Industrial System Strategy and Planning Lead

The Opportunity

Ford is undertaking a massive digital transformation. The movement of Ford to a software and services company is evident in our core business as well as new and emerging areas such as Ford Pro, an industry first, global commercial vehicle distribution and service business passionate about improving efficiency for customers. To achieve these critical initiatives, Ford must think and work differently to support the evolution to a software-focused business. A key area that needs transformation and modernization is the Industrial System.

 

Ford’s Industrial Transformation – Project Synergy:

About 2000 applications/tools/spreadsheets ageing between 10 and 40 years are involved in the process of evolving the design of a new product into an assembled vehicle. These siloed and fragmented processes, systems, and data are a key factor in making Ford’s Industrial System uncompetitive. An end-to-end transformation across the ecosystem is imperative and the timing in NOW as we have deferred this investment.

There are 3 parts to this transformation (Engineering – PD, Material Planning – MRP, and Manufacturing – MFG) that will be executed concurrently, in an integrated roadmap, focused on targeted programs/plants. This will be a multi-year transformation. 

PD Transformation:

Transform PD with new organization, processes (Engineering Change, Failure Mode Analysis, Systems Engineering) and tools for 3D engineering collaboration.

 

MRP Modernization:

As part of Ford’s Industrial Transformation, this program modernizes Ford’s Material Requirements Planning & Inventory Management process, and replaces a 1980’s era green-screen system (CMMS3) with prioritized deployment across core vehicle operations and powertrain plants.

 

Digital MFG / Next Gen:

Create next generation digital manufacturing capabilities by: leveraging he capabilities from the new Engineering ecosystem to seamlessly integrate into the factory floor design & planning, work instructions, process simulation.

The Position

 

The IT Strategy & Planning Lead will partner with stakeholders, business & IT SMEs, PDO teams,  and vendor-partners to organize, structure, support, drive, monitor, & report on Project Synergy, an Industrial System enterprise transformation initiative. The role responsibilities will include:

• Coordinate and align all program deliverables along with associated teams across multiple functions, IT PDOs, and other related functions, to ensure the overall comprehensive vision is achieved on-time supporting critical vehicle program milestones with high quality
• Coordinate cross-functional program governance and integration into all levels L1-L3
• Maintain focused risk & issue management across the program
• Handle formal scope definition & tracking and change log
• Own the financial forecast and actuals across program scope
• Manage the orchestration of activities across stakeholders to develop and implement the initiative roadmap and associated deliverables
• Conduct PI Planning on a quarterly basis to define specific value delivery
• Align program achievements to overarching strategic roadmap, defining the development and deployment of process changes and enabling technology
• Proactively engage to resolve hurdles and roadblocks before they become issues impacting the launch
• Collaborate with stakeholders as needed to ensure monthly updates and metrics are posted and consolidated into the required monthly report out artifacts per corporate standards
• Prepare and deliver executive updates and presentations for operational updates, organizational accomplishments to objectives, strategy and roadmap etc
• Take a leading role in planning quarterly leadership offsites

Qualifications

 

The Person

 

The successful candidate will have the following experiences and skills:

 

Must-have:

• Strong demonstrated abilities in Strategy & Planning
• 5+ years consistent track record, driving accountability and ownership with cross-functional teams
• 5+ years large-scale program management and cross work stream integration
• Expertise in financial and resource management
• Experience in handling governance reviews and issue resolutions
• Ability to balance between Program Management and Agile practices
• Experience in Agile software delivery, Scrum, and PI Planning methodologies
• Self-starter – able to identify what needs to be done and then get it done
• Hands-on problem solver to anticipate and proactive resolve hurdles before they become issues
• Experience in coordinating, organizing a