Ford CEO confirms slowing production ramp-ups, company looks for increased Silicon Valley presence

Fields says Ford has learned to work more closely with suppliers, bringing them into the launch process earlier.

Ford CEO Mark Fields has told Automotive News that production ramp-ups have been slowed, and that the company would like to expand its office in California's Silicon Valley (US) after issues with the Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion launches in 2013. "Previously, we had some very compressed acceleration curves for new platform and new product … We had some issues with the Fusion and MKZ launches in Mexico." In that case, Ford shipped MKZs from its production point in the Hermosillo (Mexico) plant to the Flat Rock, Michigan (United States) facility for repairs and inspections. Fields says Ford has learned to work more closely with suppliers, bringing them into the launch process earlier and having them on location at the factory for reviews of major issues, while setting limits to reduce the number of vehicles produced that will ultimately have to be reworked.