Read the PROBLEM SOLVING Case “Wanted by Honda:Engineers Who Love Small-Town Living”
Although the U.S.-based Big Three automakers General Motors,Ford, and Chrysler have announced cutbacks and layoffs recently,some auto companies are still hiring. Toyota, Nissan, Honda, andother companies have set up opera- tions in the United States.While they employ far fewer in the United States than the BigThree, their ranks are growing. Nearly one out of four jobs withauto companies in the United States are with companies other thanthe Big Three. Honda R&D Americas recently told a reporter thatit was adding about 100 employees a year and had 50 positions itwas trying to fill with engineers.
To staff those positions, Honda faces a chal- lenge: its location.The Honda research and development facility is located in anout-of-the- way spot in Ohio, the town of Raymond, located about 60miles northwest of Columbus. Most automotive research facilities inthe United States are located near Detroit, because so much of theindustry talent lives and works in that area. The Honda plant sitson an 8,000- acre plot of land along with the company’sTransportation Research Center, and Honda operates two assemblyplants in nearby Marysville and East Liberty. Surrounding thiscomplex are cornfields.
Because of its location, Honda does not seek most of its recruitsfrom other auto companies. It hires local residents to fillmanufacturing jobs, and for engineers, it turns to schools in theregion to find recent graduates. Carol Hadden, who
manages human resources, says one good source of engineeringrecruits has been Ohio State University.
Knowing that small-town life does not appeal to many recent grads,Honda requires applicants to visit the Raymond site for their firstinterview. Allen explains, “We make them come here to make surethey know where we are.” Those who look around and like thelocation have a better chance of being enthusiastic about a careerat Honda R&D.
Questions –
Suggest three ways Honda R&D Americas could recruitengineers to fill jobs at its research and development facility inRaymond, Ohio.
If you were interviewing a candidate for a job at this facility,what would you ask to determine whether the candidate would besatisfied to stay at Honda?
How would Honda R&D’s emphasis on recruiting recentgraduates, rather than experienced automotive engineers, affectyour job if you were the supervisor of these employees? Would youwant Honda to change its recruiting strategy? Why or why not?
