FTM & AAT Ignite Supplier Excellence - Second Annual Quality Summit that Drives a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) and AutoAlliance (Thailand) (AAT) recently hosted their second annual Supplier Quality Summit. This event focused on "Collaborative Supplier Problem Solving" and ‘Collaborative Learning for Shared Success,’ continues to elevate supplier capabilities and foster a culture of excellence, building on last year's significant progress.

The initiative began in 2024 with the introduction of a ‘Zero Defect Mindset.’ This foundational effort fostered strong cooperation, with Ford's Supplier Technical Assistance, Quality Assurance, Plant Vehicle Team, and Manufacturing teams providing direct "Gemba" technical assistance at supplier sites. This hands-on collaboration has already yielded tangible results, including Year Over Year improvement for warranty claims. We currently excel in 3-Month In-Service (3MIS) Warranty, Net Promoter Score (NPS), and Perceived Quality, making strong progress toward best-in-class. Our next frontiers for excellence include 36-Month In-Service (36MIS) Warranty Cost, Stop Ship incidents, and Recall prevention.

While progress is evident, the pursuit of perfection is continuous. Our success is driven by cross-functional plant expertise, strict supplier adherence to manufacturing standards, and rigorous process management. Moving forward, we will deepen the ‘Zero Defect Mindset’ through long-term partnerships and mutual learning, with the ‘Gemba’ philosophy empowering teams to identify and resolve issues at their source.

Andrea’ Cavallaro, Director of Operations – International Markets Group, passionately articulated the core of this relentless pursuit. "The fundamental reason customers choose to buy our vehicles is expected reliability." He emphasized that this commitment to quality is not merely a business imperative but a profound promise to every Ford customer. It is within this spirit of unwavering dedication to customer trust that Cavallaro has championed the motto for his teams: "Greatness Never Rests!" This motto is a commitment to continuous improvement, pushing boundaries, and never settling for anything less than excellence in every aspect of their operations.

This vision aligns with Ford's broader strategy to drive the future, which aims to ‘Drive Competitive Solutions and Partnerships That are Built to Last.’ This includes cultivating a Resilient Mindset with Adaptive Strategies, leveraging Data Driven Excellence, and prioritizing Supply Chain Excellence and Supplier Relationship Management. These shared goals invite every employee and partner to contribute to making Ford top-of-mind for customers and become the ‘best-in-class.’

Suppliers have praised these summits, particularly Ford's proactive engagement through ‘Special Attention Reviews’ (SAR) and dedicated support in identifying root causes, leading to significant operational improvements. For Ford, excellent parts mean excellent vehicles. We ensure the quality of our products reflects the excellence embedded throughout our entire supply chain. Together, we build a legacy of trust and quality that inspires confidence in every drive.