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Ford Expands Supplier Diversity Leadership Role by Naming New Technology Innovation Partners
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DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 14 / -- DiversityBusiness.com /- Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is expanding its leadership role in supplier
diversity by adding two companies to the Joint Technology Framework (JTF), a
special program aimed at improving suppliers' technical expertise.
Ford announced today that Piston Automotive LLC and Saturn Electronics &
Engineering Inc. are new members of JTF, bringing the number of companies in
the program to eight. Tony Brown, Ford group vice president, Global
Purchasing, made the announcement today at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's 10th
Annual Detroit Automotive Summit.
"Ford's commitment to a supply base that reflects our diverse customer base is
as strong as ever," said Brown. "The economic challenges facing all suppliers
are especially difficult for minority- and women-owned enterprises. These
groups need our support now more than ever so they can thrive when the economy
rebounds. Programs like JTF demonstrate that Ford is serious about this
responsibility."
Ford launched JTF one year ago to assist its suppliers in developing
innovative products and technical expertise. Under the program, there is a
formal process in which suppliers are given access to specific product and
process intellectual property from Ford Research and Advanced Engineering.
Suppliers are then licensed by Ford to develop the technologies and processes
for potential future use by Ford, other automakers, or other industries.
Including Piston Automotive and Saturn Engineering & Electronics, there are
eight minority- and women-owned businesses as initial participants in the JTF
program. Piston Automotive, based in Redford, Mich., is an assembly and
sequencing company, providing chassis modules and interior parts, as well as
logistics services. Saturn Electronics & Engineering is based in Rochester
Hills, Mich., and makes electronics and electrical components, modules and
sub-systems.
The following JTF suppliers are moving ahead with work in specific areas:
- Dakkota Integrated Systems, which develops and produces vehicle
interiors, is working with technologies that offer alternatives to
adhesives in interior components, and a product to enhance interior
stowage capacity.
- Gonzalez Production Systems, a maker of closure, welding and assembly
systems for the transportation industry, is working with ultrasonic
welding, a potential low-cost joining process for aluminum body
construction.
- Grupo Antolin Wayne, an assembler of modular overhead systems and
interior consoles, is working on new processes for reducing weight, as
well as new interior lighting options.
- Prime Wheel, which makes wheels for the original equipment and
aftermarket, is exploring potential alternatives to chrome wheel
finishes.
Ford has a long history of supporting women- and minority-owned suppliers and
holds a leadership role in the auto industry when it comes to spending with
those groups. Last year, Ford purchased $3.3 billion in goods and services
from its tier one minority business enterprises and women business
enterprises. Although the 2008 figure was below the $4.2 billion purchased in
2007 because of lower industry volumes, Ford's percentage of spending remained
the same at approximately 10 percent.
In addition, earlier this year Ford named three new minority- and women-owned
suppliers to its Aligned Business Framework (ABF), a select group of suppliers
chosen for long-term relationships. Those companies are Piston Automotive,
Uniworld Group and Zubi Advertising. Currently, minority- and women-owned
suppliers make up nearly 20 percent of the 82 ABF suppliers at Ford.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn,
Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's
automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
Todd Nissen, +1-313-322-4898, tnissen@ford.com, or Kimberly Harry,
+1-313-845-5167, kharry1@ford.com, both of Ford Motor Company
About DiversityBusiness.com
Launched in 1999, DiversityBusiness, with over 50,000 members, is the largest organization of diversity owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, and colleges and universities. DiversityBusiness provides research and data collection services for diversity including the "Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities", "Top 500 Diversity Owned Companies in America", and others. Its research has been recognized and published by Forbes Magazine, Business Week and thousands of other print and internet publications. The site has gained national recognition and has won numerous awards for its content and design. DiversityBusiness reaches more diverse suppliers and communicates more information to them on a more frequent basis then all other organizations combined. We also communicate with mainstream businesses, government agencies and educational institutions with information related to diversity. Our magazine reaches over 300,000 readers, a monthly e-newsletter that reaches 2.4 million, and website visitors of 1.2 million a month. It is a leading provider of Supplier Diversity management tools and has the most widely distributed Diversity magazine in the United States. DiversityBusiness.com is produced by Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. (CCAii.com) of Southport, CT. Founded in 1980.
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