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Bill Ford out as Ford CEO
news.yahoo.com — "Bill Ford is stepping down as chief executive at Ford Motor Co. and the troubled automaker said Tuesday he will be replaced by Alan Mulally, a top executive from the airplane maker Boeing Co."
hemphill81- 407 diggs
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- Commodus, on 10/12/2007, -16/+7More in-depth information on the resignation here (not a duplicate):
http://digg.com/business_finance/Ford_CEO_Bill_Ford_resigns - crunkykd, on 10/12/2007, -8/+10Boeing manufactures and ships < 500 ridiculously complex products per year, each selling for 100's of millions of dollars, with only one other European-based competitor, and about a couple dozen possible customers, and a production line that is a big hanger where the product is stationary but crews rotate on and off to fabricate it by hand, and only 3-4 different models are made at any time. This does not sound like the auto business. So how does this new guy, with 37 years at Boeing - an entire career - have the perfect experience and the perfect background to lead Ford through a very delicate time?
- dantidote, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15its all about his experience with turning companies around. But you do have a point.
- hobbla87, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12According to management theory the head executive shouldn't have to know anything about the product in order to achieve maximum efficiency (neither should the chief financial officer).
Superstar CEO's go from industry to industry all the time with a lot of success.
You have to realize that they are only setting up and running the managerial structure of the company; they don't actually have any influence on the product/service itself. - puddpunk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6If it was the head of manufacturing, or sales department you'd have a point. Really the only things a CEO needs to be experienced with is management and business (and some get by without that!)
- gregharmon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9A large part of a CEO's value is in their connections among business leaders and politicians. This guy probably has a lot.
- whamdanglers, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Being a proud owner of a 2006 Mustang, I've had nothing but sympathy for Ford Motors in this troubled time. To see Bill Ford step down is a bit of a downer. However, don't be so quick to praise Mulally as a super-star of the CEO circuit. Having been in the aircraft industry (structural design, mechincal engineering, aerodynamics testing, and fluid mechanics), I can tell you that Boeing should NOT be used as an example or watermark of any kind when it comes to management.
Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire. Sorry Ford... - theone3, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3wham - at least he knows how to keep a train-wreck running.
- FanofFilm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Boeing manufacturing plants are going to the moving line, but the planes were never completely stationary during the assembly process. Come up to Renton or Everett some time for a tour and watch the process. Renton does the 737s on the moving line and rolls out a new plane every day. Everett has the much larger planes and is about to implement moving line on the 777.
Boeing has more than a couple dozen customers. Large aircraft are not only built for passenger flight. There are also all the cargo companies out there buying the same products. Also, most countries have their own airlines. So, you're looking at hundreds of customers all around the globe.
Parts are not manufactured by hand. The specifications on part manufacturing is to the 0.0001inch.
Currently being produced in the Puget Sound area alone is the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 747-400F, 747-400ER, 747-400ERF, 747-8, 747-LCF, 767-200ER, 767-300, 767-300ER, 767-300F, 767-400ER, 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777-300ER, 777 Freighter. That's 21 models on the commercial side. not 3 or 4.
Boeing Commercial Aircraft went through a pretty rough period right after 9/11. Lots of layoffs, strikes, etc. Then last year it posted record sales and continued that most of this year. They've hired back nearly all of those who were laid off as well as many many new people.
He's an executive. What executive does any of the engineering for a company? Or manufacturing planning?
And finally, he started at Ford. - brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5With all due respect, Bill Ford is no Henry Ford.
Henry was a true car guy. A true innovator, tinkerer, and businessman. As far as I'm concerned, Bill Ford is just a guy with a family fortune, an Ivy league business management degree, and questionable talent. To be honest, I see a scary number of similarities between Bill Ford and President Bush. I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
Look at the leaders of Toyota. They're Engineers: Analytical, Multi-disciplined, talented, proven decision makers. They "lack" the Hollywood-like status we give American Automaker executives. They're not Rock-Stars, in fact, I don't think I could name a single Japanese Automaker Executive even though I could easily name 10-20 American Auto Execs starving to be famous.
