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Ford's Hybrid Transmission Plant Uses Flexibility to Beat Outsourcing

DailyTech -- DailyTech had the privilege of touring Ford Motor Comp.'s new hybrid transmission flex-line assembly plant in Sterling Heights, MI last Thursday. Located on Van Dyke Rd., roughly 20 min. northeast of the city of Detroit, the Van Dyke Transmission plant has been opened since 1968.

Long in the tooth, some feared the long-standing facility could become the latest casualty of a fading American manufacturing empire. But Ford was determined not to let that happen.

The "secret sauce" that helps keep costs so low at the transmission plant is its flexible design. Capable of producing either the 6F - a conventional 6-speed automatic - or the HF35 - a hybrid transmission, the plant can compensate for lulls in hybrid demand by producing conventional transmissions.

..many difficulties facing th


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Submitted Aug 07, 2012 By: DellDude2
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
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REPLIES (newest first)
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jtfftj
Champion Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:37:24 PM

Old news. Read this yesterday.
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tedjm1
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:21:39 PM

Sounds good to me.
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pastorpaulcg
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:18:46 PM

Good planning
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Badmoon
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:18:31 PM

Flexibility is important.
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METEOR49
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:17:22 PM

WHEN PIG OIL BRINGS THE ECONOMY TO IT'S KNEES NOBODY WILL BE BUYING CARS OR ANYTHING ELSE. BE PREPARED THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE NICE.
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GOBUTLER
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:16:51 PM

Ok
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Dremwolf
Veteran Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:16:33 PM

Plain old fashioned business sense.
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g747
Champion Author Mobile

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:12:54 PM

Good deal Ford;keeping american jobs home.Thanks
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boatfloyd
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:12:45 PM

Great production people.
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heartbroken2010
Champion Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:12:35 PM

Ford seems to be on a good roll lately.
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Number43
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:11:38 PM

only make what is needed-what will they think of next ?
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crreed1
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:10:51 PM

ok
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rawdog1313
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:10:45 PM

Great for them......
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Rooster922
Champion Author Wilmington

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:09:02 PM

great
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SavALot
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:08:08 PM

Flexibility definitely a key to prosperity
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rahcat
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:07:49 PM

Good for Ford
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HEBster
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:05:45 PM

Keep up the good work FORD!
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LanguageMan1
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:05:07 PM

Good for Ford and the flexibility.
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humblepie
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:04:49 PM

nice
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jem069
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:04:15 PM

ok
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Blue_Cruzer
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:04:06 PM

Great!
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carloco75
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:03:51 PM

Alrighty than...
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Toppers
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:03:32 PM

Nice
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TIGERPAW46
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 11:00:18 PM

versatility
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FlyNFool
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:58:51 PM

good
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dabbadu
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:56:45 PM

Nice.
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pgerassi
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:56:08 PM

Good!
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Glock26
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:55:00 PM

Interesting!!!
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goldrose1
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:47:45 PM

Good that they are looking at all costs to see that saving or creating new domestic jobs really does save them money.
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CAroadrunner101
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:46:54 PM

and...
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saleboss
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:46:28 PM

Don't think many cars are "American made" any more!
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bonzoonfmb
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:45:09 PM

Why didn't they do this with the dozens that they did close?
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DerHahn
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:42:11 PM

avoiding outsourcing or the riots in india? move the jobs back here.
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humblepie
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:39:22 PM

slick move by ford
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HawaiianGuy
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:37:15 PM

Flexibility and diversity of abilities may prove to be this plant's salvation.
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walkingtall
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:33:06 PM

It's great to create jobs at these hard times.
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serrog
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:28:33 PM

ok
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Tekkersmom57
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:23:23 PM

It's great that we can create jobs in this time of need.
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wayoung56
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:23:17 PM

Cool! way to go Ford!!!
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nimpy
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:21:27 PM

good news, about time
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DustyHorse
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:19:33 PM

Some good news.
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sillywagon
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:17:17 PM

I am pleasantly surprised. Good for both Ford and the UAW. The past record of the UAW has been to hurt it's employer for short term benefit. I am glad to see that Ford and the UAW are working together. A win-win situation.
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cssco
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:16:24 PM

Gee, it all makes sense now, after having read the article. I need one of those flexibilitys for use around the house to work on the Honey Do List.
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REKEY
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:14:43 PM

Corn for food, not fuel!
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SaturnSC
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:13:44 PM

Meh - Ferd
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Mustache_33
All-Star Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:13:10 PM

stay strong FORD
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LostToo
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:12:17 PM

Cool!
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kcboy
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:10:09 PM

ok
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clermont40miles
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:04:39 PM

Lots of nice pictures.

GO Ford!
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stephen2155
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Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 10:03:48 PM

Ok
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