Womack Upbeat About Ford

Lean-Manufacturing Expert James Womack praises Ford Motor Co.'s attempts to consolidate its product- and process-development systems, but he's less certain about the prospects for streamlining at formerly bankrupt General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.

Womack, chairman of the non-profit Lean Enterprise Institute, says Ford engineers casually mentioned their initiative, and he asked if he could come to Dearborn, MI, to take a look.

“The Ford guys said they were going to try to turn over a new leaf” with a system that truly integrates product and process development, says Womack. He visited Dearborn for an informal presentation and says he left “very impressed.” Without revealing too many company secrets, he says the system is globally competitive.