I believe that Alan Mulally's Appointment is another step in the right direction.
If there's one thing I'll give Bill Ford credit for, it was finding Mark Fields. I hope we can keep him for a long time to come because he actually listens. Lastly, I have to give Bill credit for admitting he isn't the man for the job and stepping down. I can only imagine how hard it must be to suck up your pride and step down from such an important position.
As a Dearborn resident, you bet your ass I've got an interest in what happens to Ford Mo. Co., and so do my neighbors. I've been seeing a lot of them donate their free time to the company and it makes me feel damn proud to see so many (white & blue collar) people pitching in to save our city and a troubled 103 year old American Icon.
FORD = First On Recovery Day. - JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"I've been seeing a lot of them donate their free time to the company and it makes me feel damn proud to see so many (white & blue collar) people pitching in to save our city and a troubled 103 year old American Icon."
Your spirit and attitude is commendable but with all due respect, the problem is beyond your control. IMO, the real problem is deeply rooted in corporate philosophy and management style. The effects are noticeable in the very early engineering (pre-manufacturing) phase.
American management tends to view engineering not as a highly essential first step to be promoted and refined but rather as an expense to be controlled. The end result is engineering that leaves much to be desired. A poorly engineered car costs more to manufacture and is less reliable than it could be. - RajAtWork, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I kind of liked Ford under Ford mgmt, at least they tried.
From experience, Boeing is a terrible place as far as upper level management goes.
- nlatimer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+29Flying cars ftw!
- pintomp3, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14and you thought the escalade was big, introducing the ford 747!
- gmillerd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Good deal, now maybe we can get a GM+Ford+Delphi merger going, dump Jag and the other mismanaged acquisitions they screwed over and turn the American car around - lean and mean
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Unfortunately, I don't think a Ford/GM merger would benefit either company. Both companies suffer from the same problems. If you believe otherwise, I'd love to hear your arguments.
- billyboobs34, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6...and Boeing is doing so well, oh wait...
- puddpunk, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3Hehe, you know when your execs are jumping ship to Ford things aren't going so well!
- FanofFilm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2check your news. record sales.
for him it's all about going from head of one part of a company, to head of the company.
- kirashira, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2Toyota FTW
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Not if I can help it.
I live in Dearborn & you can bet your ass my neighbors & I will be working some long hours to do whatever it takes.
***** Toyota. - JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3>***** Toyota.
According to Toyota, the auto industry is about 2 things; engineering and manufacturing. All else is secondary.
According to Ford, the auto industry is about 2 things; marketing and cost reduction. All else is secondary.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Not if I can help it.
- totorototoro, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2four years too late.
- vhcougar, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3he deserves to be out after stopping production on the gt.
god, those things were lovely... :(- Harbinger67, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2It was time for it to go. It was meant to be limited from day 1. Now we just need the GR-1 or something equally awesome to step up and kick everyone's butt in round 2.
- Toon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Great. Now I'm going to be driving a 1989 Mulally Taurus?
Not quite the same ring to it. What wrould former President Gerald Mulally have to say about this?- Toon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Would not wrould. I didn't turn into Scooby Doo as I was typing that.
- Wolfie351, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Ford has the most boring lineup of cars out there, and this is coming from a die-hard Ford guy! Hopefully he'll shake things up a bit or else my next car will be a Dodge.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I suggest taking a look at the INSIDE of the new Ford Fusion. Preferably one with Distinct White Threaded leather seats.
I saw one today at the Ford Kansas City truck plant and I was damn impressed. This particular car had aftermarket chrome rims and low profile tires. It looked REALLY sharp.
