UAW Strike moved my build date

[Wags]

Hay, I like Taco's.
Ordered some with sour cream on the side the other day.
Hope they don't scab this guy to build trucks!

Taco Bell doesn’t really count as tacos but I guess it’s the thought that counts.

 

[rwolfcastle]

Was 9/18, moved to 10/9 about a month ago. Still holding.

Mine was 9/25 and got pushed all the way back to 10/30

 

[Snkrjeff020]

Hay, I like Taco's.
Ordered some with sour cream on the side the other day.
Hope they don't scab this guy to build trucks!

Real tacos

 

[goalieThreeOne]

Mine was 9/25 and got pushed all the way back to 10/30

According to what that other guy said, having a vin means the parts are accounted for so it could still hold. This would have to mean (since the paint shop is striking) that there’s a room full of body parts already painted and waiting to be built? I wish I knew more about it.

 

[Ranger#5?]

According to what that other guy said, having a vin means the parts are accounted for so it could still hold. This would have to mean (since the paint shop is striking) that there’s a room full of body parts already painted and waiting to be built? I wish I knew more about it.

No having a VIN doesn't mean that. Being "scheduled" doesn't mean that either. The whole point of JIT is NOT to have parts laying around accounted for, but arriving as close as possible to the day your vehicle is ready/expected to roll down the assembly line. That is really the crux of continued "supply chain problems". Too many vendors and suppliers are not delivering on time as promised- and it completely screws the scheduling and forces on the fly rescheduling as they scramble to find other units they can build that day to keep the line moving and people working.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

No having a VIN doesn't mean that. Being "scheduled" doesn't mean that either. The whole point of JIT is NOT to have parts laying around accounted for, but arriving as close as possible to the day your vehicle is ready/expected to roll down the assembly line. That is really the crux of continued "supply chain problems". Too many vendors and suppliers are not delivering on time as promised- and it completely screws the scheduling and forces on the fly rescheduling as they scramble to find other units they can build that day to keep the line moving and people working.

I work in manufacturing so I’m very familiar with what you’re describing all too well (I get reamed out by contractors on a daily basis for delays). And this all how I assumed it worked. However, according to another user on this forum who works for Ford in manufacturing, having a VIN means parts are accounted for. Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just regurgitating someone else’s post.

 

[songkajai]

I work in manufacturing so I’m very familiar with what you’re describing all too well (I get reamed out by contractors on a daily basis for delays). And this all how I assumed it worked. However, according to another user on this forum who works for Ford in manufacturing, having a VIN means parts are accounted for. Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just regurgitating someone else’s post.

JIT is an important part of manufacturing however it has it's flaws! Although the idea would be to have a date for all the parts to be available and set the build date. Great on paper, a total disaster in real life for something that is waiting for 100 vendors and over a thousand parts. Issuing a VIN put on the schedule then halfway through the line the dash does not show up or are all defective. I.E. the bronco tops or the 150's with the fire in the dash plant.
Everything goes into the order scheduling computer, there can see a list of every part when it came, or when it is coming. When the criteria is meet, i.e. all or most of the parts are on hand it will have a VIN issued and go on the schedule. I do not know who or how that call is made, a mystery indeed! This is all supposed to happen quickly as having piles of parts around is a bad thing and actually some expire.
See in the above reply you used the correct word "Accounted for" .
A couple of minor parts expected to be in, it could go on scheduling, however critical parts it will be on hold even if most of the parts are inventoried. When this happens and it seems to happen a lot is mostly the same parts missing from many builds and stopping the line is the last option. So, they have teams that will install those parts in the parking lot.
One one last note; The body is what sets it all in motion. You can store 500 bumpers, 500 steering wheels etc. You cannot store 500 painted bodies! At any given time you can see train cars with 100's of f150 frames, you will never see hundreds of bodies stacked up!

 

[goalieThreeOne]

JIT is an important part of manufacturing however it has it's flaws! Although the idea would be to have a date for all the parts to be available and set the build date. Great on paper, a total disaster in real life for something that is waiting for 100 vendors and over a thousand parts. Issuing a VIN put on the schedule then halfway through the line the dash does not show up or are all defective. I.E. the bronco tops or the 150's with the fire in the dash plant.
Everything goes into the order scheduling computer, there can see a list of every part when it came, or when it is coming. When the criteria is meet, i.e. all or most of the parts are on hand it will have a VIN issued and go on the schedule. I do not know who or how that call is made, a mystery indeed! This is all supposed to happen quickly as having piles of parts around is a bad thing and actually some expire.
See in the above reply you used the correct word "Accounted for" .
A couple of minor parts expected to be in, it could go on scheduling, however critical parts it will be on hold even if most of the parts are inventoried. When this happens and it seems to happen a lot is mostly the same parts missing from many builds and stopping the line is the last option. So, they have teams that will install those parts in the parking lot.

