Monthly Archives: February 2010

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Toyota’s Troubles

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As Toyota prepares to announced yet another recall — this time, the Prius — some are beginning to question the car manufacturer’s business model.

The “Toyota Way” is the company’s long-standing philosophy that, among other things, places an extreme emphasis on maximizing efficiency by minimizing waste. Some have even said it acts almost like a religion amongst Toyota’s 316,000 employees. There is even a Toyota-approved way of turning corners when walking around the company’s numerous hallways (you must do say at a 90 degree angle). Think that’s bad? Toyota also demands that their employees never walk around the office with their hands in their pockets. A recent NPR news article quoted Tadao Wakatsuki, who worked at the auto giant for 45 years:

“If you walk around with your hands in your pockets, you’ll be told to take them out. If you drive to work, you file a report describing the route you take and the risks. If you drive to your hometown, you report exactly where you’re going to stop for a break. I would say there’s no freedom at Toyota.

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It’s totalitarian.”

Totalitarian to say the least. But was Toyota’s strictly-enforced mission to cut waste and drive efficiency taken too far, ultimately sacrificing quality and safety? In the wake of the recall of more than eight million cars, some think it was. The world’s number one car maker has taken a hit — not only in terms of revenue, but also in terms of reputation. Historically, car recalls have tainted the manufacturer’s image for years, sometimes forever, steering once-loyal car buyers towards other manufacturers. MSNBC lists the top 10 biggest vehicle recalls in history. The following are the top five:

Ford – Number of vehicles recalled: 7.9 million
Year of recall: 1996 The company warned that the ignition switch on the recalled vehicles could overheat and smoke or catch fire. Ford recalled most of its models built between 1988 and ’93, including the Aerostar, Bronco, Crown Victoria, Escort, F-150 pickup, Mustang, Tempo and Thunderbird.
General Motors – Number of vehicles recalled: 6.7 million
Year of recall: 1971
The engine mounts on these vehicles were found to potentially break, letting the engine move around, which could cause the mechanical linkage to jam the throttle. This affected a variety of Chevrolet models from 1965-’69, including the Chevrolet Bel Air, C-10 pickup, Camaro, Caprice, Chevy II, Impala and Nova. At the time GM used unique engines for each of its brands, so only the Chevrolets had the engine that used the affected mounts.
General Motors – Number of vehicles recalled: 5.8 million
Year of recall: 1981 A key bolt attaching the front suspension to the car could break, which would cause the suspension to collapse suddenly. This has obvious potential for negative outcomes, especially if the vehicle was being driven at the time it failed. The company recalled its mid-size cars built between 1978 and ’81 to replace the defective bolts. It included the Buick Century and Regal, Chevrolet Malibu and Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac Grand Prix and LeMans.
Toyota – Number of vehicles recalled: 5.4 million
Year of recall: 2009 Toyota estimated it recalled about 5.4 million vehicles in the U.S. over problems with vehicle floor mats, which they found could entrap the pedal causing unintended acceleration. The recall was initiated in 2009 and expanded in 2010.

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In 2010, Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles over problems with the gas pedal after the company found that an accelerator mechanism may not spring back up with enough pressure. About 2.1 million vehicles overlap in these two recalls, leading to a total recall so far of about 5.6 million vehicles for unintended acceleration. The final tallies won’t be known for a long while. The vehicles involved include Lexus-brand vehicles and the Toyota Camry, Tacoma and Tundra.

Ford – Number of vehicles recalled: 4.5 million
Year of recall: 2005 The automaker said the cruise-control mechanism on these vehicles could overheat and smoke or catch fire. The company recalled most of its full-size trucks, including the 1994-’96 Bronco, ’97-’02 Expedition, ’94-’02 F-150 and F-250, ’98-’02 Navigator and the short-lived 2002 Lincoln Blackwood pickup truck.

