What was different about Ford in the 90’s because I hear a lot about the good ole days.
Let us hear about it.
16 replies (most recent on top)
@e2 - JF was the one to change this. He failed to realize that even if people didn’t get the promotion, everyone was collectively working together, and happy to see someone deserving get the position. He is the #1 reason way morale is in the toilet! But too full of himself to take any blame for the southern direction of the company!
All promotions were internal, there were no external hires at upper management levels. People gave their blood sweat and tears to get to those positions. They had well-rounded experience as to how the company worked, and were so proud to work here. Nowadays, everyone knows that you don’t have a chance to get higher positions unless you are external, so people don’t care anymore about the company.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of automotive wisdom, it was the age of automotive foolishness, it was the epoch of belief in internal combustion, it was the epoch of incredulity at the thought of alternative fuels, other than CNG or flex fuel, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness (for the Jaguar acquisition), it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to the annual auto shown, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
90’s at Ford was a time of roses, poetry and prose..
Ah the 90s, the time where if you actually solved a problem that had financial impact you were given a reward that had value. One guy solved a problem for the data center with a bit of automation code and received a Mustang, a GD Mustang. It was a big deal. Nowadays you receive an e-card and 15 other people are also given credit for the work that you did.
I think the biggest difference is how poor the leadership is. Instead of encouraging and rewarding the talented they target them for removal as they are threatened by their skills.
Because of the poor leadership there is lack of collaboration. In the 90s people helped each other, they didn’t ask for a code to bill their time to or seek approval from their leadership every time they wiped.
Of course the 90s is when the mass promotion of women occurred by HR. Oddly the most talented women were not promoted in the mass promotions. This scheme has re-played since then with other minority groups.
The 90s at Ford were a time of male pattern boldness.
The 90s at Ford were a time of male pattern boldness.
first you had confident management in preFord2000.. unlike today. two we had product people wanted. I worked in building#1 and DTC back in the 90s best of times at the Oval. Never in my life seen a clown of a CEO blame everyone but himself. Morale has slowly tanked since FORD 2000. But to listen to people still there it gives you the impression of lack of confidence in senior leadership no realistic vision or plan. Just PI-Y DUST and BS. Remember "Mr. Know it All" JF troops only follow your direction.
90’s was a time of free love at ford
@a7
I worked in the electronics division.
People used to give a sh@t back then. The culture was different...
@ac
Yes! I used PROFS!
Lifetime employment. No layoffs, ratings games, etc. Like living inside the walls of a kingdom.
Biggest difference!!! Lots of jobs and work in Dearborn area. It was really really fun!!! Loved working there. Then came the European leadership and they sc--wed things up and it’s never been the same.
Building 2 was under construction. In Building 1 was Light Truck and the oldest Ford employee worked in CAD. He was 79 and slowly walked around and to his desk. He was so proud to work at Ford since he was 18. He was probably making more than most doctors at the time. We used PROFS and not everyone had their own computer. You had to go into a conference room to check your email.
There was plenty of DEI in the 90s. They just called it “affirmative action” back then.
You had to be very careful not to pìss off any women you had any dealings with because most were promoted to management.
The big difference was that Ford was copying Toyota. Product quality improved immensely. But a change at the top and we went back to copying GM.
Another thing, Ford had their own Electronics Division that was working on developing all the electronic gizmos, software and systems that Ford needs today. They also manufactured most of the modules. But at the turn of the century, they dumped it. Now Ford is trying to re-learn how to do all that. And, to top it off, they’ve fired most of the people who used to work in Ford’s Electronics Division that stayed at Ford.
No DEI back then. Only good old boys to run things.