...The Ford Motor Company established itself as one of the preeminent auto companies worldwide with a long, refulgent history of automobile development for over one hundred years. As one of the leading vehicles manufacturers and prestigious brands in the world automobile industry, Ford’s solid brand management is its major strength. In 2014, Ford stands as the second largest automobile manufacturer in the United States and fourth largest in the world (Forbes). Furthermore, the firm ranks eighth among the largest American corporations in the 2014 Fortune 500 companies list. In the past decade, Ford succeeded in building credible and reputable auto products – its vehicles are visible on the roads throughout the United States. The company has garnered a loyal customer base and reputation through its quality goods and services. In fact, due to its mature US market and loyal customer base, Ford ranked second on a best car brand perception survey about customer satisfaction and brand loyalty (Consumer Reports). Ford endured despite the major financial hits of the 2008 recession because of its extensive knowledge of US market and consumers, and its great reputation in its home market for reliability, performance, and durability. In fact, Ford has leveraged its strong market position and brand name to intensify its competitive advantage and expand into international markets in over two hundred countries. As a result, Ford has achieved magnificent profits, especially in major developing...
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...with building the first practicalelectric vehicle -- a small locomotive. 1859 French physicist Gaston Planté invents the rechargeable lead-acid storage battery. In 1881, his countryman Camille Faure will improve the storage battery's ability to supply current and invent the basic lead-acid battery used in automobiles. 1891 William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa builds the first successful electric automobile in the United States. Thomas Edison and an electric car. Courtesy of the Smithsonian 1893 A handful of different makes and models of electric cars are exhibited in Chicago. 1897 The first electric taxis hit the streets of New York City early in the year. The Pope Manufacturing Company of Connecticut becomes the first large-scale American electric automobile manufacturer. 1899 Believing that electricity will run autos in the future, Thomas Alva Edison begins his mission to create a long-lasting, powerful battery for commercial automobiles. Though his research yields some improvements to the alkaline battery, he ultimately abandons his quest a decade later. 1900 The electric automobile is in its heyday. Of the 4,192 cars produced in the United States 28 percent are powered by electricity, and electric autos represent about one-third of all cars found on the roads of New York City, Boston, and Chicago. A Ford Model T 1908 Henry Ford introduces the mass-produced and gasoline-powered Model T, which will have a profound effect on the U.S. automobile market...
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...Company. The SWOT analysis will look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, and the threats that Ford Motor faces. Next, part II of the business analysis will review Fords income statement, balance sheet and cash flow to determine the financial health of the company. Last, part III of the business analysis will review the strategic initiatives of Ford Motor Company relating to the organizational and operational adaptations to the changing automobile market. SWOT Analysis The reduced availability of fuel and the economic distress of Ford suppliers place the company in potential risk. The world has experienced great woes in regard to fuel availability. Events beyond car manufactures control have caused consumers to take a second look at the way they purchase automobiles. As gas prices increase consumers seek price effective ways to travel and transport goods. SUV’s, V-8 engine cars and other gas guzzling vehicles abate consumer purchases. Ford must combat the potential risk of consumer purchase decline by producing fuel efficient vehicles while making up profit losses in the slump of sales in major Ford models such as the Expedition, Explore and the F-150, super Duty and Ranger. The following will review the outcomes of the SWOT analysis conducted for Ford Motor Company. The SWOT analysis will look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, and the threats that Ford Motor faces. Finally the information gained from the SWOT analysis will be used to determine whether...
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...Automobile Sustainability Report Executive Summary In our report we discuss the various methods that today’s three major automakers are using to provide their customers with up to date, state of the art products. By implementing numerous breakthrough technologies into their production systems automakers are continuously working towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production process. Throughout our report we highlight major breakthroughs throughout the industry and how they have affected each individual company. By turning their attention to a more lean production process there have been many positive changes to help eliminate waste and reduce the cost of production. These companies are making conscious efforts to not only reduce the amount of waste produced throughout their systems but also how to reuse or recycle the waste that cannot be prevented. For example we talk about how Toyota has developed automated robotics systems to help control the amount of paint that is used during their topcoat operations to prevent the use of excess paint which is normally due to human error, another example is how they are using the paint sludge in the production of other products such as anti-rust paint sprays. We also discuss how the use of returnable metal shipping containers when shipping parts can greatly reduce the amount of wasted packaging materials and wooden creates from going to the landfills every year. All of these small changes have a large impact when...
