Are We Being Too Harsh And Critial Of Ford Australia

[jpd80]

With Ford Australia announcing that they are seeking voluntary redundancy
for 240 workers and down balancing the line speed from 260/day to 209/ day,
are we being too harsh and critical of Ford Australia?

Like others on here over the past week, I've vented my anger/frustration
at the disappointingly low Falcon sales of late and perhaps that is colouring
perspective of the bigger picture and long term outlook for Ford Australia.
Maybe things are nowhere near as bleak as they appear.....

At present the plant line speed is set at 260/day but running three days a week
so by going back to 209/day a full five day working week will return and if things
improve, maybe there will be overtime on hand to build additional units.

Scenario 1:
If Falcon sales don't improve in the immediate future, the workforce
will still has sufficient vehicles to build when Falcon-Ute-Territory are combined

Scenario 2:
If Falcon sales do recover and additional production time is required to
build say, Territory then that can be done in overtime on Saturdays.
Four extra Saturdays would enable another 800 odd vehicles to be made,
it's possible that Ford could find itself working more days than it thinks...


Few if any on here would know what the minimum limit of viability is for Broadmeadows
but by the way Ford are prepared to make changes, it looks like they are prepared to
wait out this low point in sales and back their new products and engines that are
coming progressively over the next six to nine months. This is probably the best
form of cost control open to FoA and shows they are not prepared to throw in the towel
just yet on their products, maybe they know something about coming trends we don't...

Perhaps Ford Head office likes the way FoA are managing costs and is prepared to
back FoA more than we can ever imagine, what if they actually like what they see
in regards to use of resources in a tough market, what if they absolutely love some
of the local vehicle plans FoA are developing........


Your thoughts....