Ford selects key suppliers for long-term relationships, collaboration

Ford Motor Company is adding 13 new companies to its Aligned Business Framework (ABF), bringing the total to 90 key component and service suppliers chosen for long-term relationships and closer collaboration.

"Strong supplier relationships are embedded in the principles of the ONE Ford plan," said Tony Brown, group vice president for global purchasing. "By increasing our ABF network Ford is building a strong foundation of suppliers that are helping us transform our products into a global portfolio of high-quality, class-leading cars and trucks."

Ford has added steadily to the ABF list since it was created with seven companies in September 2005 to forge a new path of collaboration between Ford and its supply base. It now consists of 67 production and 23 non-production suppliers from around the world.

ABF suppliers are playing an increasingly important role as Ford consolidates global vehicle platforms and engine architectures while increasing part commonality across its product line. Last year, approximately half of Ford's global production purchases were sourced to ABF suppliers, up from 34 percent in 2006.

Ford's long-term suppliers are also benefiting from a consistent global approach to sourcing. For example, 80 percent of the parts on the next-generation Ford Focus will be common around the world, allowing suppliers to that program to take advantage of global economies of scale.

ABF companies enter into long-term relationships with Ford to strengthen collaboration and drive mutual profitability and technology development. Ford's commitments to ABF companies include long-term sourcing, improved parts commonality and more information sharing of product and manufacturing plans, as well as forecasts. Supplier commitments include increased financial data transparency, commitment to minority- and women-owned suppliers and bringing leading-edge technology innovations to Ford.

The new group of ABF suppliers represent an international cross-section of production suppliers, including companies that provide tires, powertrain machined parts, safety and restraint systems, chassis components, lighting and mirrors.

The new ABF suppliers are:

• Akebono
• Automotive Lighting
• Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
• Brembo
• Federal Mogul Corporation
• Gentex
• GKN plc
• Hayes Lemmerz International
• Key Safety Systems, Inc.
• Michelin
• Ronal GmbH
• Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec
• Takata Holdings Inc.