4d4evr-1 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../808120347/1148 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../808120347/1148 I'm glad to see Ford is stressing quality and is striving to be #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoMoCobra Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Thats what i like to hear! I'm sure they can become number 1 in quality. It would only save money in the long run. Quality equals less warranty repair costs and higher residual values. And that equals higher sale prices of off lease vehicles which in turn equals: Profit! And a successful car company.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Talk is cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 You have to know where you are going if you are ever going to reach your goal. Ford has set a direction. If recent history is a guide, Ford is making progress. Holding launches until everything is right is a good policy. Standing behind the product when things do go wrong is just as important. With warranty costs going down profits will rise. Warranty work comes right out of profit. Next up should be a longer more inclusive warranty. As AMC used to advertise " When you build them better you can back them better". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versa-Tech Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 You have to know where you are going if you are ever going to reach your goal. Ford has set a direction. If recent history is a guide, Ford is making progress. Holding launches until everything is right is a good policy. Standing behind the product when things do go wrong is just as important. With warranty costs going down profits will rise. Warranty work comes right out of profit. Next up should be a longer more inclusive warranty. As AMC used to advertise " When you build them better you can back them better". I'm not saying you're wrong on this one, but in my experience the worse a car is designed/engineered/built, the better the warranty. Compensation is key. It's not a universal rule, but it definitely applies to a majority of vehicles produced today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4d4evr-1 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 Talk is cheap. If you read the article, Ford stated how they planned to reach the stretch goal. They begin with the quality improvements already in place proven by their own data and JD Power and Consumer Reports, then use local workforce by educating in the quality improvemet tool bag of six sigma to include more of the Ford team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Good. They have taken the first step - they have the goal. Now let hte hard work begin. I hope that they are successful at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I'm not saying you're wrong on this one, but in my experience the worse a car is designed/engineered/built, the better the warranty. Compensation is key. It's not a universal rule, but it definitely applies to a majority of vehicles produced today. The aluminum Vega block comes to mind! It was cheaper to replace engines than make a new engine design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Next up should be a longer more inclusive warranty. As AMC used to advertise " When you build them better you can back them better". Value. This is how you add value to the consumer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 As AMC used to advertise " When you build them better you can back them better". The only problem with that is that they didn't build them better. Probably some of the poorest engineered cars ever to go down a US assembly line came from AMC, but then again they were a tiny company trying to compete with GM and Ford. It's hard to improve quality when you your R&D department is running on food stamps. I just love this old AMC ad. Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm7Jam2phTk Imagine a car maker today having a customer say that their new car "has a few rattles in it" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 The only problem with that is that they didn't build them better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 If you read the article, Ford stated how they planned to reach the stretch goal. They begin with the quality improvements already in place proven by their own data and JD Power and Consumer Reports, then use local workforce by educating in the quality improvemet tool bag of six sigma to include more of the Ford team. I did read the article. Good for them for having goals. But, like I said. Talk is cheap. I remember about ten years ago my plant rolled out FTPM. Management talked a good talk, but in the end, nobody was held accountable for not doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I did read the article. Good for them for having goals. But, like I said. Talk is cheap. I remember about ten years ago my plant rolled out FTPM. Management talked a good talk, but in the end, nobody was held accountable for not doing it. It appears things have changed. Talking the talk doesn't explain significantly better than average improvements on all available quality metrics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4d4evr-1 Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 I did read the article. Good for them for having goals. But, like I said. Talk is cheap. I remember about ten years ago my plant rolled out FTPM. Management talked a good talk, but in the end, nobody was held accountable for not doing it. Things appear to be different now. The article stated that over the last 5 years Ford has made significant progress in quality, better than anyone else. With that backdrop, they plan to step up the improvement process by involving more people, specifically local workforce. Yea this may all be talk, but considering the change in management that has been reported by the press, lets hope they have "seen the light" and are going to get it more right this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Things appear to be different now. I sure hope you and Richard are right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tico Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 04 Mustang GT, 04 Taurus SES, bought new and almost new. Almost 50 and 70 K miles respectively. No problems or repairs except oil and tires so far. I will buy Ford again in a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah