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Ford Finalist for Smithsonian Award

10 May 1999

Ford Finalist for Smithsonian Award

    DEARBORN, Mich., May 7 -- Ford Motor Company has
been named one of five finalists for a 1999 Computerworld Smithsonian Award in
the category of Manufacturing.  Established in 1989, the Computerworld
Smithsonian Awards Program was created to search out and publicly honor
individuals and companies whose use of information technology produces
positive social, economic and educational change.
    Other Computerword Smithsonian Award finalists in the Manufacturing
category are:  The Boeing Company, Cisco Systems, Georg LingenbrickGmbH & Co,
and Bath Ironworks.  The winners will be announced at an annual gala on
Monday, June 7, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
Information on Ford's innovative use of the Internet have been added to the
Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology at the Smithsonian.
    Ford is being recognized specifically for leveraging information
technology and the Internet to manufacture and deliver its vehicles on a
customer-demand basis, substantially shortening the order-to-delivery process
to create automobiles on demand.
    "A completely new approach to the customer purchase experience, revolving
around using high-speed communications, data analysis and the Internet is
changing the way people buy vehicles and related services from Ford," said Bud
Mathaisel, chief information officer, Ford Motor Company.  "This new approach
will help Ford become the leading consumer company for automotive products and
services."
    Ford has made the automobile purchase experience as simple as logging onto
the Internet.  "The impact of the Internet is profound," Mathaisel said.  "It
provides us with the perfect medium to listen to our consumers and provide
them with the exact information and vehicle they want."
    Consumers can virtually specify and order the exact vehicle they want,
arrange for financing and obtain a delivery date -- plus receive continuing
e-mail updates.  "These emerging technologies are helping Ford connect with
current and potential customers and anticipate their present and future
needs," he said.