My name is Steven and I am doing research on Ford Motors (F) for my Quality Control/Six Sigma course at DePaul University. My group and I chose Ford Motors to research over a period of seven weeks. We need to identify important quality issues and describe how DMAIC problem solving methodology could be applied to the problem.

I’m looking for a contact at Ford that relates to Quality (hopefully a mid/upper manager or a FCSD PR) who I can communicate with over a period of 5-7 weeks (via phone/email/private messages).

If there’s anyone who can help me, please e-mail me at Cloud11 at gmail.com
Thanks : )

Steven - quick questiuon - why Ford?
I suppose if your path is already laid out and cannot be changed then that is the way it has to be.
Let me suggest to you and your team a couple of things though. I am not sure what your thesis involves - if you actually think that Ford is going to let in the door and look at actual problems to apply to what you have learned thus far in your training / schooling - good luck. First of all, you will meet terrible resistance from the mainstreamers if you can even get into the door.
Second, they will never show you anything of substance as it relates to product issues or failures due to liability becasue you don't work for them.
If you have the opportunity - and if your heart is set on automotive, I would look at a progressive company that fosters the ideas that you are interested in applying and encourages this type of thinking, Toyota would be the prime candidate here. Even then, I don't believe that there are a lot of companies around that will welcome you with open arms to wrap your arms around a problem within their facility. Culture, money and proprietary issues will likely be standing in your way. I know that my company would never let anyone in to do this type of research.
You may have to overcome and adapt a bit and approach it from the perspective of a project that has already been completed to see if you could possibly get the raw data that was used in the investigation, and see if you come out with the same or better results than the team that worked on it.
Good luck in your endevours.

My name is Steven and I am doing research on Ford Motors (F) for my Quality Control/Six Sigma course at DePaul University. My group and I chose Ford Motors to research over a period of seven weeks. We need to identify important quality issues and describe how DMAIC problem solving methodology could be applied to the problem.

I’m looking for a contact at Ford that relates to Quality (hopefully a mid/upper manager or a FCSD PR) who I can communicate with over a period of 5-7 weeks (via phone/email/private messages).

If there’s anyone who can help me, please e-mail me at Cloud11 at gmail.com
Thanks : )

Hello Steve,

Pudge has given you excellent advise. Have you and your Team considered approaching an automotive supplier? A Tier One or Tier Two supplier perhaps? It may be easier to get into the door if you have the right contacts. You may want to contact a local ASQ Chapter, come to the meeting and state your case. You'll find responsive people there.

ASQ Chapter in Chicago (http://www.asqchicago.org/).

Pudge is right, due to all the stuff going on in Chrysler/Ford/GM Land....you'll have a hard time getting things in motion for you...

Keep us posted on developments. Covers always like to know if the folks we helped, succeeded.

Stijloor.

I’m looking for a contact at Ford that relates to Quality It would probably be easier to find a human rights commissioner in North Korea than to find what you are looking for.....:lmao:

It would probably be easier to find a human rights commissioner in North Korea than to find what you are looking for.....:lmao:

Do you have any good suggestions for Steve?

Stijloor.

It would probably be easier to find a human rights commissioner in North Korea than to find what you are looking for.....:lmao:

:topic: It may be funny to you, but unless you have something substantial to back up a remark like that you may consider if the tone you are using may be insulting to other participants at the Cove. You have not been around for long, and maybe you are not aware that we have a large portion of participants from the automotive industry. Some of them may feel insulted by a remark like that.

This has the potential to turn really nasty really fast.
So, with the repect of my fellow Covers in mind, I will shut up about the responses as they relate to Politics and the Automotive Industry.
I will say again though, Steve - I think that your real benefit and most potential from this excersize may be best realized from a Service Industry provider. Remember, if it is not too late to change your focus group, the people who will be the most receptive to your endevour are the groups that continuosly demonstrate "Out of the Box" thinking and change. And, to some extent, give consideration to those who may not even be aware of the techniques that you want to use. How powerful and effective would it be to show process improvement and significant profit margin increase at the local 25 person machine shop?
This is where I would start looking and really trying to sell what you are talking about here - your service is free and the benefit could be huge to a small shop. Reaching for the stars and trying to play with the big boys is great, but, remember, the concepts that you are trying to implement can best be achieved within a culture that is not resistant.
I called my contact who used to work at the Wixom Ford plant over the weekend - he confirmed my thoughts on letting someone in the plant to do this type of work that was not under contract. Policy may have changed since his employment there as he is no longer with the company, so, please let us know how this turns out for you.

I admit to being concerned - or is disappointed - that Steve has not returned since he posted his request. I wonder if he posted his request, along with his email, and thought he could leave it at that. Then again, it was a Friday and not everyone comes on the Cove during the weekend. I continue to hold out hope for him to return.

Without knowing much about Steve's course, I know that some business programmes arrange with a business for students to come in for a several weeks, look at the situation and provide recommendations. That being said, it's usually smaller businesses and not those of Ford's magnitude.

