ago, a friend asked whether I knew how many of the industry's top execs have engineering or manufacturing experience.

My reaction was: What the heck difference does that make?

The friend -- a product engineer who also worked in manufacturing on the way up the ladder -- reasoned that if you're going to run a company that develops and makes products, you ought to have firsthand knowledge of how it's done.

Interesting concept, I thought, quietly wondering which engineering school is teaching impressionable young students that engineers are born to rule.

But as I thought about it over dinner, it began to make sense. Actually, it sounded hauntingly familiar -- like one of Life's Little Lessons as taught by my father, a retired engineer who worked in product planning and development for one of the Detroit 3 back when they were the Big 3.

Well, let's make it a little game to see who gets points.

Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli started his career at GE as an entry-level manufacturing engineer. I'm not sure how many points that's worth. Co-President Jim Press is an automotive marketing whiz, so no points there. But co-President Tom LaSorda is a true manufacturing man, so he scores.

Ford Motor Executive Chairman Bill Ford had a few manufacturing jobs on his way to the top, which technically qualifies for a few points. CEO Alan Mulally is an aeronautical and astronautical engineer who developed planes at Boeing. Boy, that's another toss-up, isn't it?

At General Motors, CEO Rick Wagoner and COO Fritz Henderson are both finance guys.

Under the rules, that's a goose egg.

But let's be reasonable. Most companies expose their high-potential execs to a variety of jobs and disciplines during their careers. It's part of the seasoning process. So there's no reason that a bright executive who starts someplace other than in engineering or manufacturing can't learn to appreciate those disciplines and what they mean to the company.

Is there?

Edward Lapham writes commentaries each week for autonews.com. Read them at autonews.com/edwardlapham.