The 2007 Ford Escape looks really sharp too, but unfortunately, that's all I can say at this point so you'll just have to take my word for it for now
;-) - a99tandem, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I just bought a Fusion not more than a week ago.. I dumped my Mazda 6 for it.. sure.. its the same f'ing car.. but its an American version with better financing (0%) And in all honestly.. I have owned Mazda, Saturn, Ford, Toyota, and Honda.. and my 95 Taurus gave me fewer problems than all of the others combined.. maybe I was just a lucky guy.. but I think the whole "American cars are less reliable" deal is fast becoming a thing of the past...
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@A99Tandem
Before I became an Engineer, I was a ASE master mechanic at several Ford Dealerships, and I can vouch that the 95 Taurus was one of the best cars Ford ever built. Occasionally, the 3.8 liter models would blow headgaskets & the 3.0 versions had a small hose that would always leak. Other than that, we saw them relatively infrequently considering the hundreds of thousands that were built. I was never much of a fan of the 1996+ Tauruses. IMHO, that's when things started going downhill. - JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"... but I think the whole "American cars are less reliable" deal is fast becoming a thing of the past..."
Looking at sales figures, the consumer obviously does not agree. American cars remain on a path of slow gradual decline in terms of market share; despite being less expensive and in some isolated cases, just as good quality wise.
The American industry has worked long and hard to earn the reputation it now has. Reversing this will take years of consistent, above average performance across the board. Almost noone sees this as a likely scenario.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I suggest taking a look at the INSIDE of the new Ford Fusion. Preferably one with Distinct White Threaded leather seats.
- kyleebrock, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Is this the same Dick Ford who let-off all those workers before the Super Bowl then reminded them to come to his stadium for the game?
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2WTF are you talking about? I haven't heard anything about this.
- cnyquis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It takes a smart, humble owner/CEO to understand that there is someone who can help his company achieve success better than he can.
- chasealicious11, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Bill Ford has been the worst CEO in the history of Ford, hands down he just didn't have what it takes and severely crippled it
- saury316, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Crazy thing is that I just read an article in this month's Business 2.0 that was talking about future possible mergers, and one of them was between Ford and Boeing (done by Bill Ford but hey they can't be 100% correct).
And now a former executive of Boeing is headed Ford....who knows....- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Interesting,
But I'm not seeing any advantages to either company.
Did the article mention any? Maybe Boeing could benefit from the excess Mfg. infrastructure in the Midwestern states? Maybe Ford could sell their seatbelts to Boeing? That's about all I can think of..........
In recent years, there has been a big push at Ford to get out of any businesses that don't focus on the Automotive sector. I thought it was a mistake to abandon profitable markets but maybe Mgt. knows something I don't? - brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@saury316
Actually, There is one REALLY big advantage of a rumored Ford/Boeing merger that I just thought of.....
Both Companies have a lot of common CAD software infrastructure (CATIA V5).
At the small automotive supplier that I work at, we spend roughly $20,000 per year just in software licensing for ONE seat of CATIA! (in addition to the cost of the uber-hardware) Maybe a potential merger (rumor at this point) could somehow leverage available licenses due to the 3 hour time zone difference between Dearborn & the West Coast?
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Interesting,
- honkyman5000, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Bye bye trust fund baby. Maybe Ford will get back to making a car Americans want instead of trying to save the planet or make social statements like the divorced dad who gets dropped off at the apartment after a weekend with the kids.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1divorced dad or somebody forced to take a job away from home to feed their family in today's ***** economy? Despite the bright picture in other parts of the country, the economy is a disaster in areas like Michigan and Ohio.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I can relate to the guy in the comercial. It absolutely sucks having a family & a mortgage in one state while working & renting an apartment in another 200 miles away.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1divorced dad or somebody forced to take a job away from home to feed their family in today's ***** economy? Despite the bright picture in other parts of the country, the economy is a disaster in areas like Michigan and Ohio.
- artgon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What are the chances they get another CEO with the last name Ford?
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Slim chance......
As far as I know, the only other "Young" Ford employee is Elena Ford who heads up the Marketing dept., and IMHO, only recently has the company developed an adequate marketing plan (with the help of an outside company named JWT.)
