Ford adopts 'focus time'

[gravity]

Automaker gives engineers two days a week to do nothing but design new products.

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

Here's a novel idea for Dearborn: Ford Motor Co. is giving its engineers two days a week to do nothing but engineer.

That means no meetings, no design reviews, no other distractions -- just designing new cars and trucks. It might seem like a no-brainer, but engineers who spoke with The Detroit News said this is nothing short of revolutionary at a company famous for its Byzantine bureaucracy and constant meetings.

The move, which was announced during a recent employee Webcast, is part of a broader effort to streamline Ford's product development system spearheaded by Ford Vice President Derrick Kuzak

"(It is) two days a week for the engineers to focus on engineering. That's exactly what we call it: focus time," Kuzak said. "What that means is taking away bureaucracy, taking away meetings that they don't need to attend. It's indicating that we consider their time important."

More: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/AUTO01/706080343

[Nikki Stone1]

1. There's nothing that destroys creativity and drive like endless meetings with management types

I wish the engineers well.

[sellitman]

2. They did have a meeting to decide this .....didn't they?

:evilgrin:

Sorry.....I couldn't resist.

[Nikki Stone1]

4. Yeah, but I hear they got to dump coffee on the management types when they left

:D

[blondeatlast]

3. Ford is planning to open the suggestion box next.

That is, if they can find the key. :shrug:

[Uncle Joe]

5. I believe this may be a first step on a long journey,

back to reality, it just depends on how long Ford Management will stay true to this new ethos.

[cloudbase]

6. I hope this spreads. n/t

[Cobalt-60]

7. it's way too late for that

I could have supported Ford when it was in fact an american car builder.
Like other large corporations they have offshored their production until there is a foreign car at best partially assembled in the USA.