Crises make automakers rethink lean parts supplies

bart simpson once said, "damned if you do, damned if you don't"

They wanted it they got it. Earthquakes and other natural disasters have happened since the beginning of time so nothing to be surprised about.

You mean the bean counters can be wrong? Horrors! Same is true for a lot of other things that we used to stock pile, such as food. Most cities have only a three day supply of food, if transportation system breaks down, panic all to soon. With a already shaky world economy, more and dangers come from just in time thinking.