How It's Made
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9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Missouri
How It's Made
There is a show on Discovery that I watch at night to fall asleep to called How It's Made. You can see in on Netflix if you want, but here are the segments I found relevant (that I could remember). In the shows they never actually give away brand names, but you can usually figure it out if you try.
Kinda cool to see how things we use and see every day are made.
FRAM Air Filters:
How It's Made Air Filters - YouTube
Ford Truck Bumpers:
How It's Made Truck Bumpers - YouTube
Sylvania Bulbs
How it's made - Halogen bulbs - YouTube
One thing I have noticed is that the show aired on the Canadian version of the science channel, and most of the segments are of Canadian operations. So that is likely a Canadian Ford Truck plant.
Kinda cool to see how things we use and see every day are made.
FRAM Air Filters:
How It's Made Air Filters - YouTube
Ford Truck Bumpers:
How It's Made Truck Bumpers - YouTube
Sylvania Bulbs
How it's made - Halogen bulbs - YouTube
One thing I have noticed is that the show aired on the Canadian version of the science channel, and most of the segments are of Canadian operations. So that is likely a Canadian Ford Truck plant.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,704
Likes: 2,626
From: SE Florida
I watch that show often.
The truck bumper segment was making Ford bumpers, but that isn't a Ford truck plant. In the last scene the floor says Meridian. That was Meridian Automotive Systems. In 2009 it was sold to FLEX-N-GATE. The plant is located in Ionia, Michigan.
Ford doesn't have a Canadian truck plant.
FLEX-N-GATE
The truck bumper segment was making Ford bumpers, but that isn't a Ford truck plant. In the last scene the floor says Meridian. That was Meridian Automotive Systems. In 2009 it was sold to FLEX-N-GATE. The plant is located in Ionia, Michigan.
Ford doesn't have a Canadian truck plant.
FLEX-N-GATE
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,209
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From: San Antonio, TX
Makes you wonder what percentage of a vehicle is designed and built by outside contractors.
Seems like the major auto companies are more like engineering and design firms.
It wouldn't surprise me to see final assembly go to outside contractors in the future.
Seems like the major auto companies are more like engineering and design firms.
It wouldn't surprise me to see final assembly go to outside contractors in the future.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Love the how its made show! Watch it whenever I find it!
I was at the local steel mill/metal working place back in 97-98-99ish and they had a ceiling hung conveyor of doors moving threw the factory. It was the new super duty doors that they were making.
I was amazed how huge the doors looked at the time!
Like aerospace stuff vehicle manufacturers outsource all kinds of stuff. Why do you think not all parts say ford on them.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,704
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From: SE Florida
Back in Henry Ford's day most components were made in house, but some were outsourced. It slowly has been moving towards more and more outsourcing. Back in the dark days under Jac Nasser the company's position, as stated by Jac, was to outsource nearly everything.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
I used to work for a big automotive supplier, Rockwell. In addition to the axles, transmissions that we were known for, wheels, wheel covers, bumpers, springs and other mundane parts came from our Western Wheel and other divisions.
When I worked for Hi Shear, an aerospace supplier, Ford actually came to us to make a somewhat tricky part for truck brakes. To keep the price down, manufacturing was in Mexico, but all quality control testing was done at our California plant in aircraft qualified labs.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Running Springs CA
Toyota even lets the supplier to the engineering and design of the parts. They just get the specifications. Still, gasoline engines and automatic transmissions are by far the most complex parts of an automobile and those are made in house by all the major automobile companies, granted, with some parts from outside suppliers.
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9 ECHO 1
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 12,467
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Here's another I ran across today, for all of you who cant watch on TV.
Monroe Shocks
(Monroe also owns Rancho)
How It's Made- Shock Absorbers - YouTube
Monroe Shocks
(Monroe also owns Rancho)
How It's Made- Shock Absorbers - YouTube
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