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Ford Connecting Consumers, Dealers and Suppliers in Philippines

30 September 1999

Ford Connecting Consumers, Dealers Suppliers and Employees in Philippines Via Internet

    DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 30 -- Ford Motor Company has
become the first automotive company in the Philippines to link local
consumers, dealers, suppliers and all employees via the Internet.  "Wiring"
the Philippines in this way makes Ford the leanest assembler in that country,
reducing finished vehicle inventory from 8-to-10 days worth of finished
inventory to just three days of inventory.  Ford President and Chief Executive
Officer Jac Nasser made the announcement at a conference in China this week.
    "Ford is a leading global company with the ability to adapt technology to
local needs," Nasser said.  "We are working to become the world's premier
consumer company providing automotive products and services, and to do that,
we must also be the premier on-line company."
    Twenty-six Ford suppliers in the Philippines now have the capacity to send
information to Ford on-line, and view real-time information about their own
accounts.  The five dealerships located in the Philippines also now have the
ability to enter consumer-demand forecast information that integrates back
into the Ford Philippine system, allowing Ford to build vehicles based on more
accurate market forecasts.
    Dealers can also track where vehicles are in the order process and amend
sales orders up to the point of production -- going so far as to amend an
order prior to hitting the paint booth.  This new tracking capability is sure
to enhance customer satisfaction.
    "The efficiencies we gain in the order process are great.  But,
ultimately, these online breakthroughs allow us to better focus on the
consumer," Nasser said.  "There's a revolution underway in the automotive
industry -- and the consumer is driving it.  Ford intends to stay on the
cutting edge and be the global online leader."
    The announcement of Ford's Philippine' dealers and suppliers becoming
"wired" is the latest in a string of electronic commerce initiatives Ford has
undertaken.
    On Sept. 20, Ford announced it was joining with Microsoft Corp. in a joint
venture with CarPoint to create a simpler, better way for consumers to design
and order vehicles they want when they want them.  The joint venture will
develop the first online build-to-order system to link consumer order
configurations directly with automotive manufacturers' supply and delivery
systems.  This will allow consumers to order any model of car to their exact
specifications on CarPoint, Ford.com and other automotive destination sites,
receive immediate feedback on availability, and schedule delivery and service
at their local dealership.
    On Sept. 15, Ford announced the establishment of a new global enterprise
to connect to its global customers.  The consumer-connect entity will be
responsible for all direct consumer interfaces, working very closely with
Ford's dealer body.  This new business unit, headed by Ford Vice President
Brian P. Kelley, will combine retail dealer and e-commerce activity to provide
a completely satisfying consumer-focused ownership experience.  It also will
integrate Ford's global e-commerce activity from the consumer purchase through
Ford's entire supply chain.
    Another pilot program in Australia, known as FTE, allows consumers to
customize a limited number of Ford Falcon cars directly from their computers.
Consumers also can watch production and servicing of their cars via the
Internet.  Mark Taylor, the former captain of the Australian Cricket Team,
took delivery of his own FTE Falcon earlier this month after personally
completing the virtual installation of one of the car's wheels.
    Ford.com is rated the number one site, as measured by Media Metrix, an
independent company.  Ford was the first automotive manufacturer to highlight
its family of brands on a single home page, allowing consumers single-click
access to the Aston Martin, Jaguar, Volvo, Lincoln, Mercury, Ford and Mazda
brands.
    Ford was the first to make exclusive agreements with community sites, such
as iVillage and Digital Entertainment Network, and was the first manufacturer
to take an equity stake in an all-makes site.
    The Ford Supplier Network, an Internet-based system providing real-time
order and quality information to the supply base, has linked more than 1,600
suppliers around the globe.
    Ford's Intranet links more than 110,000 employees and has won numerous
awards for the innovative use of Web technology.