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...individual, think about how much energy you use a day. It is important that we learn to conserve energy and take advantage of our natural resources. The home is the third biggest energy hog in the country, after industry and transportation. Most of our household energy is used for space heating, but a lot is wasted because of inefficient house construction and poor heating methods. The average home loses about a quarter of its heat through air leaks. Set your thermostat no higher than 20°C during the day, and turn it down when you're out or asleep, use cold water whenever possible, remember to turn off the lights when you don't need them. You'll reduce your electricity consumption, and have lower bills, too! Steer clear of aerosol cans containing products such as paint, deodorant and hair spray. The gases that make the product shoot out contribute to smog. Also, it is helpful to not smoke in the home to keep the air clean and breathable. Be an environmentally friendly shopper. Buy products that don’t have a lot of packaging and can be recycled. Buy local products. The average meal travels 2,500 km to our plate. To get there, the elements of the meal probably traveled by fossil-fuel-based transportation, such as motor vehicles, planes, trains and marine vessels. When we buy local products, we cut down the travel time of that product, which helps to decrease air pollution. A person may also consider purchasing energy efficient appliances to reduce their energy use. Each...
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...we have in place to reduce carbon dioxide emission will be assessed to insure the performance rates are on target. Recommendations to retrofit all city and school buses with pollution control equipment will result in the city receiving funding to complete this project. Infrastructure deterioration issues will determine any cause for concern related to traffic congestion, building code violations and the reassessments of bridges and roadways. Conversion concerns related to loss of open space on the Lake Michigan shoreline, and the parcelization of our surrounding forests will be discussed. Environmental Pollution Review The city of Muskegon has experienced, as you all know an unexpected growth in population. This increase in population can result in a myriad of consequences. Be assured our city will use the authority given and take advantage of those energy sources and the technology provided by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), to address the pollution issues and reduce carbon emissions. According to The Environmental Protection Agency ( 2012) “Reducing energy demand and increasing energy generation can lead to many benefits including increased electric system reliability, better environmental quality and human health, as well as cost savings and job creation (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). CO2 Emission Reduction...
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...Social interaction has been changing over the years as technology has progressed. Especially during the last two decades, the evolving technology has provided a new definition to human relations. During the 1990’s, the only mobile company ruling was Nokia, and lived up to its tag line of “Connecting people”. That was one phase of social interaction then. As technology advanced further, we not only have numerous mobile options but with varied capabilities too. I strongly believe that these advancements have a positive as well as a negative impact on human relationships. The modern technologies have made Internet accessible right at our fingertips. This has completely changed the way we interact with one another. Business has become more efficient, maintaining a calendar is easy, new careers have evolved, lost friends have reunited, networking has become easy and also Internet has given birth to e-learning. The social networking websites have had a drastic impact on human relationships. With Internet easily accessible on mobile phones, it is no longer a hard task to locate where your acquaintances’ are hanging out, where the next party is or even which restaurant is close by to ones place. Any information can be obtained within seconds. In fact, mobile phones have become such an indispensable part of human lives that they behave more like friends to humans. A coin has two sides, and so does the revolutionizing technology. I strongly believe that the definition of “social” has different...
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...Should Cars be more efficient? David Hayes Dependence of man on the environment (SCI207) Jacqueline Poole March 4, 2013 There are many things that have gone into shaping the society we live in today. The fabric of our culture has changed and changed again in response to new additions which have woven their way into our lives. But, none has affected our society as deeply as the automobile. From the way we work and play to how we design the buildings we call home, the automobile has created in many ways a car culture with its own status symbols. However, while the automobile has changed the lives of us all in a positive light; this does comes with a price, and the price is our environment. Currently “cars and other highway vehicles continue to emit some 60 million tons of carbon monoxide per year. Motor vehicles also emit as much as 50 percent of our carcinogenic and toxic air pollutants, such as benzene and formaldehyde. And heavy vehicles, particularly diesel-powered buses and freight trucks, constitute a significant source of soot and other unhealthy fine particles that, when inhaled, lodge in and damage human tissue.” (Turk, J & Bensel, T 4.3) In this paper, I am going to debate why cars should be made more efficient for the sake of saving the environment in which we live in. I will then give the different options as to how cars can be built to be more efficient; and then, debate as to why these options would not be a wise decision for some. Even with all the different...