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  1. Ford –– Number of vehicles recalled: 7.9 million. Year of recall: 1996. The company warned that the ignition switch on the recalled vehicles could overheat and smoke or catch fire. Ford recalled most of its models built between 1988 and ’93, including the Aerostar, Bronco, Crown Victoria, Escort, F-150 pickup, Mustang, Tempo and Thunderbird.
  2. General Motors — Number of vehicles recalled: 6.7 million. Year of recall: 1971. The engine mounts on these vehicles were found to potentially break, letting the engine move around, which could cause the mechanical linkage to jam the throttle. This affected a variety of Chevrolet models from 1965-’69, including the Chevrolet Bel Air, C-10 pickup, Camaro, Caprice, Chevy II, Impala and Nova. At the time GM used unique engines for each of its brands, so only the Chevrolets had the engine that used the affected mounts.
  3. General Motors — Number of vehicles recalled: 5.8 million. Year of recall: 1981. A key bolt attaching the front suspension to the car could break, which would cause the suspension to collapse suddenly. This has obvious potential for negative outcomes, especially if the vehicle was being driven at the time it failed. The company recalled its mid-size cars built between 1978 and ’81 to replace the defective bolts. It included the Buick Century and Regal, Chevrolet Malibu and Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac Grand Prix and LeMans.
  4. Toyota — Number of vehicles recalled: 5.4 million. Year of recall: 2009. Toyota estimated it recalled about 5.4 million vehicles in the U.S. over problems with vehicle floor mats, which they found could entrap the pedal causing unintended acceleration. The recall was initiated in 2009 and expanded in 2010. In 2010, Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles over problems with the gas pedal after the company found that an accelerator mechanism may not spring back up with enough pressure. About 2.1 million vehicles overlap in these two recalls, leading to a total recall so far of about 5.6 million vehicles for unintended acceleration. The final tallies won’t be known for a long while. The vehicles involved include Lexus-brand vehicles and the Toyota Camry, Tacoma and Tundra.
  5. Ford — Number of vehicles recalled: 4.5 million. Year of recall: 2005. The automaker said the cruise-control mechanism on these vehicles could overheat and smoke or catch fire. The company recalled most of its full-size trucks, including the 1994-’96 Bronco, ’97-’02 Expedition, ’94-’02 F-150 and F-250, ’98-’02 Navigator and the short-lived 2002 Lincoln Blackwood pickup truck.

The Toyota recall may continue to climb in the ranks as the company continues to issue new recalls. As was the case with the other automakers on this list, it will take a lot of time to repair, not only their bottom line, but their image as well. For Toyota, time may or may not heal the financial and reputational wounds the company has suffered.

Super Bowl Risk

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All major sporting events pose some sort of risk — whether it’s unruly fans, unsafe venues, lack of security or all of the above. But there are a few sporting events that pose more risk than others — namely the Olympics, the World Cup and, of course, the Super Bowl. I was fortunate enough to get some feedback on Super Bowl risk from Chris Rogers, director of risk control for National Entertainment Group, a part of Aon Risk Services and Lori Shaw, managing director of sports/leisure for Aon Entertainment Group.

Of all the potential risks facing such a large event as the Super Bowl, what do you feel is the number one biggest risk on February 7th?
Without a doubt, the biggest risk by far is the “lone wolf” with explosives knowledge. It is the very quiet ones, without support from any organization at the time that presents the greatest challenge, simply because there is so little possibility for detection prior to their arrival on the scene. Plus, if they have the ability to put together an IED, this combination could be very catastrophic.
Do you feel there is more potential for risk before, during or after the game?
The highest risk would be during the game, primarily due to the fact that this is when there are the most people present and there is so much going on all over the stadium. The close second would be just prior to the start of the game when there are large crowds lining up waiting to get inside.
Lori Shaw, Managing Director – Sports/Leisure, Aon Entertainment Group
How are corporate sponsors and marketers managing the financial risks related to prizes and promotions?
Many corporations look to events such as the Super Bowl as a way to create impressions with consumers. Besides basic TV, advertising many look to specialized promotions and prize offerings to attract interest and support their marketing goals. This may mean offering product couponing and redemptions offers to drive consumers to their brands, arranging prize trips for consumers, and often times, offering the potential to win large cash prizes such as what Dorito’s is doing with its Dorito’s “Crash the Super Bowl” promotion. Often times, corporations will look to the Contingency Insurance market to provide unique and customized insurance products to protect their balance sheets from the volatility that these promotions can bring. Products such as overredemtion insurance, sponsorship liability, marketers liability, special event and travel accident coverage and prize indemnity policies can be crafted to appropriate transfer this type of potential risk.
How does the Super Bowl manage challenges such as professional liability? What types of insurance can the Super Bowl event managers and organizers obtain to protect themselves from the many potential risks that can occur during such a large event?
Planning for large events, such as the Super Bowl, start way before the “kick off” of the game. Local organizing committees have been working months, sometimes years, ahead of a large event to make all the necessary arrangements. Insurance coverages that are contemplated may include: General Liability, Auto Liability, Property, Directors & Officers, Terrorism, Event Cancellation (which can include weather related perils, communicable disease, and threats of Terrorism), Media Liability, Broadcast and Professional Liability for things like police, EMT’s, physicians, etc.

