Ford Opens New Quality Center At Rouge Site

[range]

FORD OPENS NEW QUALITY CENTER AT ROUGE SITE, HELPING TO BUILD TOP QUALITY INTO NEW 2009 F-150

 

- Quality center helps prove out manufacturing feasibility, rigorously test vehicles and train employees to ensure top quality for the new 2009 F-150 next year.

 

- Next generation of America’s best-selling truck builds on Ford’s significant quality gains. In 2007, Ford quality was rated among the best in the industry.

 

- New-Model Quality Center is located in the renovated Dearborn Glass Plant, a historic facility built in the - Rouge Complex in 1922 and designed by architect Albert Kahn.

 

 

 

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 11, 2007 – Ford Motor Company today marks the opening of its New- Model Quality Center at the historic Rouge site to support the introduction and ensure top quality of the new 2009 F-150 pickup next year.

 

 

Located in the renovated historic Dearborn Glass Plant, the New-Model Quality Center is designed to take Ford’s quality-focused manufacturing processes to the next level. The center is helping Ford prove out manufacturing, test vehicles and train employees for the next-generation F-150.

 

“Our recent launches have shown that we are among the best in the industry in quality,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “The New-Model Quality Center at the Rouge will ensure the same top quality for the new F-150 when it goes on sale next fall.”

 

Vehicle quality soared for Ford in 2007, as customers rated the company’s performance in a variety of important customer surveys equal to or better than the best in the industry.

 

Ford’s U.S. quality improved by 11 percent – versus 2 percent for the industry overall – according to the Global Quality Research System study. Ford also won 14 vehicle honors – more than any other automaker – in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2007 Initial Quality Study.

 

“In our design studios, in our product development laboratories and in our manufacturing plants, quality is our top priority,” said Fields. “Our teams are showing incredible discipline in following the processes and adhering to the highest standards.”

 

Quality is being designed into the 2009 F-150 at the earliest stages of development using highly advanced digital tools. For example, at Ford’s Digital Pre-Assembly laboratory, 18,000 truck design elements are evaluated on computer screens to ensure each part meets Ford’s own high standards, shaped by customer input.

 

Meanwhile, at the company’s Virtual Build Center, a launch team of engineers, plant employees and suppliers are “building” the new pickup on virtual assembly lines that replicate the Dearborn Truck and the Kansas City assembly plants, where the new F-150 will be produced in 2008.

 

 

 

Due to the rigorous digital processes, manufacturing issues are being virtually eliminated as the first physical prototypes of the trucks are built. The New-Model Quality Center at the Rouge also will help provide training on key assembly processes for a third of Dearborn Truck’s 3,200 employees. Employees will train on workstations built to replicate those in the chassis and final assembly areas. Two workstations allow in-depth study of the 2009 F-150’s new frame. At two additional workstations – with platforms that raise and lower to the employee’s height and job requirements – employees will learn installation procedures of new parts and components.

 

“Our vehicle quality has shown dramatic improvement this year because we’ve standardized a set of rigid processes throughout the design, development and manufacturing of our vehicles,” said Bennie Fowler, vice president, Ford Quality. “The New-Model Quality Center at Dearborn Truck represents an important part of the quality process in manufacturing.”

 

The New-Model Quality Center was funded in part by a $208 million investment Ford made in the Dearborn Truck Plant to support the launch of the new 2009-model truck. Ford now has such a quality center at each assembly plant in North America.

The New Ford F-150

 

The 2009 Ford F-150 will be revealed to the public at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in January. America’s best-selling vehicle and truck leader goes on sale next fall. While Ford is saving product details until the auto show, the company says the F-150 is new inside and out and that it will offer truck customers even more capability, choice and features.

 

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[rmc523]

Seems like these 'New-Product Quality Centers' ALONG W/ HARD WORK FROM FORD ASSEMBLY LINE WORKERS are helping to increase Ford's quality. Keep up the good work Ford!

Edited December 18, 2007 by rmc523

[range]

Seems like these 'New-Product Quality Centers' are helping to increase Ford's quality. Keep up the good work Ford!

 

Interesting that each assembly plant now has such a new-model quality center.

 

"The New-Model Quality Center was funded in part by a $208 million investment Ford made in the Dearborn Truck Plant to support the launch of the new 2009-model truck. Ford now has such a quality center at each assembly plant in North America."

[rmc523]

Interesting that each assembly plant now has such a new-model quality center.

 

"The New-Model Quality Center was funded in part by a $208 million investment Ford made in the Dearborn Truck Plant to support the launch of the new 2009-model truck. Ford now has such a quality center at each assembly plant in North America."

 

I noticed that too, but I assume since they are considered "New-Model Quality Centers," they should be at the factory producing the new model.

[Furious1Auto]

Seems like these 'New-Product Quality Centers' are helping to increase Ford's quality. Keep up the good work Ford!

That's right, designate one room or center in a plant for qaulity and presto the qaulity goes up on the floor? :slap: You might want to thank those who assemble them, rather than the people employed to babysit those who assemble them! All they did was slap a qaulity sign on a wall, the qaulity changes come from the people on the floor caring about their jobs and working together to eliminate defects!

Edited December 17, 2007 by Furious1Auto

[rmc523]

That's right, designate one room or center in a plant for qaulity and presto the qaulity goes up on the floor? :slap: You might want to thank those who assemble them, rather than the people employed to babysit those who assemble them! All they did was slap a qaulity sign on a wall, the qaulity changes come from the people on the floor caring about their jobs and working together to eliminate defects!

 

Sorry, I'll edit that.

[Furious1Auto]

Sorry, I'll edit that.

Maybe I was a little abrasive, It just erks my that the management is trying to take credit for what everyone has done working together by sighting their new quality center! They could build 20 qaulity check points and it would not affect quality unless the people make the change. I think that this transformation has been positive, out of all of the three domestics we are doing the pest in improving our product. It is a good time to work at Ford, because if these we stay focused we will be able to pass Toyota with less TGW. Paybacks are a .....

[Optimist in Atlanta]

You are correct in stating that the worker is a vital part! However, the quality center helps to keep the eye on the target. It isn't simply a showplace of charts and meetings.

 

There are always issues to address in order to maintain or improve quality --someone, such as the VRT's and such are also, a vital element....don't feel put out by the announcement--be proud of the fact you have been an important part of the solution! :banana piano: