Thread regarding Ford layoffs

Just wait until Ford 3000 initiative.

Don't even know where to begin, this is so true it hurts. Quality in auto manufactures starts with design and purchasing, which go hand in hand. I can give just one example how bad it is.

Have a 2018 F-150 4x4. There is a panel/guard under the truck that is there to protect the 10 speed transmission lines and the transfer case and front part of the front differential . I was taking a back road (rutted dirt road) to take my daughter to school. Don't know how or recall what happend, but somehow this guard/panel (made from HARD plastic instead of a plastic that has some little flexibility (o that objects that strike it don't shatter it/shear it off ) literally sheared off at one of the attachment points, so it was hanging down under the truck like it was hanging on for dear life. Moreover, I have seen at least four other 2018 F-150 that has the same issue.

Dealer charged me $150 to replace. How about instead Ford changed the part design/specs so that it can take a little bit more abuse than being a parking lot queen, since it is supposed to be "Ford tough"...good thing I never took it actually off road yet, would shudder tom think at what damage could be! Yes, I know you can get the 4X off road package (for another $1500) that has steel skids plates in three areas, but as in in basic XLT trim it was over $50,000...would it be greater customer satisfaction to include this for free, or at least a better more durable guard/panel it a vehicle that was designed to go off road? Soured me for getting another one...and this is just one example of the extremely cheapness built into Ford vehicles nowadays

Quality is not a priority at Ford Motor Company. Production is the first priority at Ford.

I work in manufacturing at Ford plants for many years and it is the truth.

Make the production number and bypass any quality checks that are in the way.

Ford does not have to pay for repair or warranty cost if the customers don't file claims.

Can you tell me which part of the seven truth is Ford Motor Company comply to?

For long term success a company needs to be near or at best in class or provide something unique that customers can’t purchase elsewhere or be cheaper than all the competitors (many will deal with inferior quality if it’s cheap). Ford has none of these but I do hope a change in leadership could turn that around.

Value and speed. In order to succeed in any business you must provide Value and you must be able to respond to market changes with speed. Both will be a challenge to any corporate organisation.

@1fpr We are nowhere near Best In Class or even equal in car quality within class. If I want average, I’ll buy a KIA - wait, that will be an upgrade.

Huh? You don't want to strive to be best in class? Good luck with sales. This is the mindset that has ruined this company.

Our focus is not to be the best in class in any segment. In an effort to better control costs the quality built in to our vehicles is determined by the image vehicles we benchmark. The goal is to be equal to or slightly better then the competition.

Quality is the by product of a disciplined process, proper vehicle or component design targets, knowledgeable skilled engineering, and outstanding manufacturing with excellant communication and leadership between these 4 areas. You tell me if that describes your division.

Former Quality VP focused on easier metrics related to initial quality. Quality became focused almost exclusively on manufacturing with little support for PD. No reliability engineering support from quality Dept. Quality Dept would do a lot of finger pointing after blow-ups but little energy or even support for upstream advanced quality work.

It also doesn't help that many programs had an enormous amount of churn.

Company also has failed with program inception with many products cancelled after only a couple years of production.

On-site mods are also a huge problem with a lot executives saying that this is normal for all automotive companies. It is not. Tough to run a design validation with so many late changes.

What happened with quality? They, at one time where very good.