Here’s How Ford Plans to Speed up F-150 Production

When Ford discontinued making regular cars in an effort to focus on SUVs and trucks, which the customers preferred, it probably didn’t anticipate a smaller lineup could cause headaches as far as production goes. Because despite having a relatively tighter product range, Ford’s lineup has unmatched popularity that translates to an abundance of orders.

Such is the case for the F-150, the best-selling truck in the United States for more than 40 years. With its 14th generation looming on the horizon and customer demand at an all-time high, the automaker appears to be struggling to keep up. Fortunately for customers, Ford has a smart idea to speed up the production of the ultra-popular vehicle.

Based on a report published by the Detroit Free Press, the Blue Oval has expanded the production process of the next-gen F-150 to the parking lots of its assembly plants in Flat Rock and Kansas City. The automaker has also began fitting seatbelts to the trucks outside factory premises.

It’s an unusual move that can possibly create room for potential issues during the assembly, so Ford is making its quality control process more meticulous.

Ford’s Global Manufacturing and Labor Communications Manager Kelli Felker said in an email that the brand remains committed to its goal of delivering high-quality vehicles. According to her, Ford is “conducting final quality inspections on trucks built before dealer shipments started last month to ensure they meet the quality expectations of our customers.”

Aside from seat belt installations, Ford was also revealed to be conducting final electronic and software checks outside the factory. This allows more space for the laborious in-facility production processes.

The F-150 units that are being built in this unique setup are not the first to roll out from the batch. Ford said several F-150 trucks have already started arriving at dealerships across the United States, with most of them leaving the showrooms within hours.