While I was in Detroit last month for the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Ford treated us to a tour of their Rouge Factory where F-150 trucks are built. Usually you cannot take pictures while on the tour, but as media we were allowed and now I get to share it with you. I was able to visit the factory back when I was there for the Ford Trends conference, but now with them building the 2015 totally awesome new F-150’s then they also added a new feature to the tour.
First you go in to the Legacy Theater to watch the history behind Ford and the Rouge factory. It is so cool to hear about how it started and lasted throughout the Great Depression then came back to build some amazing cars and now trucks. It shows how far Ford Motor Company has come and how they continue to change the automobile industry.
The next part of the tour is an amazing technological experience at the Manufacturing Innovation Theater. It is a sensory experience unlike I have ever had. It takes you form concept to construction of the F-150 all the way to driving on the highway. It uses lasers to create a 3D image. To say I was blown away is an understatement.
The Observation Deck and Assembly Line walking part of the tour is my favorite part. In the Observation Deck you get to look out over the expanse that covers the factory and different divisions. While it is hard to see in winter with all the snow the plant roof is a living roof. To know that Ford uses that roof to reuse rain water and to cool the factory in the summer is ground breaking. it is not just something to look at but has many functions.
We all know that it takes an extraordinary amount of time just to redesign a vehicle from the ground up. Now the plant assembly line that is several miles long with several stories of manufacturing happening, that is breathtaking to see for the first time. How someone could design a factor to run that smoothly and then be adapted each time new parts need to be added is spectacular and intriguing. They have such a system down that it doesn’t even have to be the same specs on each vehicle to go through. One might be single cab, one might be crew cab, then next might have a sunroof. It is so orderly and efficient throughout the process. My brain couldn’t fathom how someone could dream up that kind of manufacturing marvel.
You end and begin at the same place where you can take a stroll back down memory lane with some classic Ford vehicles in the Legacy Gallery. What I wouldn’t give to be able to take one of those babies for a drive! Motor Masterpieces for sure.
It was a little sad though to see some of the new beauties outside in the cold snow. I would have been happy to bring one back to warm sunny Texas 🙂
So if you are from Michigan or you plan to visit Detroit and the Dearborn area, make it a point to go tour the Rouge Factory. Amazing! The next time I am up I am hoping that I can tour the Henry Ford Museum.
Thanks again to Ford for the tour!
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