RMM: Of all the potential risks facing an event as large as the Super Bowl, what do you feel is the number one threat on February 7?

Chris Rogers: Without a doubt, the biggest risk by far is the “lone wolf” with explosives knowledge. It is the very quiet ones, without support from any organization at the time that presents the greatest challenge, simply because there is so little possibility for detection prior to their arrival on the scene. Plus, if they have the ability to put together an IED, this combination could be very catastrophic.

RMM: Do you feel there is more potential for risk before, during or after the game?

Rogers: The highest risk would be during the game, primarily due to the fact that this is when there are the most people present and there is so much going on all over the stadium. The close second would be just prior to the start of the game when there are large crowds lining up waiting to get inside.

RMM: How are corporate sponsors and marketers managing the financial risks related to prizes and promotions?

Lori Shaw: Many corporations look to events such as the Super Bowl as a way to create impressions with consumers. Besides basic TV advertising, many look to specialized promotions and prize offerings to attract interest and support their marketing goals. This may mean offering product couponing and redemption offers to drive consumers to their brands, arranging prize trips for consumers, and oftentimes, offering the potential to win large cash prizes such as what Doritos is doing with its Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” promotion. Oftentimes, corporations will look to the Contingency Insurance market to provide unique and customized insurance products to protect their balance sheets from the volatility that these promotions can bring. Products such as overredemtion insurance, sponsorship liability, marketer’s liability, special event and travel accident coverage and prize indemnity policies can be crafted to appropriately transfer this type of potential risk.

RMM: How does the Super Bowl manage challenges such as professional liability? What types of insurance can the Super Bowl event managers and organizers obtain to protect themselves from the many potential risks that can occur during such a large event?

Shaw: Planning for large events, such as the Super Bowl, start way before the “kick off” of the game. Local organizing committees have been working months, sometimes years, ahead of a large event to make all the necessary arrangements. Insurance coverages that are contemplated may include: general liability, auto liability, property, directors and officers, terrorism, event cancellation (which can include weather related perils, communicable disease and threats of terrorism), media liability, broadcast and professional liability for things like police, EMTs, physicians, etc.

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AKO on Product Recall Insurance

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Over at the Risk Management magazine website, Joshua Gold of Anderson, Kill & Olick discusses what policyholders need to know about product recall insurance in a special, online-only column.

In the context of product recall insurance coverage, some insurance companies may attempt to avoid coverage for a product recall losses by arguing that there is no evidence that the product in question did or would cause bodily injuries or damage. Specifically, the insurance company may argue that to trigger coverage, the use or consumption of the product must have resulted or would result in identifiable bodily injury, sickness, disease or death. Such insurance company arguments place the policyholder in an awkward position: namely, in an effort to establish coverage, the policyholder is being urged by the insurance company to evidence just how toxic its product was or could potentially be.

For important advice that will help you get your business back to normal in the event of a costly product recall, click here to read the full article exclusively on RMMagazine.com.

Risk Management’s January/February Issue is Online

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The January/February issue of Risk Management magazine is now available online.

This issue contains in-depth features covering:

  • The property/casualty market — will it remain soft?
  • The hidden risks of open source code
  • How to take the stress out of work
  • How to communicate with employees of different generations
  • A look back at 60 years of the Risk and Insurance Management Society

There are also numerous columns in this issue covering:

  • The smart grid — is it smart enough?
  • Regulatory pressure for risk managers
  • Creating a compliance framework
  • 10 questions for your insurer
  • Internal Investigation Missteps
  • A Q&A with Navigant Consulting
  • An all-encompassing timeline of pandemics
  • A risk atlas highlighting the Eurasia Group’s top 10 global risks for 2010

Also, don’t forget to check out “Insurance Coverage for Product Recalls, Property Damage & Injuries,” a special, online-only column written by the professionals at Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C. For the digital edition of the January/February issue of Risk Management, click here.