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...people are more conscious and awareness for the environment. Because of technologically world becoming a very fast and life is becoming very easier. But in sense we using technological its manufactures the product and its resources come from our nature and its becoming also polluted. We are using vehicles for our transportation for moving forward easily and very firstly. In the world we have many more automobiles company those are manufactured millions of automobiles. But that’s harmful for our environment because of fuelled are burned and also polluted environment and reduce our natural resources. So, we need to save our planet and by researched we find out Hybrid cars are very effective way to reduce carbon emission. The currently popular paradigm for discussing the environment originated in the 1970s, when the ideas of global warming and finite oil reserves were first proposed (Minton & Rose 1997; Pelletier et al. 1998). While some debate continues on the veracity of these propositions, this thinking has influenced the way people live by increasing their efforts to reduce energy use and to have fewer by-products as a result of consumption. It has been suggested that this type of thinking has led some consumers to prefer products like the Prius (Jansson, Marrell & Nordlund 2009). An area that is related to a consumer’s choice of car is the choice of fuel. Four thousand Swedish drivers were surveyed on their level of eco-sensitivity and the type of vehicle fuel they used (Jansson...
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...San Luis Obispo, CA 93410 David Ripplinger TRF Program Vice President Dept. 2880, P.O. Box 6050 Fargo, ND 58108-6050 March 08, 2014 Dear Mr. Ripplinger, The report following this letter is intended to inform the reader about the current CA High Speed Rail project and the more recently proposed Hyperloop project by Elon Musk. We also compare the two after giving the information and allow the reader to decide which they think is the better option. The report is split up into four main sections. The first section consists of the civil aspects, followed by the energy required for each system to run, then the third section explains the environmental impacts and finally the fourth section compares the pricing of both high speed trains to current modes of transportation. Of course none of this could have been done without the contribution and dedication of my classmates Hannah Bieszczat, Ryan Buckley and Devin LeBlanc. I hope you enjoy this report and if you have any questions please feel free to email me. Thank you. Respectfully, HYPERLOOP VERSUS VARIOUS FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INCLUDING HIGH SPEED RAIL Undergraduate Engineering Students California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Last Updated: March 2014 Abstract In an attempt to meet the growing demand of quick transit as well as alleviate rising fuel prices, the state of California has approved and began construction on a new high speed rail mass transit system between...
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...Lloyd 1 Alternative Energy Sources Energy is all around us. Almost everything that you can see or touch is energy or took energy to make. Even our bodies are made up and made from energy and we can also produce energy but it takes energy to do so. So when you think of it in that way how can anyone say that the United States and even the world may be entering an energy crisis? We are though and some parts of the world already have. Even though it maybe true that some sources of nonrenewable energy sources are virtually inexhaustible because of technological advancements. However, these resources such coal, oil, and natural gas are slowly killing us, the environment, and the whole world we live in. This is because fossil fuels such as those previously mentioned give off greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) which cause smog and allow harmful radiation from the sun to penetrate our atmosphere. This problem is continually getting worse because we continue to use more and more of these fossil fuels every year. This is mainly because of population growth, inefficient buildings, lighting, and automobiles, and a general wasteful attitude towards energy. In fact 43 percent of all commercial energy produced is wasted unnecessarily because of factors Lloyd 2 such as these. If we could be as completely efficient in energy use as technologically possible we would only need the current amount of electricity provided by the hydroelectric power plants...
