Ford Motor Company

Business Analysis Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is 4th on Fortune 500 List and 4th on Global 500 List and is the 2nd largest auto manufacturer in the world. Ford Motor Company has the advantage of Ford Motor Credit however, due to Firestone tire recalls the prices are the lowest prices in years with cash reserves sunk to $4.1 billion and $13 billion on acquisitions with $3.5 billion to cover recall of tires. Ford Motor Company is Environmentally friendly including cleaner engine emissions and is presently working with environmental groups to clean the environment and is vested in solar power.

Ford Motor Company is focusing on cost reduction programs and is building smaller vehicles, which are more fuel efficient to balance its global portfolio and stay abreast of the worldwide shift in demand. While the company should be profitable, it will be a lower level of profit than in previous years. The company has an ongoing problem with unfavorable currency transaction. Ford reported more in total assets for the second quarter of 2012 than was reported in the last quarter of 2011 as well as reporting more in liabilities for the second quarter of 2012 than was reported for the last quarter of 2011. Also reported was more equity company stock for the 2nd quarter of 2012 as compared to the last quarter of 2011. Assets were lower for the 2nd quarter of 2012 as compared to the last quarter of 2011.

GM

GM posted more than $150 billion in sales and revenue for 2011 with a net income of $9.29 billion. GM has 15.1% of the Automobile Market with sales in more than 200 countries and is the largest auto manufacturer in the world with $183 billion in global sales and $5 billion in profits. GM is 3rd on Fortune 500 list and 3rd on Global 500 list and reports technological alliances with Toyota and Honda Motor. GM has GMAC Financial Services for mortgage, auto, and business finance and has electronic business and digital technology with Direct TV and OnStar System. However, GM reports growth stunted by recalls.

Daimler/Chrysler

Daimler/Chrysler is leader in Mini-Van Lines and Convertible Lines although is lacking in diversification and holds a smaller market share than Ford or GM. GM has a State of Art Technology Center (Auburn Hills, MI) and needs to expand into foreign markets. Chrysler Group reports a net income of $436 million in the 2nd quarter of 2012 with net revenue up $16.8 billion for the quarter, which is a 23% growth over the same quarter last year. Chrysler reduced its net industrial debt from $2.1 billion a year ago to $432 million as of June 30, 2012. The U.S. market share for Chrysler increased 11.2% from 10.6% a year ago.

Ford Best Practices

Ford was the only car manufacturer that did not accept a federal bailout and reports profits for the last two years. In addition, Ford has taken a large share of the market from competitors and increased its sales by 20%, which is approximately double the sales of the rest of the auto industry. (Manufacturing Industry News, 2012) Best practices reported by Ford to have been sold in the form of a technology license to the U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Team One. The Ford’s Best Practice Replication Process (BPRP) is a knowledge management tool that is reported to facilitate “collecting, approving, and tracking value in replicating highly-leveraged practices throughout an enterprise.” (Ford, 2012)

Among Ford’s best practices is reported an initiative to consolidate and redesign its data center using best practices that the DOE and EPA identified toward reducing energy consumption. The total facilities-related carbon dioxide emissions by Ford was reduced by approximately 50% of 4.8 million metric tons and CO2 emissions per vehicle have been reduced by 27%. Ford reports the use of energy performance contracting as a “financing tool to upgrade and replace infrastructure at its plants, commercial buildings, and research facilities.” (Ford.com, 2012) in addition, Ford is reported to partner with “suppliers to replace inefficient equipment, funding the capital investment over time through energy savings. Projects have been implemented to upgrade inefficient lighting systems, paint-booth process equipment and compressed air systems, and to significantly reduce the use of steam in our manufacturing facilities. Since 2000, Ford has invested more than $220 million in plant and facility energy-efficiency upgrades.” (Ford.com, 2012) Ford also reports the establishment of a “a three-year global effort to consolidate and redesign its data centers using best practices identified by the DOE and EPA’s Energy Star program.” (Ford.com, 2012) Ford has also implemented a PC power management system which powers down all desktop and notebook computers at night and has implemented a network-controlled system on plant air compressors in the powertrain and vehicle assembly plants which should reduce Ford’s annual energy costs by $1.2 million and their annual CO2 emissions by 16,000 to 25,000 metric tons.

Summary and Conclusion

Ford Motor Company is setting the standard in the automobile industry by implementing practices that make the company self-sustaining allowing them to turn away from the federal bailout money and to realize profits despite the downturn in the economy. The company is working on money saving initiatives in the form of saving power and adhering to EPA standards at the same time.

References

Chrysler Financial Results (2012) Chrysler Group Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/investor/pressreleases/financial/Pages/default.aspx

Ford Financial Reports & SEC Filings (2012) Ford Corporate. Retrieved from: http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/investors/investor-quarterly-results

FORD LICENSES ITS BEST PRACTICE REPLICATION PROCESS TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY (2002) Media. Ford.com. Retrieved from: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=13909

Ford Reduces Global Energy Consumption (2010) Compressed Air Best Practices. Retrieved from: http://www.airbestpractices.com/energy-manager/sustainable-manufacturing-news/ford-reduces-global-energy-consumption

General Motors Company (2012) Market Watch. Retrieved from: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/gm/financials

Manufacturing News (2012) Industry News. Retrieved from: http://manufacturing.hubspot.com/bid/25731/Manufacturing-Industry-Best-Practices-Ford-s-Culture-Shift