I guess my point was, with the paint line down, and with early October build dates holding for now, they must have some ready right? If it’s as you describe, you can’t install an entire body in the parking lot because it’s a prerequisite for everything else above the frame.

 

[songkajai]

I guess my point was, with the paint line down, and with early October build dates holding for now, they must have some ready right? If it’s as you describe, you can’t install an entire body in the parking lot because it’s a prerequisite for everything else above the frame.

Checked last Thursday and production was stopped at MAP. If you are waiting for an F150 the lines are still running for the moment at Dearborn. Do not have personal knowledge of what is or not on the line or if stuff was stopped in the middle.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

Checked last Thursday and production was stopped at MAP. If you are waiting for an F150 the lines are still running for the moment at Dearborn. Do not have personal knowledge of what is or not on the line or if stuff was stopped in the middle.

Production being stopped at all of MAP is news to me and I don’t recall that being shared here yet. If that’s the case, then forget literally everything I’ve just said because it doesn’t take sense.

 

[songkajai]

Production being stopped at all of MAP is news to me and I don’t recall that being shared here yet. If that’s the case, then forget literally everything I’ve just said because it doesn’t take sense.

That would be the case as the lines can't run long without the paint shop anyway. The bodies are made completely onsite. The blank panels are made at Detroit stamping and DKP/DKPI along with a few other places but all the MAP and 150 parts come from these places. It gets in depth from here but the aluminum is different for each panel (chemical makeup) These panels are stacked on skids with 1000's of panels. The panels must be bent to the final shape in a certain time frame to avoid cracking, memory effects etc. This only applies to aluminum that most are made of now.
These panels are stamped at the location of assembly, i.e. flat panel easy to ship, store, handle. Stamped pieces not so much and need to be used quickly "JIT". DKP is not union and has no effect on production. Detroit blanking and stamping is in full production. However only f150 parts are stamped here for the onsite assembly. The blanks for Ranger and Bronco along with others are shipped over to Flat Rock, MAP and others. They are still in the blank form and not pressed/stamped to shape until needed at the assembly point.
The point of this is Ford has total control of everything body. However, if anything stops in that chain the rest has to stop. Just because they still have blanks cut, they will have to go in the trash if they are not pressed to final shape in a limited time. If parts are still being stamped, then they have to be assembled. From assembly they have to be treated and painted in a very limited time to avoid corrosion. And finally, if no painted bodies, then no assembly. That is why I mentioned not sure of how they stopped. Just walked off or, shut down as the parts worked through the system. In any case if not started soon some stuff will need to be scraped and started over.
Also, since VINS are stamped on body inner parts, a VIN must be issued before a body can be built. I don't know much about how that works, but know a VIN = a body =assembly. No point in making a body if you don't have the parts to assemble.

 

[songkajai]

Sorry if all that seems to be bad news.
However, there is some good news!
Most of the parts suppliers are not union or not effected. So they have some time for catch-up to stockpile parts and by the time they fully start back up, parts for lots of builds should be available.
Build build build when they get back to work, management will push hard!
Broncos have some on the lots so hoping they will have the parts and move more Rangers through.

 

[coldconfession13]

At least your scheduled. I don't even have a schedule date and this strike just makes it worse. It will probably be Dec or Jan by the time I get my truck.

 

[Ranger#5?]

I work in manufacturing so I’m very familiar with what you’re describing all too well (I get reamed out by contractors on a daily basis for delays). And this all how I assumed it worked. However, according to another user on this forum who works for Ford in manufacturing, having a VIN means parts are accounted for. Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just regurgitating someone else’s post.

not shooting the messenger here. Don't know who the "other guy" is but I'm telling you from my personal Maverick experience from ordering through production to finally receiving my truck 10.5 months later. Having a VIN only means they have reviewed your order at every level and believe it can be built at some point. Usually that comes true eventually, but not always, as some people with cancelled Maverick hybrid orders with VINs found out.

When your order status changes to "In production" you are closer, but still not guaranteed anything. The status you want is "in the factory" meaning it is being prepared to actually roll down the line to be built. It requires an allocation at this point too. Only my salesguy could give me the "in the factory" heads up using their internal scheduling report published daily.

and then we wait...

 

[goalieThreeOne]

not shooting the messenger here. Don't know who the "other guy" is but I'm telling you from my personal Maverick experience from ordering through production to finally receiving my truck 10.5 months later. Having a VIN only means they have reviewed your order at every level and believe it can be built at some point. Usually that comes true eventually, but not always, as some people with cancelled Maverick hybrid orders with VINs found out.

When your order status changes to "In production" you are closer, but still not guaranteed anything. The status you want is "in the factory" meaning it is being prepared to actually roll down the line to be built. It requires an allocation at this point too. Only my salesguy could give me the "in the factory" heads up using their internal scheduling report published daily.

and then we wait...

Songkajai is who I was referring to and he’s provided us some insider knowledge in this thread.

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