If Ford wanted, they could limit the access of the team to one problem, but seven weeks really isn't a lot of time. An organization like Ford requires time to learn the culture, people, layout...let alone any problems.

I like the ideas of going to a supplier or is it possible to gain data on a problem already "solved" by Ford and, using the raw data, see if the team comes up with the same solution or something creatively different?

I'd also check with the University. I can't immagine that the University doesn't already have corporate partners who allow interns or Co-ops to work and/or perform studies on behalf of the company and get course credit?

After all for a 6S project, they'd almost need to be involved an actual project why not at an actual company who partners with the university who wants to fund a 6S project at an intern/co-op pay rate?

I admit to being concerned - or is disappointed - that Steve has not returned since he posted his request. I wonder if he posted his request, along with his email, and thought he could leave it at that. Then again, it was a Friday and not everyone comes on the Cove during the weekend. I continue to hold out hope for him to return.

Without knowing much about Steve's course, I know that some business programmes arrange with a business for students to come in for a several weeks, look at the situation and provide recommendations. That being said, it's usually smaller businesses and not those of Ford's magnitude.

If Ford wanted, they could limit the access of the team to one problem, but seven weeks really isn't a lot of time. An organization like Ford requires time to learn the culture, people, layout...let alone any problems.

I like the ideas of going to a supplier or is it possible to gain data on a problem already "solved" by Ford and, using the raw data, see if the team comes up with the same solution or something creatively different?

I'm sorry everybody. It's been a very hectic weekend. I mentioned to my teammates of the liability issue of releasing out classified information. With hours of research and brainstorming, we chose to address the Ford F-Series recall (Cruise control) as our main quality issue.

As for assistance towards the project, there is no real "help" from our professor. It's a shame but we are doing the best we can. Other groups have difficult companies too such as Motorola, UPS, and Starbucks.

We are still desperately seeking a contact with Ford but we realize it's close to impossible. I believe the main question we wanted to ask a Ford employee was their Dashboard and how they measure Quality with the F-Series.

And yes, it's only an undergrad course. We are still going in detail on the DMAIC/SIPOC model.

Thanks for the support everybody. I know this project is too challenging but we are trying our best :)

Steve, I put out a couple of feelers on this one and am waiting to hear from a few other people.
We may not get you a direct contact, but - with a little luck might be able to get you something that is directly pertinent to your project.
Either way, I'll let you know - please keep us in the loop, I think that you have peaked some interest with this particular topic.

Steve, I put out a couple of feelers on this one and am waiting to hear from a few other people.
We may not get you a direct contact, but - with a little luck might be able to get you something that is directly pertinent to your project.
Either way, I'll let you know - please keep us in the loop, I think that you have peaked some interest with this particular topic.

Thank you, I really appreciate it. It's not like I work for GM or Toyota, but rather a curious student who's interested in 6S and Quality control. :D

I'm sorry everybody. It's been a very hectic weekend. I mentioned to my teammates of the liability issue of releasing out classified information. With hours of research and brainstorming, we chose to address the Ford F-Series recall (Cruise control) as our main quality issue.

As for assistance towards the project, there is no real "help" from our professor. It's a shame but we are doing the best we can. Other groups have difficult companies too such as Motorola, UPS, and Starbucks.

We are still desperately seeking a contact with Ford but we realize it's close to impossible. I believe the main question we wanted to ask a Ford employee was their Dashboard and how they measure Quality with the F-Series.

And yes, it's only an undergrad course. We are still going in detail on the DMAIC/SIPOC model.

Thanks for the support everybody. I know this project is too challenging but we are trying our best :)

Ahh... the struggles of research:). Many times, interesting cases and ideas become extremely difficult/impossible to research. Thus, even in research there are tradeoffs.

Do you have something to start off with? Are there articles, news releases to begin with? Are there similar case studies you can base your case on?

Too, remember the First Rule Of Holes-When you find your digging a hole; stop digging. :tg: If you have a lot of difficulty with accessing data, you may need to develop an easier target. There are several cases with NASA, many of them discussed here. I think I remember Steve P. providing some pretty good information. Or, pick something associated with gov't; where data may be more readily accessible.

Of course switching subjects will be up to your professor. I know this probably don't help you much, but your professor is doing their job. He/she wants you to think, and possibly realize these roadblocks. Talk to them about what you are finding, and then have a solution in-hand. Solutions should be projects within your group that you find that interest you, and that you can obtain the necessary information.

In the end, your professor should be far less concerned with the industry or the problem at hand. Of more concerned is your group working as one, developing a well-thought out problem; establishing reasonable solutions, and fully developing controls/follow-up.

Communicate with your professor; they are human:D. If they are about the student (most are); they will help.

Thank you, I really appreciate it. It's not like I work for GM or Toyota, but rather a curious student who's interested in 6S and Quality control. :D

Steve, at one time even the great pioneers of quality were students. Everyone at some time had to begin the quest of understanding the tools/ methods, and aligning them with the problems. Understanding the problem is a large portion of the challenge, IMHO. Developing appropriate measures would be a close second!:tg: