Complexity conundrum
To simplify engineering, manufacturing and ordering, Ford is drastically reducing the number of available combinations for its vehicles. The number of build combinations for 2009 Ford-brand vehicles will drop by 90%.
- The Ford F-150 goes from billions of combinations for the 2008 model to fewer than 10 million for the 2009.
- The Ford Expedition goes from 250,000 combinations for the 2008 model to fewer than 10,000 for the 2009.
- The 2009 Lincoln MKS debuts with about 300 combinations.
- The 2010 Ford Focus will have 150 combinations, a drop of 95% from the 2008 model.
- Most car lines will now have fewer than 1,000 combinations.
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. has come a long way from "You can have any color as long as it's black."
