Door Industry Journal - Summer 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 71 THE door industry journal summer 2013 motoring & transport The innovative spirit of Henry Ford took root in many other forms after the success of the Model T, including: • Moving assembly line: In 1913 Henry Ford introduced the first moving assembly line for cars. Within 18 months, the amount of time needed to build a Model T was reduced from 12 1/2 man-hours to 1 1/2 man-hours, ushering in the modern auto industry • $5 work day: To reduce high turnover rates among workers, Henry Ford more than doubled their pay in 1914, from $2.34 for a nine-hour day to $5 for an eight-hour day • Vertical integration: To improve quality, Henry Ford sought to own, operate and coordinate all the resources needed to produce complete automobiles. This principle, known as vertical integration, was put into practice in 1927 with the Model A “What my great-grandfather established, especially his legacy of innovation, continues to inspire our commitment to a strong business, great products and a better world,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “We are putting unexpected levels of technology within reach of millions of people, accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value, and driving growth by creating jobs and bringing the freedom of mobility to the world.” Spirit of innovation guides Ford today Henry Ford’s spirit of innovation continues to guide Ford Motor Company today, reflected in a lineup of vehicles as diverse as the F-150 pickup, Mustang sports car and Fusion Hybrid sedan. It lives on in technologies such as Ford SYNC, the company’s in-vehicle infotainment system, and fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines. And it echoes through employees serving customers across six continents. Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, at 83. More than 50 years after his death, in 1999, Forbes magazine named him “Businessman of the Century,” and in 2012 a History Channel documentary highlighted him as one of “The Men Who Built America.” “My great-grandfather’s vision was to improve people’s lives by making cars affordable for the average family,” said Bill Ford. “His vision to build cars that are reasonably priced, reliable and efficient still resonates and defines our vision today.” Henry Ford 150th Celebration For more on the year long celebration of Henry Ford’s 150th birthday, check out www.henryford150.com, a special website featuring plenty of unique content. McLAREN CONTINUES 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT THE 2013 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED Over a sunny July weekend, the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex, UK played host to the 20th annual Festival of Speed, which included McLaren House - a showcase to 50 years of heritage from one of the most successful names in international motorsport. During the Festival, McLaren presented three exclusives to a crowd close to 200,000, with the global dynamic debut of the McLaren P1™, along with the limited edition McLaren 50 12C Spider and the 12C GT Sprint, the latest track-focused model from McLaren GT. As part of the celebrations, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez also thrilled the crowds on stage at McLaren House and drove a collection of the most significant race and championship-winning models from Formula 1™, Le Mans and Can-Am, while 2009 Formula 1™ world champion Button also took to the famous Goodwood Hill to demonstrate the McLaren P1™. A short video of McLaren at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed is available to view on YouTube at this link http://youtu.be/3gdH0Tk0sLM