I’ve been here a long time and can’t complain much because I’ve been quite satisfied here. Still, Ford is changing rapidly and I can say that this is a completely different company now than when I first started working here. I count the days until retirement and wonder how much Ford will change in the next few years.
9 replies (most recent on top)
@zck+1cC3w1yb That was a powerful statement. I really appreciate it. I've been saying to my wife that we could not be the only sane people in the asylum that is now our country, we could not be the only ones watching how the opinions of a malevolent minority is imposed on the majority, we could not be the only ones seeing people overlooking facts, skipping logic, distorting reality, defending lies.
I am not talking about politicians; they always lie. It is about the "regular" people, that are now confused, panicking and behaving intolerantly. It is the hatred, fueled by the extremists on both sides. It is the "progressive" woke speech not only in the news, not only in the schools, not only in the Congress, but also at work now. It is like the world has lost its way, like we are back at the ancient times of the tower of Babel, where we cannot understand each other, where words have lost their intended meaning, where there is no longer reasoning, just "feelings".
What an awful world we are leaving to our children!
Thanks
Until the company makes profit off of other vehicle lines other than F-Series the answer is "NO". I heard that the new DATA CEO guy said that he will generate $29bn new revenue for Ford. Good Luck with that. I don't know about you but I don't want someone pestering me either on the phone or email. I turn off those websites that have tracking cookies. I am sure most of you feel the same. So I hope this is not smoking mirrors when they pull in FCSD into his little kingdom. Because in his own words "NEW BUSINESS". WS I hope will see through that. We seen enough snake oil salesmen in this business!!!!
Well back to product. The Bronco launch not going so well. I hope it will not be another 2020 Explorer! Mach E seen mixed reviews on it but are the volumes there? Also what happens when uncle Sam pull the subsidies? Despite what Billy says , as a taxpayer your product needs to stand on its own merit. Tired of subsidizing something made outside NA.
When the chip issue comes under control the sales of the F-Series will have to be watched. If they continue to drop we are going into the toilet. Again these other products have to come to the plate. Maverick looks good, but execution is now the big question??? If they keep the TVM people out of it and let them focus on their jobs they may pull this one off. Despite all that the company will go through downsizing. Both salary & hourly.
If your future is to work for a company that's spiraling into the ground, sure then. I would not recommend to ANYONE to work at Ford.
I debated with myself if I should give you my bias opinion.
I was SRDed in 2019. I was also the department 2018 top achiever. The manager SRDed me in 2019 is the same person congratulated me in 2018.
The environment of the past few years is the much worst, worst than 2008. You no longer can trust your management. You no longer can trust your co-workers. What you do for work probably does not matter when it comes to personnel decision. There is no basic principle to follow. It is a not a right place to build your career.
Replying to OP question: "Is the company well positioned for the future?"
Yes, it is. In a time in history when everyone is talking about science, data, and experts - I think this company is well positioned for the future. Seriously, just listen to any show on CNBC - every host, guest, etc. is singing the praise of the future of Ford Motor Company. I haven't heard one bad thing about the company in the past 6 months from the experts on these shows. They all like the long-term prospects of the company. Just watch JC on Mad Money for instance. He brags all the time about all his wall street connections talking highly of the company. Now, little non-expert me of course, I wonder - don't any of these experts investigate things like current quality, employee morale, etc. Apparently Not! And they don't need to - they don't need factual data - they have credentials! And I even ask myself how can they be experts if they don't fully investigate these types of topics related to the future of the company. But I already know the answer. I actually believe we are in a time period in history that actual facts and real data don't really matter. What actually matters is the PERCEPTION that certain people want to convey and force others to believe. And this is true of every topic right now, not just the future of Ford Motor Company (examples include national debt, crime, political parties, pandemics, vaccines, military campaigns, morals/integrity, leadership, etc.)