Harbinger Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 (edited) Talk is cheap. Talk that you don't back up is expensive. Let's hope they know what they're saying. (my money is riding on Yes....) Edited August 14, 2008 by Noah Harbinger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 The item mentions Ford wants to improve JD Power rankings in the item, Fords top vehicles in the survey were the Crown Vic & Ranger both models are time-ex l can only see rankings getting worse for Ford once they are gone. Ford rewards St Pauls Quality with plant closure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 The item mentions Ford wants to improve JD Power rankings in the item, Fords top vehicles in the survey were the Crown Vic & Ranger both models are time-ex l can only see rankings getting worse for Ford once they are gone. Ford rewards St Pauls Quality with plant closure? Quite the contrary. You're forgetting that this was a survey of 2005 model vehicles. The Fusion, e.g., isn't even included and it has much higher quality than the CV - best ever for Ford in fact. So next year when the 2006 Fusion is added the scores will be even better. And the trend is continuing - all of the new vehicles are better than the older vehicles. That's why the initial quality scores show Ford equal with Toyota and Honda while the dependability survey still shows them further behind. They'll get better each year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Jellymoulds Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 (edited) Quite the contrary. You're forgetting that this was a survey of 2005 model vehicles. The Fusion, e.g., isn't even included and it has much higher quality than the CV - best ever for Ford in fact. So next year when the 2006 Fusion is added the scores will be even better. And the trend is continuing - all of the new vehicles are better than the older vehicles. That's why the initial quality scores show Ford equal with Toyota and Honda while the dependability survey still shows them further behind. They'll get better each year. Thanks to RWD Fords has done well in the 2008 JD Power dependability survey without them Fords credibility would have been rock botton as a company. Nearly all the vehicles that were No1 best in class in the 2008 JD Power survey were RWD apart from the compacts. Fords FWD drive cars don't do that well in Europe JD Power surveys so l can't see any class winners from Ford in the future where Ford has a below average rating. None of Fords cars in Europe come anywhere near the top of their class. Ford Mondeo 36th/100 http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report...&EL=3243778 Ford Focus 51st/100 http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report...&EL=3243777 Ford Fiesta 75th/100 http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report...&EL=3243774 Ford Ka 93rd/100 http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report...&EL=3243770 RWD Rangers JD Power No1 Best in Class. http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...ickups-and-Vans RWD Crown Vics JD Power No1 Best in Class. http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...-and-Large-Cars RWD Mercury Monterey JD Power No 1 Best in Class http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...ickups-and-Vans Edited August 14, 2008 by Ford Jellymoulds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stpatrick90 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Thanks to RWD Fords has done well in the 2008 JD Power dependability survey without them Fords credibility would have been rock botton as a company. Nearly all the vehicles that were No1 best in class in the 2008 JD Power survey were RWD apart from the compacts. Fords FWD drive cars don't do that well in Europe JD Power surveys so l can't see any class winners from Ford in the future where Ford has a below average rating. RWD Rangers JD Power No1 Best in Class. http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...ickups-and-Vans RWD Crown Vics JD Power No1 Best in Class. http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...-and-Large-Cars RWD Mercury Monterey JD Power No 1 Best in Class http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008...ickups-and-Vans The Mercury Monterey was the Merc version of the Ford Freestar which means that it was a FWD minivan, not RWD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P71_CrownVic Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 The VDS study is crap. Rather than rate manufacturer-related shortcomings, the VDS tracks whatever the owner considers a "problem". The VDS’ five most commonly reported problems include brake noise, pulling to one side, and excessive window fogging. So, if I complain that my tires wear prematurely (because I fail to keep them properly inflated), then that is a mark against that specific model. Not very credible... Link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 the VDS tracks whatever the owner considers a "problem" Actually, if I'm a manufacturer, I want to know exactly what my customers consider to be problems. This is a customer driven industry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 With warranty costs going down profits will rise. Warranty work comes right out of profit. Next up should be a longer more inclusive warranty. As AMC used to advertise " When you build them better you can back them better". I'm not saying you're wrong on this one, but in my experience the worse a car is designed/engineered/built, the better the warranty. Compensation is key. It's not a universal rule, but it definitely applies to a majority of vehicles produced today. I could see it either way.....you could as Mark said, supply a longer warranty because the cars were better, and thus less problems: you're showing off your quality by saying we can have a nice long warranty and still not have problems; however, as Versa-Tech said, the "compensation" approach can also be taken...the customer could say "why's it gotta long warranty does it break a lot?"....now I wouldn't think most customers would be complaining or questioning a longer warranty, but still the possibility is there. Really it's a catch 22 situation, I guess there is not really a better way, aside from the fact that with the first, longer warranty option, you could tout how long the warranty is, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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