| Ford Motor Co. is taking nearly 25,000 employees | | | | about helping them understand why they should |
| and retirees to what is called "Showroom of the | | | | have faith," she said.Cecil Crider, a retired designer |
| Future." The latter will showcase concept cars and | | | | of Ford received an invitation. Crider's last design |
| upgraded versions of Ford vehicles that will be | | | | was for 1994 Ford Mustang parts accessories. |
| rolled out by 2010. This is Ford's way of | | | | "Years ago, Design Center used to be run by |
| convincing its employees that there is light at the | | | | designers," Crider said. "Then they put the |
| end of the dark tunnel.Showroom of the Future is | | | | bean-counters in charge and let them make the |
| scheduled to happen at Detroit's Cobo Arena on | | | | decisions. You need bean-counters because this is |
| the 27th and 28th day of this Month. Said event | | | | a business and you have to be profitable. But you |
| will present videos, images and actual vehicles of | | | | need to have people who know how to design |
| upcoming Ford models and technologies."Through | | | | designing."Ford is expecting to host thousands of |
| our North America 'Way Forward' plan, we've | | | | employees to thrust confidence in them. "We've |
| spoken a lot about reducing our uncompetitive | | | | spent a lot of time during the past year talking |
| cost structure, but we have not yet fully | | | | about our new customer-focus," Susan Turner, |
| explained our accelerated product plans," said | | | | Ford's human resources communications manager |
| Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas. "It's | | | | said. "Now, employees and retirees will not only |
| time to change that -- and to show our full team | | | | see how that results in the new sheet metal, but |
| of employees and retirees how this | | | | they should walk away with a better |
| transformation truly is product-led."The event is | | | | understanding of how the business plan, brand plan |
| primarily aimed at boosting confidence in Ford's | | | | and product development plan all come |
| product lineup. Sara Tatchio, Ford's spokeswoman | | | | together."Chuck, a 38 year old freelance writer |
| added, "The move is part of a broader effort to | | | | from Charleston, South Carolina, has been |
| communicate with employees and keep them | | | | specializing on automotive-related articles and |
| informed as the company pursues a painful | | | | news. He has a degree in Automotive Technology. |
| restructuring of its North American automobile | | | | You can visit Ford Mustang parts accessories for |
| business."Tatchio says the message is | | | | more information. |
| straightforward. "It's 'keep the faith,' but it's also | | | | |