A Ford spokesman stated that 1.1 million of the recalled vehicles will be Ford Windstar minivans, which will be repaired due to the relatively small risk of fires. The rest of the 3.4 million vehicles will be Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles with the same switches installed, even though there have been no reports of fires associated to the cruise control switches in these vehicles.

All of the vehicles covered by the recall are from the 1992 to 2003 model years. According to the company spokesman, this marks the seventh recall initiated by faults with speed control switches made by Texas Instruments. In all, the recalls related to the problem cover 14.3 million vehicles and constitute the largest recall in Ford history. Vehicle owners will be notified by mail starting at the end of the month with instructions on how to get the problem fixed.

Ford Windstar (Image: Flickr)

Post from: EveryJoe

Ford Adds 4.5 Million Cars to Recall List

According to Ford’s research, most accidents are caused by inattentive drivers and the rate is even higher with newer drivers. As a result, car crashes remain the number one killer of teenagers in the United States.

To fight the growing trend of distracted driving, Ford Motor Company has taken action. Not only have they took the unusual step of backing a federal ban on texting while driving, Ford is also offering a “Ford Driving Skills for Life” program. In the program, the company plans to teach teen drivers the dangers of texing while driving and other forms of distracted driving.

Said Jim Graham of Ford: “It is important for automakers, lawmakers and communities to work together in addressing this escalating concern. Vehicle crashes take a major toll on our nation’s youth every year, which is why we are committed to teaching eyes-on-the-road, hands-on-the-wheel techniques.”

Texting while driving (Image: Flickr)

Post from: EveryJoe

Ford Warns Against Distracted Driving

The awards, which are based on research by AutoPacific, take into account what vehicle owners think of their automobiles.

Said George Peterson, AutoPacific’s President: “In today’s economy, car buyers take many factors into consideration – styling, safety features, fuel economy and more. IVA winners deliver the most of what consumers are really looking for in their vehicles.”

Ford won the award for the top-rated mainstream brand. It was the second straight year the company took home the award.

Other winners include Porsche for top-rated premium brand and the Honda Odyssey minvan for the top-rated overall vehicle.

“While some measurements barely differentiate between the highest and lowest-ranked vehicles,” said Peterson, “the Ideal Vehicle Awards clearly show which carmakers are providing the attributes car buyers want.”

Ford (Image: Flickr)

Post from: EveryJoe

Ford Does Well in Ideal Vehicle Awards

Compared to the rest of the automakers in the United States, Ford has been a shining beacon of hope. While companies such as General Motors and Chrysler make headlines for the wrong reasons, Ford has been able to survive without any federal bailout money. Most industry experts believe Ford isn’t in any danger of filing for bankruptcy anytime soon.

On the other hand, Chrysler has already filed for bankruptcy. General Motors has a deadline that they need to meet to avoid bankruptcy. And despite federal bailout money, the whispers about GM’s impending bankruptcy keep growing louder and louder.

Following this latest Ford news, their stock dropped to around $5 by the end of Tuesday.

Ford Logo (Image: Flickr)

Post from: EveryJoe

Ford Makes Nearly $1.5B in Stock Offering

Image: sxc.hu

Ford’s revenue dropped 37% in the quarter to $24.8 billion. Vehicle sales in the United States dropped 43%.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the company will not need a federal bailout loan unless the economy takes a significant downturn, or an uncontrolled bankruptcy causes a disruption in the flow of parts from the company’s suppliers.

In December, Ford had asked the government for a credit line of $9 billion, but they indicated they would not need to use it unless sales were worse than their expectations.

Though rivals GM and Chrysler are surviving on bailout money, Ford doesn’t seem like they will end up in the same boat.

Source: Wire Reports

Post from: EveryJoe

Ford Loses $1.4 billion in First Quarter

Deming warned against the Seven Deadly Diseases (also known as the “Seven Wastes”):

1. Lack of constancy of purpose.
2. Emphasis on short-term profits.
3. Evaluation by performance, merit rating, or annual review of performance.
4. Mobility of management.
5. Running a company on visible figures alone.
6. Excessive medical costs.
7. Excessive costs of warranty, fueled by lawyers who work for contingency fees.

It seems businesses  all have forgotten about these diseases.  Big business and small, we have:

• Sacrificed long-term improvement for short-term returns for shareholders
• Shuffled management rather like football coaches, hoping for those short-term victories
• Relied on business “heros” (quotes deliberate) to lead us (think Gates, Buffett, and many more)

Deming was also ahead of his time in warning against “excessive medical costs” and “excessive costs of warranty” (by which I believe he meant costs of taking everything to court, which people in the U.S. love to do).  And I didn’t make up that part about the lawyers, folks.

One more point: Ford Motor Company brought Deming back from Japan to help them improve quality and become more competitive.  Yes, that is the same Ford Motor Company that declined a bailout when the other two U.S. automakers accepted.

It wouldn’t hurt for the other two U.S. automakers – and all businesses, large and small – to go back and read Deming and consider what he was saying.

Image source: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

What the Automakers Forgot