---

Ford Licenses Its Knowledge Management Replication Process

26 September 2000

Ford Licenses Its Knowledge Management Replication Process

    DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 26 Ford Motor Company
granted a technology license to Nabisco to adapt Ford's Best Practice
Replication Process (BPRP), a knowledge management process which facilitates
collecting, approving and tracking value in replicating highly-leveraged
practices throughout an enterprise.
    "We recognize the value of a process to communicate and manage our
collective knowledge throughout the organization," said Brian Beglin, senior
vice president, Operations, Nabisco Biscuit Company.  "This process will
enable us to continue to increase quality, improve customer service, and
reduce costs.  It has broad applications across the organization."
    Nabisco selected Ford Motor Company's process as a template because it has
proven it can deliver knowledge and add value.  Over one billion dollars of
projected value has been added to the business, and $825 million in actual
value has been recorded at Ford in the last four years.  This global process,
managed by Ford's Process Leadership organization, is deployed in 19 countries
and uses a web based intranet site to efficiently transfer knowledge.
    "Organizations must optimize knowledge management techniques in the new
global economy," Dar Wolford, manager Best Practice Replication, Ford Motor
Company said.  "Ford understands the need to capitalize on the knowledge of
our employees in order know our consumers, to improve our business, and
enhance shareholder value in this knowledge-based global economy."
    In 1998 Ford Motor Company granted a technology license to Shell Oil and
its affiliates to adapt Ford's Best Practice Replication Process throughout
Royal Dutch Shell.
    Ford Motor Company is the world's largest producer of trucks and the
second-largest producer of cars and trucks combined, marketing and selling
approximately 7 million vehicles globally through its seven brands last year.
Ford Motor Company employs approximately 345,000 people in plants, offices and
laboratories to serve consumers in more than 200 countries and territories.