AS they enter their second century in business, South Tyneside’s Ford Aerospace and Ford Component Manufacturing are not just taking steps but making leaps and bounds with their strategy for future growth.
The board of each Ford company, which comprises third generation chairman Geoff Ford MBE; his wife, Marilyn, and managing director Mark Podmore, have some ambitious plans for the short, medium and long-term success of both companies.
Exporting is a key area in their plans, with Ford agents currently operating in China, India, Italy and South Africa, with more appointments anticipated throughout 2011.
Further testament to their strategy for growth is Ford’s decision to exhibit for the first time at the bi-annual Paris Air Show in June.
The exhibition will coincide with the unveiling of Ford’s first samples of non-metallic laminated shimstock, an extension of their well-established Easipeel range of metallic materials.
The awarding of long-term agreements by Agusta Westland at Ford Aerospace and Freudenberg Technical Products at Ford Components, combined with further exciting news soon to be announced relating to ‘treatments’, ensures significant advantages will soon be seen for both companies.
However, both chair and managing director realise that with controlled expansion comes a need for change to meet growing demands.
Chairman Geoff Ford explained: “A genuine commitment to people development is being driven by managing director Mark Podmore in addition to a comprehensive review of working practices as well as a focus on the changes in culture needed to ensure the success of our plans.”
It’s this kind of commitment to change which saw Ford recently awarded the prestigious Culture for Success Award in the large company category.
Other programmes being undertaken include the Supply Chains in the 21st Century awards, originally developed by the UK aerospace industry, but now being rolled out to the automotive and other industries, and the Aerospace Supply Chain Excellence scheme, being run by the North West Aerospace Alliance, with Ford the only business outside the North West to be involved.
With over a fifth of Ford’s staff on Lean Awareness training and participating in the North East Management Academy, their commitment to continuous improvement is plain to see. Ford is particularly proud that, in 2010, their centenary year, more than £1m was invested in state of the art equipment, systems and services.
But it doesn’t stop there, as MD Mark Podmore said: “Each company is currently installing new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and finance systems, which will revolutionise the way we do business.
“We’re also looking to achieve accreditations to the Environmental Standard ISO 14001, and the Health and Safety Standard ISO 18001, as well as gaining re-accreditation to the Investors in People Standard, which we had to forego when the Ford group was restructured in 2008.”
Both Ford and Podmore see market share opportunities opening up at home and abroad, and are convinced that only the leanest, fittest and hungriest suppliers will snap them up. With such exciting plans in motion, it’s easy to see who’ll fit the bill.