Ford takes pride in its work – and its workforce. That’s why in 2022, the company made a commitment to improving its manufacturing facilities to deliver a better workplace experience for employees by advancing its $1 billion, five-year investment plan to enhance U.S. plants.
Ford kicks off 2023 building on the success of that first year, adding amenities for nursing mothers, refurbishing restrooms, increasing hydration stations and repairing roofs and parking lots.
Ford CEO Jim Farley, along with the entire leadership team at Ford, visited manufacturing plants across the U.S throughout 2022, soliciting employee input and opinion. Along with leadership visits, Ford also engaged employees through sentiment surveys and informal meetings to determine which enhancements are best suited to each plant.
One major improvement now includes hot meal availability at all U.S. plants during all shifts five days a week, either through cafeterias, food trucks or mobile ordering. Micro-markets also provide grab-and-go items, both hot and cold.
“The new food options are good, fresh and more than enough because the portions are big,” said Marty Campbell, a team member at the Livonia Transmission Plant who notes the convenience of having options onsite. “I usually go out, but it’s better that this is here because once I’m here, I’m here for the day.”
Ford will also be adding 65 hydration stations to its plants by the first quarter of 2023, ensuring that water is accessible to employees at all facilities within 400 feet of their workstations. The company is also refurbishing restrooms in all of its plant facilities – 40 restrooms were furbished in 2022, and renovations will continue throughout 2023. By end of 2024, more than 1,600 restrooms will be redone.
To ensure support for its working moms, Ford is implementing “Mother’s Pods” in all 25 plants by early 2023. The pods offer women the opportunity to pump breast milk in comfort and privacy on-shift. The pods also are equipped with refrigerators for milk storage. While several plants already have adapted existing space into lactation rooms for mothers, these will offer another convenient option.
Also, the existing fitness centers at all U.S. plants have now reopened. The fully equipped centers, which had closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, enable employees to maintain their fitness goals without leaving the work site.
“They have nice equipment out there,” said Johnny Gardner, an electrician at the Kansas City Assembly Plant. “I’ve used other gyms, and when COVID hit, I even bought some equipment to use at home. But I like having it at the plant because they have everything you need.”
Continually updated information on facility updates will be available on Blue Oval Now and through individual plant Facebook pages.
