Crisis management.

Crisis management is getting a lot of ink lately. You would hope that the ineptness shown at the federal level doesn't translate into the state and local levels. But I have to think it does. But this shouldn't be.

I would also like to think that most businesses in the rubber industry have some sort of crisis management in place, whether it be for natural disasters, a factory accident or even an economic crisis. But I would probably be wrong, or as my dad would say, "you have another think coming."

The recent hurricane damage to the Gulf Coast should cause another think by any manufacturing concern located in an area prone to natural destruction. But I'll bet the recent bankruptcy filing by Delphi Corp. initiated another think in a lot more of us. The General Motors/Delphi economic situation should have a number of you frightened. Is your crisis management team tackling a worst case scenario should there be a major change at the world's largest auto assembler and its main parts supplier? GM has reworked contract language with the United Auto Workers union to save billions of dollars in health care costs and enable the company to reduce the workforce. The union's rank and file hasn't accepted the agreement yet, and what if they don't? Is a long protracted strike or production shutdown at GM part of your crisis management?

The fact that GM is in the shape it is, is a crisis. The former largest corporation in the world has managed itself out of that position. Americans concerned over the test scores of 10th graders in comparison with the rest of the world should be more concerned that only one domestic car ranked in the top 10 cars in fuel efficiency. GM doesn't have crisis management, it has a management in crisis.

Do you have a crisis management team? Recent events suggest you should. Remember when quality control was handled by the person packaging the product?