Seeking someone who works at Ford Motors regarding Quality

[SteveDePaul]

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 : )

[Pudge 72]

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.

[Stijloor]

In Reply to Parent Post by SteveDePaul

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.

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.

[Boingo-boingo]

In Reply to Parent Post by SteveDePaul

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.....

[Stijloor]

In Reply to Parent Post by Boingo-boingo

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

Do you have any good suggestions for Steve?

Stijloor.

[Gert Sorensen]

In Reply to Parent Post by Boingo-boingo

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

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.

[Pudge 72]

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.

[RCBeyette]

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?