More engineers please: Ford Australia

[Road_Warrior]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257B6C0000B62A

Regional Ford exec says Australia needs more engineering, design experts – not less

17 May 2013

By MIKE COSTELLO

FORD’S Asia-Pacific product development centre in Melbourne continues to play a vital role in global design and engineering for the automotive giant, with its forward cycle plan “totally full”.

While sales of the locally made Falcon continue to plummet to record lows, and while its future as an Australian car-maker remains unconfirmed beyond 2016, the work Ford’s local team has done developing product such as the Figo hatch and Ranger ute for international markets has not gone unnoticed.

As Ford’s vehicle and engine manufacturing operations in Australia remain the subject of ongoing speculation, the company’s Chinese-based Asia-Pacific passenger vehicle and SUV programs director Trevor Worthington has revealed that its development arm is chock-a-block with projects.

A former vice-president of product development at Ford Australia, Mr Worthington spoke to GoAuto at the EcoSport launch this week in India, telling us that while he cannot detail the specifics, the team of designers and engineers remained important contributors within Ford’s international operations.

“We have a forward cycle plan that has the Ford factory (design and engineering centre) in Australia totally full, so they’re working on a range of things,” he said.

“I’m not going to tell you what they are and aren’t working on, but they have shown themselves to be totally capable of working on almost anything we throw at them, and so the factory is full and if anything we need more people in Australia, not less.

“There’s no magic to this, we have 1000 engineers in Australia, they are doing outstanding work, and they are doing regional, they are doing local, and they are doing global.

“To be a relevant engineering centre you’ve got to have flexibility to do what the company needs, to be able to jump out of one and into the other, and we’ve been able to create a workforce that has that flexibility.”

Before relocating to Thailand in 2008 as director of product planning and strategy for Ford’s Asia-Pacific and Africa region, and subsequently moving to his current post in China, Mr Worthington led the Australian team responsible for all all programs built off the Falcon platform, including the BA and FG Falcon series and the Territory SUV.

As previously reported, Ford opened its heavily refurbished design and engineering facility, next door to its Broadmeadows assembly plant in Melbourne’s outer-northern suburbs, in August last year.

At the time, Ford said the refurbishment of the design centre brought the facility into line with the company’s other major global design centres in the United States (Dearborn) and Germany (Cologne).

With the Asia-Pacific region becoming increasingly important to Ford’s global plans – its ‘One Ford’ encompasses its push into emerging markets – Australia’s relative geographical proximity should serve it well.

Ford’s comparatively small Australian team has already created the Figo for India, a successful B-segment car based on the superseded Fiesta, and managed the global development of the new-generation Ranger ute.

The centre also had significant design input on the Chinese-market Escort concept revealed in Shanghai last month, and has been working on a rugged SUV version of the Ranger – prototypes of which have now been seen on Melbourne roads.

The Australian-based engineers and designers have also been involved in the highly anticipated next-generation Mustang, a global program – including right-hand drive – due to reach production in 2015.

Former Ford Asia Pacific and Africa design director Chris Svensson told GoAuto at the Sydney motor show last October that each of the company’s six design studios outside the US – including Australia’s – were continuing to play a role in the design of the all-new pony car, among other global models.

“Our impact from the Australian design studio has been pretty global,” he said.

“We’ve got a fantastic team in the design studio here, great talent, and some of our designers and some of our ideas have actually made it into many of the global products that you’ll see in the coming years.”

Australian rear-wheel-drive engineering expertise is also understood to be feeding into the next-generation Mustang program.

Ford Australia’s E8 (Falcon/Territory RWD platform) vehicle line director Dave Wilkinson told GoAuto at the Sydney show that “there’s a huge amount of functional alignment” between engineers in Australia and the US.

“Chassis engineers here are in constant contact with the chassis engineers in America and in Europe and around the world,” he said.

“Our expertise (in rear-wheel-drive vehicles) is embedded in the Ford DNA, in the Ford targets around the world.

“It’s very much an interconnected, functionally aligned Ford now – very different to what it was 15 years ago.”

Great to hear some good news about Ford for a change. The last few paragraphs are interesting to say the least...

