Ford's Expertise in Engineering Innovation and Adoption

[buster]

It's going to be interesting to see what comes of this. They also have an F-150 ev design.




Ford Motor Company is currently undergoing an enterprise-wide transformation, with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform serving as a fundamental foundation for engineering, innovation, and product development.


"Ford is planning to use castings and their target is in the $30k range. I got to see a presentation from their engineering team on it, and they have the F150 EV designed from the ground up in the works, along with other platforms and vehicles in the works. Their goal was to double the vehicles in the works this year.

They have a major focus on "many to one" to reduce part and system complexity along with a focus on efficiency of the overall vehicle to maintain range based on weight/cost and other aspect they base on bounties. A more expensive part could be considered if it improves efficiency or reduces overall weight as a major guideline."

 

[JeffKeryk]

"Digital transformation" is the strategic integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally altering how it operates and delivers customer value. Especially at the front-end design and throughout the manufacturing process. And beyond...

Painful. Hard to define. Necessary. Importantly, AI and Physical AI are critical components.
DT is all about software-first design. Data driven. This enables OTA updates, AI driven manufacturing and more, right through sales and customer delivery scheduling.
Gigacasting is replacing traditional bolt-weld-glue many part assembly.
There will be pain. You grow or you go. It just costs too much to do things the old way.

Strategic inflection point.

 

[Trav]

Ford has another better idea! Good luck to them and the Red Sox.

 

[Brons2]

"Digital transformation" is the strategic integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally altering how it operates and delivers customer value. Especially at the front-end design and throughout the manufacturing process. And beyond...

Painful. Hard to define. Necessary. Importantly, AI and Physical AI are critical components.
DT is all about software-first design. Data driven. This enables OTA updates, AI driven manufacturing and more, right through sales and customer delivery scheduling.
Gigacasting is replacing traditional bolt-weld-glue many part assembly.
There will be pain. You grow or you go. It just costs too much to do things the old way.

Strategic inflection point.

Agreed, we were talking about "digital transformation" back in the 90s, except then it was from paper to electronic. This buzzword is over used and pretty much worthless to anyone who's actually doing real technical work.

We're already way past the point to where most organizations due stuff with computers. So what are we talking about here? Cloud? AI? Touch interfaces? Biometrics? Something else?

Boeing designed the 777 in the early 90s on CAD. "Digital transformation" is nothing new. Make this technobabble mean something.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I'm looking forward to Slate building things right from the ground up.

Hopefully easily replaceable, cost effective, universal parts across their platform, including motor controllers and computers. Same parts for different models future proofed that can be be swapped into a model today and 10 years ago. The parts dept just flashes the correct programming and you're good to go.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Agreed, we were talking about "digital transformation" back in the 90s, except then it was from paper to electronic. This buzzword is over used and pretty much worthless to anyone who's actually doing real technical work.

We're already way past the point to where most organizations due stuff with computers. So what are we talking about here? Cloud? AI? Touch interfaces? Biometrics? Something else?

Boeing designed the 777 in the early 90s on CAD. "Digital transformation" is nothing new. Make this technobabble mean something.

You hear the speaker refer to "Digital Twin". From IBM:

"A digital twin is a dynamic virtual representation of a physical object, process, or system, updated in real time using IoT sensor data, AI, and software analytics. It enables simulation, monitoring, and predictive maintenance to optimize performance, reduce downtime, and accelerate innovation. Key types include component, asset, system, and process twins."

Beyond the engineering and manufacturing cycles, there is AI enhanced sales (direct vs dealership), service and repair.
Forecast analytics, including AI simulation data, across the board to get ahead of the game.

Of course you are right, DT started in the early 1990's; this is the next level; far more advanced (AI) and comprehensive. Beyond automating the Accounting Finance and CAD functions. PLM and QA are the low hanging fruit, but the DT this guy is about is end-to-end transformation. Levels of management will go away. Physical AI will take jobs. Much is undefined. Heck, a short time ago many were laughing at the foolish Gigacasting process. They are not laughing anymore; it's all about catch up. It is a new world.

But don't take my word for it; listen to the CEOs of the world.

 

[demarpaint]

Somehow I see Ford screwing up.

 

[ka9mnx]

I think Ford needs to concentrate on their past failures rather than creating a new one.

 

[loneryder]

And where will all these technical things be made.....China.

 

[buster]

Ford is a very easy company to make of fun of and I do.

Growing up in the late 70's through 80's I remember those stupid "Quality is number 1" commercials. LOL

With that said I still would like to see them succeed.

 

[buster]

Next year seems early...

 

[JeffKeryk]

And where will all these technical things be made.....China.

Tesla is retooling the Fremont S/X lines for Optimus as we speak.

 

[ka9mnx]

Ford is a very easy company to make of fun of and I do.

Growing up in the late 70's through 80's I remember those stupid "Quality is number 1" commercials. LOL

With that said I still would like to see them succeed.

And I am a Ford guy. Had a few GM's but not for long. Mopar was Ok.

 

[4wd]

Tesla is retooling the Fremont S/X lines for Optimus as we speak.

Make sure he teaches them how to drive and then get off that other bad idea …

 

[JeffKeryk]

Make sure he teaches them how to drive and then get off that other bad idea …

You mean that drop-dead gorgeous Cybertruk?

 

[4wd]

You mean that drop-dead gorgeous Cybertruk?
View attachment 336643

Well, that too …

 

[JeffKeryk]

Well, that too …

I saw a CyberCab northbound on interstate 280 Wednesday night about 8:00 PM coming home from Stanford.
We were southbound, so it was quick. The gold color, shape and size gave it away.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Ford needs Iacocca back.

 

[Brons2]

Ford needs Iacocca back.

Alan Mullaly was pretty good over there also, see how I tied that into my 777 comment earlier?

Alas, he is probably in his 80s now. Iacocca passed away a few years back.

 

[Torrid]

As long as they plan to take EVs seriously. All the companies running back from them are going to be behind when everything flips back to EVs if they don't.

As far as I'm concerned when it comes to efficiency or tech I can't see a single car I would buy that doesn't say Tesla on it if I had to buy right now. Call me a fan boy all you want, everyone else is more expensive with less tech.