G.M. Suspends 2 Engineers in Switch Inquiry

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NYTimes

By BILL VLASIC

DETROIT — General Motors said on Thursday that it had suspended two engineers with pay as part of its internal investigation of its decade-long failure to recall defective ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars.

G.M.'s chief executive, Mary T. Barra, said the two employees had been placed on paid leave after a briefing with Anton R. Valukas, a former United States attorney hired by the company to investigate the switch problems.

“This is an interim step as we seek the truth about what happened,” Ms. Barra said in a statement issued by the company. “It was a difficult decision, but I believe it is best for G.M.”

G.M. did not name the engineers. But an investigator briefed on the matter said they were Raymond DeGiorgio, the lead ignition switch engineer for small cars including the Cobalt, and Gary Altman, an engineering manager for the Cobalt. Bloomberg News first identified the engineers.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/business/gm-suspends-2-engineers-in-switch-inquiry.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043

[liberal N proud]

1. Wasn't there some bean counter who said repairs were too expensive?

That would be the one that should be suspended.

[abelenkpe]

2. Exactly

Those who knew but decided not to fix it because of costs.

[hughee99]

3. Yes, this suspension really does miss the point.

People aren't outraged that GM produced switches that have a flaw and might fail (which isn't exactly a rare occurrence in the industry that a part is shown to have a potential significant flaw) , they're pissed that AFTER GM realized they had this issue, they decided it would be more cost effective to do nothing about it. THAT wasn't the suspended engineers' decision, either, that was the bean counters.

[KeepItReal]

7. You're doggone right!

Eom

[awoke_in_2003]

9. They won't fire management...

if they can sacrifice an engineer or two.

[jmowreader]

4. This is going to sound like a ridiculous point...

...but why is an ignition switch specific to one class of car? They changed the ignition switch in the 1995 model year when transponder car keys began to be used, but after that? Why wouldn't you just order fifty truckloads of ignition switches and matching lock cylinders and use the same ones in every model?

[sendero]

5. The bad switch..

.... was in fact used in several models. I don't have a list handy but definitely more than the Cobalt.

[jmowreader]

6. I wonder why it wasn't used in ALL models

If nothing else it would simplify logistics to use one part.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Engineering managers are more Manager than engineer. Headline is wrong.

Top brass would love to pin it on middle management and front-line troops.

[PSPS]

10. "suspended with pay" = a paid vacation, just like cops who murder