Ford - McGraw-Hill Introduction to Business

Ford Suspends Production of F-150 after Fire at Factory

May 10, 2018

Modern factories depend on high-tech concepts such as automation and computer-aided manufacturing in order to operate as efficiently as possible. Despite these advancements, though, even the most state-of-the-art facilities can fall victim to unforeseen setbacks that halt production completely. At Ford, for instance, the automaker announced yesterday that it will temporarily stop making its popular F-150 trucks after a fire at a supplier’s factory damaged critical components.

The incident took place last week at a facility that serves as Ford’s Continue reading →

Product Development, Transportation, Ford, Layoffs, Operations Management, Human Resources, Manufacturing

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 11: Human Resource Management, Chapter 14: Product and Price

[VIDEO] How Cars Went from Boxy to Curvy

February 14, 2017

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For decades U.S. automakers designed boxy cars that looked slick but lacked any aerodynamic abilities. Then the Ford Taurus came around and changed America’s roads forever. This video chronicles how rising gas prices and European influences caused this gradual switch from rectangular to round vehicles.

Questions:

Why did curvy car designs take so long to catch on in the U.S. market?
How did the Ford Taurus change the American auto industry?

Cars, Transportation, Ford, Marketing, Product Design, Product Development

Chapter 1: Taking Risks and Making Profits, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution, Bonus Chapter B: Technology and New Media

Ford Goes Global with New Subcompact Car

January 23, 2014

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As emerging markets like India and Brazil continue to grow, more and more of their citizens will enter the middle class. This relatively untapped consumer group presents plenty of lucrative opportunities for companies across the globe. However, finding the right products to sell to this expanding class is not so simple, even for companies operating in their home countries. For instance, Tata Motors launched its ultra-cheap Nano model as an introductory vehicle for Indian consumers. But with a price tag Continue reading →

Transportation, Marketing, Ford, Global, Tata, Manufacturing, Product Development, Cars

Chapter 3: Globalization, Chapter 9: Production and Operations Management, Chapter 13: Marketing, Chapter 14: Product and Price, Chapter 15: Distribution

Crash Testing Cars with Computers

December 3, 2013

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Research and development has long been an expensive element of the auto industry. For decades devising even the smallest addition to an engine could cost millions of dollars and take as long as eight months to accomplish. But thanks to advances in technology over the last five years, engineers can now test dozens of designs within a virtual environment. As a result, automakers are at last seeking affordable innovations in fuel efficiency and overall vehicle performance.