Seeking someone who works at Ford Motors regarding Quality

[gard2372]

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?

[SteveDePaul]

In Reply to Parent Post by 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?

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

[Pudge 72]

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.

[SteveDePaul]

In Reply to Parent Post by Pudge 72

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.

[BradM]

In Reply to Parent Post by SteveDePaul

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. 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. If they are about the student (most are); they will help.

[BradM]

In Reply to Parent Post by SteveDePaul

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.

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!