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...first motorcycle, called the Dream. In 1959, Honda entered the U.S. automobile and motorcycle market by opening the American Honda Motor Company. A few years later, in 1963, Honda released its first sports car, the S500, in Japan. Honda Motor Co. Inc. grew rapidly to become one of the largest automobile companies in the world. Its "glocalisation" strategy of building factories around the world that would meet the needs of local customers had resulted in a total worldwide presence of more than 100 factories in 33 countries. Furthermore, while other auto manufacturers engaged in a frenzy of merger and acquisition activities in the late 1990s, Honda steadfastly maintained its independence. Honda has grown into one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers and has also evolved into one of the most respected global brands. In 1997, Honda Motor Company introduced to Japan a two-door gas/electric hybrid vehicle called the Insight. The Insight's fuel efficiency was rated at 61 miles per gallon in the city, and 68 miles per gallon on the highway, and its battery did not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet for recharging. By 1999, Honda was selling the Insight in the United States, and winning accolades from environmental groups. In 2000 the Sierra Club gave Honda its Award for Excellence in Environmental Engineering, and in 2002 the Environmental Protection Agency rated the Insight the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States for the 2003 model year. By August...
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...motorcycle, called the Dream. In 1959, Honda entered the U.S. automobile and motorcycle market by opening the American Honda Motor Company. A few years later, in 1963, Honda released its first sports car, the S500, in Japan. Honda Motor Co. Inc. grew rapidly to become one of the largest automobile companies in the world. Its "glocalisation" strategy of building factories around the world that would meet the needs of local customers had resulted in a total worldwide presence of more than 100 factories in 33 countries. Furthermore, while other auto manufacturers engaged in a frenzy of merger and acquisition activities in the late 1990s, Honda steadfastly maintained its independence. Honda has grown into one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers and has also evolved into one of the most respected global brands. In 1997, Honda Motor Company introduced to Japan a two-door gas/electric hybrid vehicle called the Insight. The Insight's fuel efficiency was rated at 61 miles per gallon in the city, and 68 miles per gallon on the highway, and its battery did not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet for recharging. By 1999, Honda was selling the Insight in the United States, and winning accolades from environmental groups. In 2000 the Sierra Club gave Honda its Award for Excellence in Environmental Engineering, and in 2002 the Environmental Protection Agency rated the Insight the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States for the 2003 model year. By...
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...yet each seller’s product is somewhat unique to the producer. There are no seller or buyer entry barriers and there are numerous buyers and sellers within this market structure. One main purpose of the producers of the automotive industry is profit. As with any industry the introduction of a new company, leads to the assumption of new and better products. In the case of the automotive industry that case might be very true in a dwindling economy where there is no foreseeable relief on the rising gas prices. Consumers are now concerned with the cost of gas consumption and are ready to opt for more cost effective means of transportation. Companies promoting the hybrid and gas saving type of cars tend to attract these consumers. These gas efficient car companies are drawing consumers away from the traditionally desired bigger cars like the sports utility vehicles (suvs) and pickup trucks that tend to use more gas. “Sales of pickup trucks have plummeted in recent weeks, prompting an announcement from Ford last week that it is slashing truck...
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...first motorcycle, called the Dream. In 1959, Honda entered the U.S. automobile and motorcycle market by opening the American Honda Motor Company. A few years later, in 1963, Honda released its first sports car, the S500, in Japan. Honda Motor Co. Inc. grew rapidly to become one of the largest automobile companies in the world. Its "glocalisation" strategy of building factories around the world that would meet the needs of local customers had resulted in a total worldwide presence of more than 100 factories in 33 countries. Furthermore, while other auto manufacturers engaged in a frenzy of merger and acquisition activities in the late 1990s, Honda steadfastly maintained its independence. Honda has grown into one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers and has also evolved into one of the most respected global brands. In 1997, Honda Motor Company introduced to Japan a two-door gas/electric hybrid vehicle called the Insight. The Insight's fuel efficiency was rated at 61 miles per gallon in the city, and 68 miles per gallon on the highway, and its battery did not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet for recharging. By 1999, Honda was selling the Insight in the United States, and winning accolades from environmental groups. In 2000 the Sierra Club gave Honda its Award for Excellence in Environmental Engineering, and in 2002 the Environmental Protection Agency rated the Insight the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States for the 2003 model year. By August...
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