Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant

Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant is a major automobile manufacturing facility located in Claycomo, Missouri, owned and operated by the Ford Motor Company. The plant has been in operation since 1951 and has produced a wide range of vehicles over the years, including the Ford F-Series, Mercury, and Lincoln models, in collaboration with United Auto Workers and International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. The plant has undergone several expansions and renovations, including a major upgrade in 2011, supported by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Sly James. The facility has also received awards and recognition for its quality and efficiency, including the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence and ISO 14001 certification, accredited by ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board and International Organization for Standardization.

● History

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant was established in 1951, during the tenure of Henry Ford II as the president of Ford Motor Company, with the support of United States Department of Commerce and Federal Highway Administration. The plant was built on a 1,200-acre site in Claycomo, Missouri, and it began production of the Ford F-Series pickup trucks, designed by Ford Design Center and engineered by Ford Engineering. Over the years, the plant has undergone several expansions and renovations, including the addition of new production lines and facilities, such as the Ford Kansas City Stamping Plant and Ford Kansas City Engine Plant, in partnership with Daimler AG and Volkswagen Group. The plant has also been the subject of several labor disputes and negotiations with the United Auto Workers union, led by Walter Reuther and Douglas Fraser, and has been recognized for its commitment to quality and efficiency, earning awards such as the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and National Medal of Technology and Innovation, presented by National Science Foundation and United States Patent and Trademark Office.

● Facilities

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant covers an area of over 4.7 million square feet, with a total of 12 buildings and facilities, including the Ford Kansas City Paint Shop and Ford Kansas City Body Shop, designed by Albert Kahn Associates and constructed by Bechtel Group. The plant has a total of 4,500 employees, including production workers, engineers, and administrative staff, who are members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Steelworkers. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and equipment, including robotics and computer-aided design systems, supplied by KUKA Robotics and Siemens Digital Industries Software, and has a strong focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

● Products

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant produces a range of vehicles, including the Ford F-150 pickup truck, Ford Transit van, and Ford F-650/F-750 commercial trucks, designed by Ford Truck Division and engineered by Ford Powertrain Operations. The plant has also produced other models in the past, such as the Mercury Mountaineer and Lincoln Aviator, in collaboration with Mercury Marine and Lincoln Motor Company. The facility has a production capacity of over 400,000 vehicles per year, with a focus on quality and efficiency, and has been recognized for its commitment to customer satisfaction and product quality, earning awards such as the J.D. Power and Consumer Reports awards, presented by J.D. Power and Associates and Consumers Union.

● Employment

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant employs over 4,500 people, including production workers, engineers, and administrative staff, who are members of AFL-CIO and Change to Win Federation. The plant offers a range of job opportunities, from entry-level positions to skilled trades and management roles, in partnership with Missouri Department of Economic Development and Kansas City, Missouri Economic Development Corporation. The facility has a strong focus on diversity and inclusion, with a diverse workforce and a range of programs and initiatives to support employee development and community engagement, such as Ford Fund and Ford Volunteer Corps, in collaboration with United Way and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

● Environmental Impact

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant has a strong focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, with a range of initiatives and programs to reduce its environmental impact, in accordance with Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act regulations. The facility has implemented a number of energy-efficient measures, including the use of solar power and wind power, supplied by SunPower Corporation and Vestas Wind Systems, and has reduced its water usage and waste generation, in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund and Nature Conservancy. The plant has also been recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability, earning awards such as the EPA Energy Star and ISO 14001 certification, accredited by ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board and International Organization for Standardization.

● Operations

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant operates on a 24/7 schedule, with three shifts per day, in collaboration with United Parcel Service and FedEx. The facility has a strong focus on quality and efficiency, with a range of programs and initiatives to support continuous improvement and employee engagement, such as Ford Production System and Ford Quality Operating System, designed by Ford Motor Company and implemented by Ford Manufacturing and Ford Engineering. The plant has also been recognized for its commitment to customer satisfaction and product quality, earning awards such as the J.D. Power and Consumer Reports awards, presented by J.D. Power and Associates and Consumers Union, and has been certified to ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standards, accredited by ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board and International Organization for Standardization.

Category:Automotive industry