On some assembly lines, today's MVP is a robotic tool that was originally developed for use on the battlefield. It's called an exoskeleton. The wearable device enables operators to perform a variety of overhead tasks. It minimizes physical strain and boosts efficiency.
LOUISVILLE, KY—Consumer demand for the new Lincoln Navigator and Ford Expedition have so exceeded expectations that Ford Motor Co. has increased its production targets by 25 percent while also investing another $25 million in improvements to its assembly plant here.
COLOGNE, Germany--Visual management techniques inspired by Ford Motor Co. are being used at Europe’s biggest cancer-treatment facility here, while the hospital’s big-data techniques are helping the automaker design future vehicles.
As automakers and suppliers search for new ways to reduce vehicle weight, some engineers are experimenting with natural fibers. Bamboo, cotton, hemp, jute, kenaf, rice and other crops can be used to produce high-strength composite structures for automotive applications.
DAGENHAM, UK—Ford Motor Co.’s engine assembly plant here is a surprising haven for 50 species of birds, protected voles, and a rare ladybug. Employees from the plant help to maintain and improve the habitat surround the factory by keeping waterways clear, restocking fish supplies, and planting more than 10,500 trees over the past 20 years.
CHICAGO—Ford Motor Co. has agreed to pay up to $10.1 million to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment at its Chicago assembly plant in Hegewisch and its Chicago stamping plant in Chicago Heights.
DEARBORN, MI—Exactly 100 years ago today—July 27, 1917— the first Ford Model TT truck rolled out of the assembly plant, beginning an American love affair with pickups that still burns hot.
LOUISVILLE, KY—Ford Motor Co. is investing $900 million to upgrade its Kentucky Truck Plant to build all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. This investment is in addition to a $1.3 billion investment the auto maker announced in late 2015.