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Slim chance......
- dmclone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3It's all about product and reputation.
Between Ford, GM, and Chrysler they probably have 300+ models and I can think of about 5 that are best in class or that I would want.
300C/Charger-I wouldn't want one but they are a big hit.
Corvette-Bang for the buck-Can't be beat
Solstice-Nice car. Not as refined as the Miata but still good and great looking.
Tahoe-The new Tahoe's are a lot better. I'd say they are the best in their price range
Now look at Honda. They have about 8 total models and every one of them is either leader in it's class or close.
Accord-Benchmark that everyone compares itself to.
Civic-Benchmark
CRV-Long in the tooth but a new one is coming. Will be benchmark
S2000-Benchmark-Drive one and tell me something different.
Pilot-Benchmark
Odyssey-Benchmark
Element-No real comparison to any other vehicle. Ugly but very functional
Ridgeline-Not bad but nothing real special IMO. A nice version of a Chevy Avalanche- JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2>It's all about product and reputation.
According to Toyota who is on track to become the world's biggest auto manufacturer this year, it is all about engineering and manufacturing. Year after year after year, the consumer is slowly but steadly embracing this approach over the philosophy of Ford and GM which are primarly focused on marketing and cost reduction.
- JQP123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2>It's all about product and reputation.
- michaeldillon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Maybe he'll take over for Matt Millen with the Lions.
- bmorrow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Or maybe his dad will follow suit.
- TimDigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2http://www.fordboldmoves.com/default.aspx
- bufbarnaby, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1And Ricky Bobby is in.
- mrrbob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Just bought a brand new Toyota Tacoma double cab TRD. I fully expect it to be sitting in my driveway in 10 yrs without any problems. I did not even test drive a ford.
I would have if I needed an F350 but I can tell you now it would have been a waste of time because I already know I would buy the dodge ram 3500 if I did need the big truck. The big ford interior sooo... sucks.
Ford needs to understand one single fact. People are not as stupid as their marketing department thinks. People are sick and tired of spending huge money for crap that falls apart in 3-4 yrs. As for the Toyota I just bought I could tell you lots of things I don't like about it but I do think they spent their time and money on engineering not trinkets or stereos etc. Dash design SUCKS, Stereo (600.00+) SUCKS, Air conditioning vents are a joke. OK Toyota is not perfect but if the damn thing will just not fall apart in 3-4 yrs like ford/chevy etc I will be happy.
Please ford make some quality cars/trucks and I'll consider buying one.
AND FORD, what the hell is up with suing websites who have the word mustang in them. These guys are supporting your cars with accessories and parts that you will not bother making. I MIGHT consider buying a mustang but not with this kind of crap coming out of your legal dept. Don't you think this kind of thing will have any backlash? Idiots!
###- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1You sir, are a moron.
Firstly,
Please don't say "all toyotas are good, All Fords & Chevys are junk". How is that any better than saying all **insert minority group here**are ** insert negative comment here***.
Stereotypes are a way simpletons like you extrapolate facts rather than examining the facts. Facts like Toyota having over 1 million vehicles recalled this summer. Facts like Toyota slipping behind Korean Automaker Hyundai in J.D. Power's latest Initial quality study. Facts like Toyota's Scion brand ranking behind 25 other brands including almost all American brands.
Am I saying that ALL Scions are Junk? No, not at all. Maybe there's only one one model they're having problems with that's dragging the rest of the brand down. Maybe the other vehicle brands in the study are so exceptional that even the Scion Brand isn't a bad choice.
Just do some current research before you start spouting off like a crazed Toyota Fanboy.
If you want to buy a Toyota, do it. Buy any vehicle you like, Imported or Domestic. That's right - I'm telling you to buy what you want - even imports. Just don't cite out of date generalizations as your justification for buying an import when the "buy American" fanboys hassle you.
- brad3378, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1You sir, are a moron.
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