[FPV8U]

Agreed, how the media doesn't come up with a positive Falcon story with quotes like that is beyond me!

[jpd80]

Yes, Ford has around twice as many engineers as Holden, approx 1100 vs 575
From here on in, Holden and Ford will be doing life extensions on their respective large car platforms.

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by jpd80

From here on in, Holden and Ford will be doing life extensions on their respective large car platforms.

Please explain, I though the 2014 Falcon was close to being a done deal?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by R-Design

Please explain, I though the 2014 Falcon was close to being a done deal?

2014 is an extension of E8 platform with new front, rear, interior and new tech features.

[phillyc]

Maybe Ford Australia can hire some of the engineers that GM Holden has been letting go.

Great to hear how integrated Ford Australia and it's RWD expertise in the Ford world.

Also great to hear that the engineering pipeline is 'totally full'.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Agreed, how the media doesn't come up with a positive Falcon story with quotes like that is beyond me!

Even still, they tried with the first opening salvos trying to make the reader think the assembly plant is done for. The good bits were buried at the bottom.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Maybe Ford Australia can hire some of the engineers that GM Holden has been letting go.

Great to hear how integrated Ford Australia and it's RWD expertise in the Ford world.

Also great to hear that the engineering pipeline is 'totally full'.

There are a heap of ex- Holden and Toyota engineers there, and vice-versa. As most engineers are hired for a contracted period for the life of a project, they tend to switch between the 3 companies whenever they can get work.

They all tend to just hire the right number of engineers they need for the life of a project, and cut them loose when the project is over and they are no longer required, or they move them on to another project. So they just go wherever they can get work.

[FalconXV]

2 questions : Does anyone think the Mustang will be a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth if there is international input? The original was one man's vision, if I'm not mistaken ; I'd hate to see this one diluted to cater to too wide an audience.

Also how do you get a job engineering for FoA/the industry? Is an Associate diploma in engineering enough? or do you need a specific degree?

[Powdered Toast Man]

Originally Posted by FalconXV

Also how do you get a job engineering for FoA/the industry? Is an Associate diploma in engineering enough? or do you need a specific degree?

I would suspect that it would probably depend on the expertise level of the position and the experience of the applicant, as well as the level of tertiary education to be successful.

I'm pretty sure its not easy getting into automotive engineering/design. You might find getting an engineering job in maintenance or manufacturing plant/component design in the automotive sector easier.

[Dr Smith]

There's only one thing I wish that this info was put out in a press release by Ford to all local media then relying on individual journo's talking to execs. Could you imagine the flood of headlines Holden would have tried to receive if it was their Engineering team in this current climate.

[ryeman]

It's not just science grads who get auto jobs, arts grad design/stylist are just as important and will get jobs anywhere if their good enough...they 'inspire' sales too.
The Mustang is probably THE example.

[Joe5619]

I know this is great news & I don’t want to turn a good news story into a bad, but, I have to say. Why can Ford talk up the R&D side of Ford AUST, but not manufacturing side of Ford AUST?? Just makes me mad!!

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I know this is great news & I don’t want to turn a good news story into a bad, but, I have to say. Why can Ford talk up the R&D side of Ford AUST, but not manufacturing side of Ford AUST?? Just makes me mad!!

You mean like they did last year at the official unveiling of the major new R&D centre last year. The one which they invited whole swags of media from typical car type people to tech bloggers. Unfortunately, several auto journalists just turned it into a death story about Falcon rather than concentrate on the great investments made by Ford Australia.

[jpd80]

And that's the whole point, the very good news of engineering project work that FoA
is into is being drowned out by negative reporting of Falcon death spiral at every opportunity.

Had Holden been winning major portions of project engineering there would be dozens of pages
written up in magazines from here until Christmas...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by phillyc

You mean like they did last year at the official unveiling of the major new R&D centre last year. The one which they invited whole swags of media from typical car type people to tech bloggers. Unfortunately, several auto journalists just turned it into a death story about Falcon rather than concentrate on the great investments made by Ford Australia.

No offence, but inviting media to an R&D opening is just more prove that Ford are talking up R&D & saying jack about Manufacturing!!

