Ford’s Saarlouis plant is well prepared for the financial crisis, according to the factory’s manufacturing director.
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Dirk Heller told Automobilwoche that the plant would still produce more than 400,000 cars this year, despite the fact that daily production rates were reduced at the beginning of November from 1,920 cars per day to 1,725. During periods of peak demand, production at Saarlouis has been as high as 2,100 cars a day, the trade paper said.
Heller said that although daily production has been reduced the plant is still operating at 100% capacity utilisation. He noted that utilisation had been at 115% before the cut.
The Saarlouis plant has been helped by producing a wider range of models and now exports to more countries. The Focus, C-Max and Kuga are produced at the plant in three shifts. Around 80% are exported to 60 countries, including right-hand drive markets.
Heller said Saarlouis is now one of the three most productive plants in Europe. Part of the reason for this is its just-in-time supplier park, that houses around a dozen suppliers delivering in sequence directly to the assembly line.
Heller would not comment on planned production volumes for 2009, saying that there were too many uncertainties.
Ford has taken other steps to adjust production volumes downwards. 6,500 workers at Saarlouis will take an extended Christmas holiday from 18 December to 7 January – two days longer than usual.
