Bill Ford Jr. Shares His Vision For Michigan’s Economic Future
(Mackinac) – At the annual Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference, Bill Ford Jr. presented his vision for our economic future. The Chairman of Ford Motor Co. believes Detroit and Southeastern Michigan is in a great position to become the “Silicon Valley of urban mobility”.
The number of vehicles worldwide is expected to quadruple to 4 billion over the next 30 years, and no region is better positioned to play a role in the development and manufacturing of those vehicles than Detroit. With a rich history of manufacturing, the highest per capita rate of engineers in the country and three world class research universities in the area, Southeast Michigan has more to build on than other regions.
Key points stressed by Mr. Ford include a need to eliminate the personal property tax which is seen as an impediment to industrial investment in the state, and a focus on upgrading the electrical grid which is key for manufacturing as well as residential and commercial customers. He also mentioned a desire to see improvements in the venture capital system here in Michigan, and the importance of not getting complacent just because the auto industry appears to be recovering.
Motor City Innovation Exchange
To help with these initiatives, Ford Motor Co. announced the creation of Motor City Innovation Exchange, which is expected to be a joint effort between Ford, TechShop Detroit, and TechTown – will be tasked with encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship. TechTown has close ties to nearby Wayne State University, which figures to play a large role in future development in the area. Along with University of Michigan and Michigan State they have combined to invest over $300 million into research on almost 1,500 auto-industry related products.
Another initiative being launched by Ford is the Jump Start Program which will provide work space near TechShop Detroit for entrepreneurs. They are also putting their money where their mouth is by investing almost one billion dollars into building electric vehicles and battery packs in Michigan.
This isn’t just a matter of Ford working in their self-interest either. According to Bill Ford, for every job created in the auto industry, nine jobs are created elsewhere as a result, far more than any other industry. It is estimated that over half the new jobs created last couple of years were auto industry related.
Where’s the meat! Bill’s telling the gospel truth, but is it being implimented down the line, or chain of command? I’m a retired Ford auto body designer. Some of my work went into production, which doesn’t always happen. The year I retired I’d submitted suggestions and proposals for about 22 million $ worth of cost reductions. No bonus for doing your job! You’re hired to! One ended up a patent for a compeditor in the glass business after our chief engineer wrote on my suggestion form, “NOT BODY ENGINEERING’S AREA OF RESPONSEBILITY” One of my group leaders suggested I go over his head to the Div. VP. I did. Next day the VP called me saying I’d most likely saved the Company many many millions of dollars by solving a stack of problems piled up on his conference table that he didn’t know what to do with. He related that he had presented the solution to a couple dozen of his senior engineer’s and they had all lauded it just as he had. When it died it was determined somebody left the problem folder on their car seat at a golf outing. Beats finding your patent or suggestion for a patent, got patented with one of your boss’s or a couple of their names on it. Can’t tell you how many designers related that tale to me, but enough to let you know it’s happened many times. Back to Rha, Rha for us inventor’s & designers. I’ve been a victem of the major corporate SIN “NOT INVENTED HERE SYNDROM” many times. These days they fire back immediately with sorry we may be working on that idea, or Sorry we don’t provide Confidentiality Agreements! Not ever! ( It’s a tip off they’ll rip off!!) I patented an item and secured 20 claims therewith. Kmart buyer Mr. Spinozi, long retired said he’d agree to $300 million 1irst year and any annual increase of costs, once he was presented with production level product. Venture Ind. owner agreed to amortize tooling into price but got sidetracted with GM offer to fund 100,000 SF plant in Flint area. GE then agreed to JV the project until the Div COO was retired and his replacment decided Kmart’s experience selling the prior art as well as their marketing studies were bogus and it just, might be a “FAD!” The horse’s tail also shot down his opportunity to corner the market for “traveling Lights” the sequentially on- off feature that makes one eyes see a moving light traveling down a holiday lighting string set. At present I have a couple of concepts on th drawing board. One for an air powered CAR. (Not a cart like those made in France and Austrailia) Ironically it uses an existing mechanism used for another purpose by the auto industry. My other concept is a small wind generator that the physics of, say it will out perform present state of the art bird bashing behemoths. The physics are synonomuse with the Popular Science travesty titled “Wind Dam” Another BEHEMOTH. However my concept can line the freeways, highways & byways of the nation thereby augmenting the EXISTING GRID! I’ve tried invane to make contact with TechShop. Might as well wee in the Pacific What say you? Spell check is in your court since you didn’t provide one.