Each month we profile the many different Faces of Ford, getting to know our colleagues in and out of the office. This month we’re in conversation with Themba Zulu, IMG Central Quality STA at the Silverton Assembly Plant.
Who is Themba Zulu? Tell us more about yourself?
I’m a country boy from Nhlazatshe, a dusty village in Mpumalanga, where I was born and raised. Growing up, there wasn’t much to do besides play soccer, and luckily, I was good at it! I was even captain from a young age, and I also enjoyed debating at school and singing in the church choir. Today, I’m a proud husband to my beautiful wife and a father of three: two boys and a lovely girl.
You are an IMG Central Quality STA team member. Tell us more about you do?
Our team handles warranty issues involving supplier parts. For example, if a customer’s key fob stops working, we investigate what went wrong, review how the part performed before it reached the customer, and work with the supplier to find the root cause. We also review the supplier’s processes and collaborate with cross-functional teams to prevent the issue from happening again. Ultimately, we want customers to simply press their key and have their car respond as expected, no unhappy surprises first thing in the morning.
STA contributed to Ford Silverton winning a Quality award. What does quality mean to you?
Quality means delivering what we promised the customer: a car they can enjoy without having to worry about problems. It starts with the components we use and the processes we follow to build the vehicle and continues through testing before the car reaches the customer. When all those pieces come together, we can give customers a quality car, and a good reason to be happy with it.
You are a Ford Insider. What made you want to become a Ford Insider?
I believe in work-life balance, and I have a busy life outside my engineering role at Ford. I’m active in the social space: I do red-carpet interviews, host events, work as an MC, and I’m a podcaster. So, when the opportunity came up to represent Ford as an Insider, I thought, “This is me!” It felt like a great chance to talk about a product I know from A to Z and take a lot of pride in.
Has being an Insider changed the way you see Ford or your own role within the company?
It has, a lot! It has made me even prouder to be a Ford employee. I don’t just get to work on the product; I also get to talk about it and represent the company out in the world. Being able to share in the results of the hard work we put in as Ford employees is a highlight of the Insider role for me.
What drives you to keep pushing yourself and encouraging those around you?
Knowing I can make a difference in another person's life always empowers me to push forward. The knowledge I have obtained over the years is a powerful asset, and I strive to use it to the best of my ability.
If you could have dinner with one famous person dead or alive who would it be, what would you eat for dinner and what would you talk about?
I’d invite Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo. I’d share braaied meat and pap with him and ask how he has stayed so relevant in such a tough industry. Even after retiring from professional soccer, he still attracts many endorsements.
What's something you enjoy doing outside of work that your team already knows you for?
I’ve always enjoyed being in front of people. My love of debating at school grew into a love of events and MCing, and I’ve also done red-carpet interviews, including at the South African Music Awards. Meeting people I used to watch on TV and asking them questions audiences want to hear is exciting, and it gives me a real energy boost. I come back on Monday thinking, “Bring it on!”
Which Ford vehicle best represents you and why?
The Ford Raptor. It is unapologetically bold in the face of its competitors, and it will leave a legacy that lasts for years to come. I like to think I’m the same 😂
Any fun fact, favourite quote, or piece of advice you'd like to leave with your colleagues?
The quote I’d like to leave with my colleagues is by Henry Ford: “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.” I think about it whenever things get tough, as a reminder that pushing through the hard thinking is what helps us move forward.
Nominate our next Faces of Ford! Send your nominee's name and story to Vanessa Monyepao at vmyo@ford.co