At Ford, Quality Is Now Problem 1

[raptor17GT]

During the 80s the Japanese were selling cars in the US for less than cost. Yes, you can have great quality when you spend more money.

I think Mustang quality is about right. I definitely don't want to spend $75k for a Mustang with the same performance it has now but with better panel fitment.

If ford can build Focus and Fiesta cars for less than 20k that have great fit and fitment then there really is no excuse for all cars they make not having the same great fitment across all its models regardless of the final price.

The point of quality assembly is that you design it in from the start and that makes it a lot cheaper than chasing it at the end of a production line or the Warranty section of your business. One might argue the materials they use are cheap compared to BMW or Porsche but that's not about how you put it together nor determines panel fit.

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[IPOGT]

Dr. Deming was never revered in the US but was idolized in Japan. His methods were fully adapted in their auto industry and was played a major role in the belief the Japanese cars of the 70's and 80's were significantly superior to anything made in the US. That belief still exists today and for good reason.

Here’s the biggest problem. You shouldn’t need a doctorate degree to know how to implement these things. The desire to improve quality only exists as a response to falling sales. Once sales recover as a result of quality measures it’s back to cost cutting again. A panel stamping quality/tolerances improvement would go miles in improving perception. Wash rinse repeat.
But you’re correct. The panels should be made in such a fashion that they cannot (easily) be misaligned during assembly.

 

[ChitownStang]

Just saw someone with new Mach 1, had the California edition sticker on it for one of the rear fenders.
WTF!
No excuse for that shit, Ford sucks lately

 

[Bikeman315]

Just saw someone with new Mach 1, had the California edition sticker on it for one of the rear fenders.
WTF!
No excuse for that shit, Ford sucks lately

I highly doubt that was done by Ford.

 

[ChitownStang]

I highly doubt that was done by Ford.

So you're saying the dealership had to switch out the sticker and they put the wrong one on... guess thats possible.
Stiil think Ford's quality is not up to par with their prices, reading lots of articles about Bronco's lately, really bad

 

[IPOGT]

I highly doubt that was done by Ford.

They are cranking those Mach 1’s out like crazy now. Lots of 2022’s compared to 21. Maybe they’re rushing to use all the parts they had ordered but couldn’t complete in 2021.

 

[shogun32]

They are cranking those Mach 1’s out like crazy now. Lots of 2022’s compared to 21. Maybe they’re rushing to use all the parts they had ordered but couldn’t complete in 2021.

the assembly line speed doesn't change. Each station has just as much time as they had for the previous 6 years of production. a shift in percentage mix of models is no reason for quality to change an iota.

The workers either don't care, are inexperienced, or the process/templates are inadequate such that even a blind drunk monkey can achieve perfection.

 

[Bikeman315]

So you're saying the dealership had to switch out the sticker and they put the wrong one on... guess thats possible.

My bad. Didn’t realize the 22’ CS had the strip extend behind the rear wheel. They do look pretty similar though.

 

[Strokerswild]

I could see that blunder happening easily.

 

[IPOGT]

I could see that blunder happening easily.

True, but not catching that before it went out the door is pretty inexcusable. To me, perception of bad quality is like sticking your middle finger up at your customer so it’s great that they’re acting on this.

 

[IPOGT]

When the worlds of mass production autos and consumers to whom a car is more than a mode of transportation collide the execution gets messy sometimes.

 

[shogun32]

True, but not catching that before it went out the door is pretty inexcusable. To me consistent bad quality is like sticking your middle finger up at your customer.

As long as the finger has a Ford ring on it, apparently there are lots of people who don't mind where/what that middle finger goes into.

 

[Hack]

If ford can build Focus and Fiesta cars for less than 20k that have great fit and fitment then there really is no excuse for all cars they make not having the same great fitment across all its models regardless of the final price.

The point of quality assembly is that you design it in from the start and that makes it a lot cheaper than chasing it at the end of a production line or the Warranty section of your business. One might argue the materials they use are cheap compared to BMW or Porsche but that's not about how you put it together nor determines panel fit.

I'm surprised you think that Focus had great fitment, but those two cars have really cheap drivetrains. They are also really small (fewer and cheaper materials = lower cost).

I do think the Fiesta was decent for the price when Ford made them. Those were made in Germany, which seems to make a difference. The FiST I owned was really nice for the price, but I also got it cheap because people here don't like small, fuel efficient cars.

But when you make bland and plain shapes like the Focus and Fiesta have it is a lot easier to build and fit the panels than when you make shapes with a lot of curves. The Mustang shape is more ambitious than most cars.

Frankly I think people make a bigger deal of this than is really there. I don't think Fords are worse quality than other similar cars. Maybe the new ones aren't as good as my 2017, I don't know. I haven't looked at anything newer than my 2017 Mustang GT.

I certainly don't think Fords are worse quality than Honda or Toyota, for example.

 

[IPOGT]

I'm surprised you think that Focus had great fitment, but those two cars have really cheap drivetrains. They are also really small (fewer and cheaper materials = lower cost).

I do think the Fiesta was decent for the price when Ford made them. Those were made in Germany, which seems to make a difference. The FiST I owned was really nice for the price, but I also got it cheap because people here don't like small, fuel efficient cars.

But when you make bland and plain shapes like the Focus and Fiesta have it is a lot easier to build and fit the panels than when you make shapes with a lot of curves. The Mustang shape is more ambitious than most cars.

Frankly I think people make a bigger deal of this than is really there. I don't think Fords are worse quality than other similar cars. Maybe the new ones aren't as good as my 2017, I don't know. I haven't looked at anything newer than my 2017 Mustang GT.

I certainly don't think Fords are worse quality than Honda or Toyota, for example.

Granted. The Mustang shape is ambitious indeed and IMO one of the nicest cars ever designed. Unfortunately, ambitious designs also highlight panel fitment issues due to beautiful design. Couple of reasons- the design itself as well as the increased scrutiny a car this nice is likely to receive. These more complicated designs almost require tighter tolerances to have the consistent level of fitment that inspires a visual feeling of quality, like most of your BMW and Audi have for instance.

 

[Bikeman315]

I certainly don't think Fords are worse quality than Honda or Toyota, for example.

In general built and paint quality on both Honda and Toyota are superior to Ford. Actually my wife's old Escapes had significantly better build and paint than with any of my Mustang's. It's not that the Mustangs were bad it's just the others were better. And my wife's current Volvo. Not even in the same solar system.

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