Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) in Heavy Truck Operations

Heavy truck manufacturing of high quality “customized” vehicles is a marketing environment which, is beginning to be attacked by foreign competition offering vehicles of essentially similar mechanical capability at lesser cost to the customer.

The challenge, therefore, is to take those actions necessary to reduce the present cost base and still retain the marketing benefits of large product offerings.

The management of Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant have taken a very aggressive approach to reducing cost through, productivity improvement. The system described is the first of several which will change the way Ford will do business in the heavy truck market in the future.