✅ 4/24/2023 Lightning Build Week Group (MY2023)

[TaxmanHog]

I say the odds are good for them to sit the 6 weeks or whatever the shutdown period is unfortunately.

Debugging defects and upfitting missing parts continue at adjacent facilities, any trucks in that status will continue receiving attention and shipping when they're ready to roll.

Sponsored

 

[lakeguy55]

It’s become clear that several of us with builds in the last few weeks of April and early May have entered the dreaded Ramp 51 Zone, waiting for some part or update that prevents reaching “Built” or “Shipped” status. I get it. Stuff happens, especially in these days of supply chain issues. What I don’t get is the ongoing misinformation and apparent mismanagement from Ford when these things happen.

In the past few weeks, I’ve worked with my dealer, Ford Chat, and Ford Marketing, trying to get accurate information on the status of my order. The range of answers has been interesting, especially the initial responses where I was told the truck had been shipped to the dealer a week or more before the day I was speaking to the rep.

My biggest frustration in all this has not been the delays. Rather it’s been the setting of expectations.

Once an order goes to “In Production”, a customer’s valid expectation is that it will then reach “Built” status shortly thereafter. There are valid reasons why this can sometimes not happen. But it’s at this point that the misinformation seems to start, and that can sometimes feel to the customer like they are being purposely misled.

Ford has a stated goal of moving to an online ordering and delivery model. Their systems and processes have a long way to go to get there. A few suggestions based on what I’ve learned of the process,

• Be honest, let them know what’s going on. I'm not talking about the generic "45 day" email that many already received. I mean information specific to a particular order.
• Sorry, there is a part shortage for your vehicle so your build has been suspended. The truck has been moved to Ramp 51 while waiting for parts
  • Sorry, we have no idea when the parts will be available. Could be weeks or months. We’ll let you know as soon as something changes. Or,
  • The parts are supposed to be available week of XXXX and your production will resume at that time. Or,
  • The parts are now available. But vehicles now coming off the production line get priority, and the order in which production is resumed from this Ramp 51 inventory is totally random so we can’t give you an update. This appears to be where our orders are now. The process should be fixed so it becomes a “first in first out” repair queue once the parts are available. At least have a process in parallel with the production line.
• Once it reaches “Built” status,
  • Your vehicle is now ready to be shipped. But scheduling of shipments is dependent on many, many factors (I know. My brother majored in transportation management), train schedules, slot loading, weather, destination, etc.. This could take XXX time. We’ll let you know when shipping is scheduled.
  • Your vehicle is scheduled for shipment on XXX.
• Once it reaches “Shipped” status, provide tracking information so expectations can be managed (This part of the process seems to work for the most part)

In summary, do a much better job of managing expectations. We knew going into this process that there would be a wait for the vehicle. But once it hit “In Production”, my expectation was that I could start making plans for financing and use. These were reinforced when I was given (incorrect) delivery dates. Better management of information and expectations would have helped greatly with my customer satisfaction.

BTW, my dealer has been great through all of this and seems as frustrated as I am with the lack of info and status.

 

[Madasahatter1138]

It’s become clear that several of us with builds in the last few weeks of April and early May have entered the dreaded Ramp 51 Zone, waiting for some part or update that prevents reaching “Built” or “Shipped” status. I get it. Stuff happens, especially in these days of supply chain issues. What I don’t get is the ongoing misinformation and apparent mismanagement from Ford when these things happen.

In the past few weeks, I’ve worked with my dealer, Ford Chat, and Ford Marketing, trying to get accurate information on the status of my order. The range of answers has been interesting, especially the initial responses where I was told the truck had been shipped to the dealer a week or more before the day I was speaking to the rep.

My biggest frustration in all this has not been the delays. Rather it’s been the setting of expectations.

Once an order goes to “In Production”, a customer’s valid expectation is that it will then reach “Built” status shortly thereafter. There are valid reasons why this can sometimes not happen. But it’s at this point that the misinformation seems to start, and that can sometimes feel to the customer like they are being purposely misled.