[Resurrection]

Where do I apply?

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

No offence, but inviting media to an R&D opening is just more prove that Ford are talking up R&D & saying jack about Manufacturing!!

No offence taken. But, Ford did actually give the media positive news about the forthcoming 2014 Falcon a few months prior, and then announced further investment in the Broadmeadows line to allow vehicle tech to be added to the cars made there all prior to the MAJOR R&D facility opening. Ford were then queried about the Falcon and said they have a 2014 model coming. Yet by the biased media got run up the pole with crap, deliberate misrepresented stories.

Let us, ourselves get back on track. This is a great news story for Ford Australia. It's a shame that more coverage wasn't obtained. Me personally, i'd have announced it the same week that GM Holden announced job cuts.

[Polyal]

Well it all depends on your perspective.

I have alot of time for the people at Ford but I also value knowing the company I want to work for has a solid base and a forward vision with something I am interested in.

Short contracts dont appeal to everyone and while nothing is gauranteed some people prefer more stability that other industries provide. Its all about the overall package too.

They have some good projects on the go but I just wish there was a little more commitment for the local stuff, either way the coin ends of falling.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Where do I apply?

If serious, Bayside Recruiting...yeap the buggers use external hire. Check their website.

Ill take my commision after the first 6 months

[Dr Smith]

The dropping of the Melbourne Motor Show has also put a dent in the planned reveal of 2014 Falcon.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

The dropping of the Melbourne Motor Show has also put a dent in the planned reveal of 2014 Falcon.

Really?


At Sydney fords main exhibition was outside the motor show, that sort of setup could be used any place, any time, ford have shown us that they are thinking outside the square.

Not having the motor show opens up a variety of different options...footy grand final, Bathurst, standalone show etc...



Ford did say expect "shock and awe", so there could be a suitable reveal..

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Really?


At Sydney fords main exhibition was outside the motor show, that sort of setup could be used any place, any time, ford have shown us that they are thinking outside the square.

Not having the motor show opens up a variety of different options...footy grand final, Bathurst, standalone show etc...



Ford did say expect "shock and awe", so there could be a suitable reveal..

You don't think setting up at the same time as a motor show would have greater impact?

[madmelon]

If they're so serious about asking for more engineers, perhaps they should stop asking for people with 10+ years experience in this that or the other and start actually investing in developing NEW engineering talent. I've looked at what's on offer by Ford through Bayside Personnel and as a design engineer with a couple of years on board, it's very discouraging. They're clearly not interested in hiring people who they can train to be the next generation of thinkers- they just want people who they don't have to spend any moeny on except their wage.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by madmelon

If they're so serious about asking for more engineers, perhaps they should stop asking for people with 10+ years experience in this that or the other and start actually investing in developing NEW engineering talent. I've looked at what's on offer by Ford through Bayside Personnel and as a design engineer with a couple of years on board, it's very discouraging. They're clearly not interested in hiring people who they can train to be the next generation of thinkers- they just want people who they don't have to spend any moeny on except their wage.

Short term thinking for a short term business model.
Seen it in so many industries globally. Fill staffing needs now don't worry about the future as there may not be one. Project related employment, need skills now as project doesn't have the money or the duration to teach.

JP

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by madmelon

If they're so serious about asking for more engineers, perhaps they should stop asking for people with 10+ years experience in this that or the other and start actually investing in developing NEW engineering talent. I've looked at what's on offer by Ford through Bayside Personnel and as a design engineer with a couple of years on board, it's very discouraging. They're clearly not interested in hiring people who they can train to be the next generation of thinkers- they just want people who they don't have to spend any moeny on except their wage.

That and they canned their student programs a few years back, no grad program, no vac work, and the co-op dropped aswell.

You can get in as a junior, but yes they expect students to find a few years worth of experience..hmmm

If your not developing people at a lower level then your just treading water.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

You don't think setting up at the same time as a motor show would have greater impact?

Yes/no.

With a motor show it can go either way, you can steal the show, or be not noticed.


Last thing ford needs is the 2014 falcon launch overshadowed by a Holden concept car...like what has happened in the past.