Now don't misunderstand me, I am no fan of Ford Motor Company - I will not be buying any of their products in my remaining lifetime (2 in my history is enough for me), but regardless of my opinions of the company or the facts (and very little seems good) of what many of us see daily at work at Ford - the future of the company will be just fine. Disclaimer - this statement does not mean all of our individual futures will be OK. Many of us will ultimately pay a huge price. But the company will do just fine. Perception is the new reality. Get used to it. Don't believe me - than think about the subject of climate change. A past world leader once told us that he can see the changing climate occurring as he was interviewed on a major nightly news program looking at glaciers in Alaska. This leader told us whole cities will be destroyed by rising oceans, world economies will suffer, etc. Then he went and bought a mansion on a small island in the middle of the ocean! Was he held accountable for what he said - did the subject of climate change go away because of blatant hypocrisy? Not at all! People - Nothing is real - and we are all suckers in a big game being played out on nearly every subject, not just the future of Ford Motor Company. I often wonder whenever I read topics on this website -- do people at Ford actually believe they are part of the Ford family (when the company tells you so)? Do you actually think Billy cares about your personal welfare and future. Get real - he doesn't. To him, you and I are no different than a used piece of factory equipment that he doesn't need anymore. And even if the CNBC experts I referenced above are wrong (how could they be, they are experts. You and I are not even allowed to question them anymore); but even if they are wrong - do you think anyone is going to go back and hold them accountable for being wrong? Do you think the company will actually suffer. Just look at GM. Their future was horrible in 2008. There is no logical, sane reason they should exist as a company anymore. Yet, here here they are. And Ford will still have a future, no matter what the outcome. If they ultimately fail, the US taxpayer will bail them out! In the case of Ford - it is heads, Ford wins; tails Ford also wins! Unfortunately, that is not the case for some of us. Not this year, 2 years from now, or 5 to 10 years from now. And a bunch of know-it-alls will claim that the Ford family would suffer if the company doesn't do well because they have stock in the company, etc. Sure know-it-all guys. And unions contracts are always negated in company bankruptcies too -- right smart guys. GM proved you smart-guys all wrong. Pandemics proved you run-of-the-mouth-smart-guys all wrong (Big corporate stores like Home Depot and Lowes can stay open during a pandemic and sell paint, but small Mom and Pop paint stores MUST close and suffer). In a perfect world, Ford would suffer in the future if they don't do well, but this is now far from a perfect, just world; and the people in power just make up different rules for who they want to protect.
No. Excessive debt. Parking lots full of tens of thousands of unfinished vehicles. Chairman Bill Ford. Board of Directors includes Ford kids with zero value to add. CEO Jim Farley. Clueless senior management. We think people want us to sell their data. Need more? I could continue.
You can say Quality is Job #1, nuance the numbers, stroke the board, put up posters, and then sing kumbaya...
But as they say the PROOF is always in the pudding.
The short answer is no. I want to say that is was after the 2008 financial crisis, that (all/most) major companies, instead of developing 3, 5 and 10 years plans for long term growth starting chasing their Wall St quarterly numbers for short term growth.
It used to be that big business recycled their profits into expansion, thereby creating jobs and more widely distributed wealth. Now it’s all about the stockholders’ dividends, and just shuffling money around like paper creating wealth for a very few.
When the the stock market became a slot machine rather that a place to seek out capital to grow a business - everything went to sh!t. Companies had been doing this for some time and then the 2008 financial crisis accelerated this behavior. Around 2008 was when my annual pay raises changed, no longer based on merit and accomplishments, but to a generic 2%. 2008, or shortly thereafter, was when companies, on a yearly basis, starting using a flame thrower gutting their workforce as a method to boost their short term profits.
The intention is bold, but time will tell if the talent is there. The note Hau sent the other day basically reminding people that Quality is Job 1 was telling. I am not sure our quality will improve to necessary levels. We have replaced too many competent engineers with untrained new hires, while at the same time disregarding processes that used to serve us well. Too many talented and experienced people were either let go or pushed aside with SRD. And those who were promoted during SRD are grossly incompetent, incapable of leading and unable to train their staff (as they never did work to begin with). I believe it will be a rough go, particularly as those who are competent reach retirement age and leave out of pure frustration. For them, it's all about getting what is owed to them (pension) at this point. Being proud to be an employee at Ford is becoming a thing of the past, especially with the new focus on social justice. You are correct: the culture, people and competence are nowhere near what they used to be- but for a pensioner, the question has become, "How long can you tolerate it?"