Ford has a stated goal of moving to an online ordering and delivery model. Their systems and processes have a long way to go to get there. A few suggestions based on what I’ve learned of the process,

• Be honest, let them know what’s going on. I'm not talking about the generic "45 day" email that many already received. I mean information specific to a particular order.
• Sorry, there is a part shortage for your vehicle so your build has been suspended. The truck has been moved to Ramp 51 while waiting for parts
  • Sorry, we have no idea when the parts will be available. Could be weeks or months. We’ll let you know as soon as something changes. Or,
  • The parts are supposed to be available week of XXXX and your production will resume at that time. Or,
  • The parts are now available. But vehicles now coming off the production line get priority, and the order in which production is resumed from this Ramp 51 inventory is totally random so we can’t give you an update. This appears to be where our orders are now. The process should be fixed so it becomes a “first in first out” repair queue once the parts are available. At least have a process in parallel with the production line.
• Once it reaches “Built” status,
  • Your vehicle is now ready to be shipped. But scheduling of shipments is dependent on many, many factors (I know. My brother majored in transportation management), train schedules, slot loading, weather, destination, etc.. This could take XXX time. We’ll let you know when shipping is scheduled.
  • Your vehicle is scheduled for shipment on XXX.
• Once it reaches “Shipped” status, provide tracking information so expectations can be managed (This part of the process seems to work for the most part)

In summary, do a much better job of managing expectations. We knew going into this process that there would be a wait for the vehicle. But once it hit “In Production”, my expectation was that I could start making plans for financing and use. These were reinforced when I was given (incorrect) delivery dates. Better management of information and expectations would have helped greatly with my customer satisfaction.

BTW, my dealer has been great through all of this and seems as frustrated as I am with the lack of info and status.

My dealer sent me this screengrab last night showing its location, not that it was any new info.
He says he has reached out to his Western Canada Ford rep who hasnt even returned his calls or emails. He had now gone to that guys boss, but doesn't expect an answer anytime soon.
Again, mine shows as BUILT and his tracker shows RELEASED, so it shouldnt be a parts hold...
Is this Ramp 51 just a holding point for shipping or for parts holds,or both?
Also I see it is about 20 minutes away from the factory , do they drive them there?

 

[DamSea]

Well with the recall, no one with a truck with a light bar is going to see it ship any time soon. See you in August/September

 

[Madasahatter1138]

Well with the recall, no one with a truck with a light bar is going to see it ship any time soon. See you in August/September

Mine wont have that, thankfully!

 

[TaxmanHog]

We've said hundreds if not thousands of times across every build week thread that @Ford Motor Company needs to improve use of it's production data, and to fix the Kanban issues post production defect diversion, when they do this is anybody's guess.

 

[captcory]

Maybe with the shipping hold due to the rear light bar recall. They will finish and ship our PRO trucks. It’s the only one they can ship now anyway.

 

[Madasahatter1138]

Maybe with the shipping hold due to the rear light bar recall. They will finish and ship our PRO trucks. It’s the only one they can ship now anyway.

And my XLT !

 

[DamSea]

I know vehicles under recall cannot be delivered to the customer, but can they still be sent to the dealer? That is 99% of the battle.

Edit. Looking at the recall thread, trucks built since March might not be affected. Back to the Ramp 51 Bermuda Triangle

 

[captcory]

been checking the status everyday. And low and behold my order changed from in production status to built status! Estimated delivery 7/16 - 7/22. Weird coincidence My dealer just called me today and said my maverick is being scheduled too. Guess I’ll let them have the maverick.

 

[Madasahatter1138]

been checking the status everyday. And low and behold my order changed from in production status to built status! Estimated delivery 7/16 - 7/22. Weird coincidence My dealer just called me today and said my maverick is being scheduled too. Guess I’ll let them have the maverick.

Thats awesome!

 

[lakeguy55]

Mine too. Finally a change in status! No info on shipment yet.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Congrat's folks, nice to see progress !!!!

 

[Silenze]

https://fordauthority.com/2023/06/new-ford-deliveries-possibly-impacted-by-rail-car-shortage/

Apparently 70k vehicles are unable to be transported due to a rail car shortage.

 

[DamSea]

Looks like Ford got that shipment of flux capacitors to finish some builds. No trains need to drive to Maryland!

Sponsored