This doesn't seem to make much sense.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-fo...dp-widget-news

 

I guess the biggest question is, what happens to the Ranger?

 

I've heard from a lot of local people about how they were informed about the Norfolk plant being shut down. Basically that everyone had to find out from the media and there will be no transfers for employees to other plants.

I have been a very loyal person to Ford and have traded in my Chevy's for Ford's over the past few years. I am beyond disappointed with Ford in the way they treated my friends and neighbors. I now have no plans on ever purchasing a Ford product again.

- Chris

 

I read somewhere else that the Ranger line was being canceled in 08 too so maybe they're getting out of the small truck market???

 

The future off the Ranger will be decided in 2008 from what Ive read. The St. Paul,MN Ford plant is the home off the Ranger.But the Ranger if its continued will be made at another plant.

 

Norfolk made the F-150. . .

 

From what I have read and heard, the reason the Norfolk plant was selected for closure was because most of the suppliers were in the midwest and getting parts to the plant was more difficult and expensive. Also, the only vehicle that is made in Norfolk is the F150 and the other plants have the ability to manufacture other vehicles so they can change their output to match market demand.

One reason I chose my F150 is because it was made here in Viriginia and part of my son-in-law's income is for work done as a subcontractor (plumbing) for the Ford plant.

 

While I'm sorry for anyone that looses there job Ford has to make the move to shut down plants. They have way to much capacity and it is costing them to much money. We are talking about the survial of the company here.

 

yup keep buying those foreign cars and soon we wont be able to manufacture paper clips in this country!!

 

The point about this closing is that Ford just spend $400 Million on making it one of the "flexible" plants. They haven't even finished the construction on some of the upgrades, then they go and close it. It makes no sense to me. As usual, it is not the quality of products that is hurting Ford, it is their leadership (or lack thereof).

 

I agree with NASA about what appears to be an inefficent management decision. Ford elected to make significant investments in the VA plant very recently. But it is not as though Ford has just begun to lose market share. I lack the information to make any judgement on whether this plant should or should not remain open- as do most of the people on this site- But it seems obvious to even the casual observer that making large investments and then walking away (lacking a sudden and seismic shift costs or market) is the product of bad planning.

Perhaps Ranger production will come from a Mazda plant somewhere? Could Mazda purchase the same plant and, with new employee contracts, sell rangers to Ford?

Does anyone know what the Ranger's share of the small truck market was?

-Mike

 

Plant consolidations are a way of life in modern manufacturing. If they can make the same half million or so F-150's in two plants instead of three they will. It has nothing directly to do with the competition, domestic or otherwise. Before the 1970s, GM and Ford had assembly plants in every major city. This has been going on for a long time.

In my industry, airliners were made at one time in Baltimore, Burbank, San Diego, Santa Monica, and Seattle. Today it is just Everett and Renton.

Are UAW members allowed to transfer to another city, or are seniority lists tied to a particular plant?

Jim

 

I am sorry to hear of the closure. Being a Virginian and a Ford fan, it's sad news.

 

thats plant 2 for the ranger, the edison nj plant went a few years back its all condos now.