24 MiMfg Magazine April 2017
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Ford Commits to $ 1.9 Billion Investment in Great Lakes State
Ford Motor Company announced new investments of $ 1.2 billion in three Michigan manufacturing facilities last month , bringing total anticipated investments in Michigan for 2017 to $ 1.9 billion .
“ At Ford , we are investing aggressively in building on our strengths today — including trucks , vans , commercial vehicles , performance vehicles and SUVs — while at the same time growing our leadership in electrification , autonomy and mobility services ,” said Joe Hinrichs , Ford president , The Americas . “ As America ’ s top producer of automobiles , we are proud to be going even further in our commitment to invest in manufacturing here at home .”
Those Michigan-based investments include :
• $ 850 million in Ford ’ s Michigan Assembly Plant to retool the plant to build the all-new Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco
• $ 150 million and 130 retained jobs at the Romeo Engine Plant to expand capacity for engine components
• $ 200 million for an advanced data center to support the company ’ s expansion to an auto and a mobility company
• Announced in January , $ 700 million and 700 direct new jobs to create a second new data center at Ford ’ s Flat Rock Assembly Plant , developing a factory capable of producing high-tech electrified and autonomous vehicles .
“ As more and more consumers around the world become interested in electrified vehicles , Ford is committed to being a leader in providing consumers with a broad range of electrified vehicles , services and solutions that make people ’ s lives better ,” said Mark Fields , Ford president and CEO during the January announcement of Ford ’ s Flat Rock expansion . “ Our investments and expanding lineup reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15 years .”
The moves are part of a $ 4.5 billion investment in electrified vehicles by 2020 . Over the past five years , Ford has invested $ 12 billion in its U . S . plants and created a total of nearly 28,000 new U . S . jobs .
Steelcase Partners with Microsoft to Foster Workplace Creativity
Grand Rapids furniture manufacturer Steelcase announced a partnership with Microsoft to “ explore the future of work ” and develop a range of technologyenabled spaces designed to help organizations “ foster creative thinking and better collaboration .”
“ We are facing a time of unprecedented change at work ,” said Sara Armbruster ,
Steelcase Partners with Microsoft to Foster Workplace Creativity
Embedded Video https :// youtu . be / EnZnj3bSOSI vice president of strategy , research and new business innovation , Steelcase . “ Through this partnership , we will bring together space and technology to help workers and organizations solve the workplace challenges they face today and in the future and ultimately perform their best at work .”
Ryan Gavin , general manager of Microsoft Surface marketing , added that the partnership creates a “ compelling opportunity to blend place and technology into a seamless environment that allows our most important asset , our people , to unlock their creativity and share that with others .”
As part of their partnership , Steelcase and Microsoft conducted a joint study that included 515 U . S . and Canadian companies with 100-plus employees revealing creativity to be a critical job skill driven by organizations ’ needs for innovation and growth , in addition to employees ’ desire for meaningful work .
Check out the video below to learn more about this partnership and why Steelcase and Microsoft believe the future of work is creative .