Ford is a shadow of its former self. Sure, maybe a few areas are okay, but overall it's been a decade-long decline. If you're young and have skills, go somewhere that actually values you. Unless leadership completely changes, which won't happen, it's just more cuts from here.
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@jx I tell young folks, don’t walk away from a job at Ford. RUN!
Many years ago I went to a conference that Ford ironically paid for. I sat in on an evening session where the presenter was giving advice to early career engineers. He said one thing that stuck with me — beware of companies that plaster all the walls with company values and culture posters. The more posters the worse the actual culture is.
The Monday after the conference as I walk thru PDC I see posters plastered everywhere. On my lunch break I take a walk thru WHQ and FMCC, posters plastered everywhere. The next day I visit ITEK, posters plastered everywhere. I convinced myself oh Ford is different as Bill Ford thinks of us as family. And I will get free health care for life and a pension if I stay at Ford. I was wrong, but hey I was young and naive.
I can tell you that Ford NEVER changes. Re--rded butt-kissers at the top, fake “transformations”, politics above everything….that’s many decades old. The only thing that the company has ever had going for it is an occasional stroke of d-mb luck and an occasional short stint of reasonably decent leadership that saves the company from bankruptcy, like Don Peterson or Alan Mulally. Then the old mo--n guard takes over again and everything goes right back to the way it was
Oh but @k6 the FCG mentors claim we should ‘be the change’ and ‘disrupt the old guard’. Those that take it seriously quickly learn that hierarchy trumps knowledge and skill at the blue oval. Applause only for the ‘leadership’.
You have two options earn a living at ford or earn a living somewhere else…that’s it…everthing else is noise.
I advise young family members to give Ford a hard pass.
I worked at several start-up companies before joining Ford in the 1990s. I came to Ford as an experienced engineer. We relocated from CA back to MI at that time for family reasons.
Initially I was proud of working at Ford and thought we were doing good things. The Mulally era was great, we all pulled together and I thought Wow this company is going to stay the course this time. The insanity started in earnest when Hackett became CEO and hasn’t abated. It’s been one long gut the company of its core competencies while chanting the latest management slogans. Hair brained initiatives are championed, crazily funded, premature victory proclaimed, followed by quiet disbandment after utter failure and then more head cuts and off-shoring.
Oh yes, and all the while management pretending like they are acting like a start-up company. Having been at true start-up companies they didn’t just Wi--y-nilly ignore common sense and engineering best practices from the get-go under the guise of being agile and iteratively fixing it later. Nope they started with a rock solid foundation and then iteratively built new functionality on top of the foundation. Ford’s leadership declares Jello is a solid foundation and sprays on whip cream and sprinkles sugary bits on top. And it shows in the ever declining quality.
Thankfully sliding into career home-plate.
The company lost its identity many years ago. Just after the big Ford GT hype died down. Alan gave us a small spark of hope but the BOD didn't want Mark to continue his genius legacy and mark stuck to his g-ns, so they fired home and brought in weirdo desk 'guy'. He was just a patsy for the big ev dump of cash into the abyss. This company has been in perpetual transition and it will continue until China finally takes over. The BOD, the "family" will continue to vacuum every cent from the stock as the oval dies a slow death.
The only car we have in NA is the Mustang, the only thing worth buying is SD, the rest is junk. Skunk-truck is going to flop and the stock will see a spike then plummet to single digits for about 5 years.
I just hope I can remain for the time I need. Then it's relax and enjoy retirement...if I live long enough.
@g3 have you asked your doctor to check for brain tumors?
Post ID: @ek+1kjn48eq6
Have you even read and comprehended the full Ford+ company transformation plan? It has been in place for years now and the plan is working. There are plenty of materials linked to on the Ford employee homepage.
@bd layoff the crack. Since 1995 the company has been in decline. there is no management bench. instead bobbleheads is all you have now. Alan only delayed what is going on. So bd how do you justify a $19bn (with a B) loss? Answer you can't. so stop make yourself look like a horse's behind.
Problem starts with the BOD and senior management. I refuse to call them leaders because they lack the basic fundamentals of what demonstrates leadership. Sad part the lower ranks are suffering because of it. Lack of a realistic and viable vision and plan.
I'd say the only thing your fortune to be is oblivious. Legacy parts of the company are what enable those 2 organizations to operate as loss leaders for 5-6 straight years. We're making the money while you stand there and bleed giving the same story of innovation and startup. It's high time you actually make some money and carry your weight....or get the he-l outta the way.
No one cares.
@OP
'go somewhere that actually values you'
those places in the US are few and far between nowadays
I would argue there are at least two areas doing much better than just "ok". If you worked in Model e or Skunkworks, you would agree fully. I am fortunate to be. There are legacy areas that are struggling in the company but the company transformation plan is still on-going which will turn around or disposition those areas.
leadership has completely changed that is why it is in the hollow state that it's in.