Ford's Global One Manufacturing System Drives Efficiencies, Increases Capabilities And Lowers Total Cost Of Production

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Ford is deploying a single manufacturing operating system that will drive improved efficiencies, better capacity utilization
• As part of increasing plant flexibility, Ford will be able to produce 25 percent more vehicle derivatives per plant by 2015
• Ford will increase investment efficiency 8 percent a year by using standard processes and virtual tools

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is supporting its biggest global expansion in 50 years by rolling out a single manufacturing operating system that will drive improved efficiencies, increase capacity utilization and make the company an industry leader in lowest total cost production.

"The global One Ford plan is making it possible for us to deploy One Manufacturing, a single Ford production system that will pay tremendous dividends through standard processes, greater flexibility and improved investment efficiency," said John Fleming, Ford executive vice president, Global Manufacturing, at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars today.

Ford is adding capacity around the world, including a broad expansion in Asia Pacific Africa (APA), where the company is adding nine new plants. The facilities will increase APA's capacity to produce 2.9 million vehicles a year, part of a global plan to meet Ford's goal of selling 8 million vehicles a year by mid-decade.

As Ford brings on new facilities, it is expanding the use of common manufacturing processes and standard systems for tracking material, delivery, maintenance and environmental costs so that new and existing plants are aligned in how they operate. Ford is also making broader use of virtual tools that reduce the cost of new plants and improve the efficiencies of new model changeovers.

"It is critical that all of our assembly operations, wherever they are located, speak the same language when it comes to producing high-quality vehicles in a safe and efficient way," said Fleming.

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