Ice Mountain Tracker (Dirt Mountain v2.0)

[Shorevet]

I get that...but maybe @Ford Motor Company also shouldn't be coming into the forum on threads where people complain and pick out one positive reply to comment on lol.

Surprise, surprise….now maybe they will communicate with the customers.

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[7722 Bronco]

Added my info. Built, but sitting at Ice Mountain. 🧊

 

[libtech]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...o-detroit-area-plants-chip-crunch/6654554001/

Maybe a hint of good news for those that are worried about the “first in last out” for Ice Mountain. TLR - they are holding / slowing production line until microchips are caught up.

 

[dbeyers]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...o-detroit-area-plants-chip-crunch/6654554001/

Maybe a hint of good news for those that are worried about the “first in last out” for Ice Mountain. TLR - they are holding / slowing production line until microchips are caught up.

Craptastic!!

 

[Babyzak]

Here’s me praying to the Almighty that the chip shortages don’t affect my Basesquatch equal to other trims. If they had an option to order with the technology of 1995 I’d take it. Less is more when it comes to that crap.

MY Basesquatch , built 1/4 squeeked by without an issue. I hope my wife's 3/28 build does too. hopefully yours does ..

 

[Rudolphba]

Most on this forum seem to be intelligent and reasonable people but for those who think this is only a Ford issue you can do a quick Google search and find many pictures of GM trucks, SUVs and sedans along with Ford and other manufacturer vehicles sitting on lots, similar to Ice Mountain, waiting for chips. A good friend of mine just tried to order a new Chevy High Country dually and was told by the world‘s largest GM dealer in northern ID that he’s up to 12 months out but that was pure speculation on his part and he really didn’t know. He did tell my friend that GM/Chevy are leasing vacant lots at shut down malls and other places to store trucks waiting for chips.

That said it’s obvious Ford, GM and other manufacturers are continuing to run manufacturing lines and stock pile vehicles that are short chips. Their alternative is to shut down lines temporarily and either pay or furlough workers then attempt to shut off the supply chain for all other components to prevent stock piling nearly complete sets of materials for unassembled vehicles. In manufacturing once capacity is lost it‘s never recovered so in the case of chip shortages the best solution is to build, hold and wait for chips. This is the tactic we used in the smaller, $5 billion, company I worked at for a long time. We were often criticized for doing this by consultants who told us the auto industry would never result to such inefficient practices but would rather ensure 100% material availability. But, I visited several automotive plants during my career and the people on the ground readily admitted they’d build short a part and move vehicles to the parking lot for a short period of time waiting for the part so this isn’t a new practice it’s just never been done this widespread.

In summary, and in support of speculation of some on this thread, when the parts came in they’d prioritize the lines and feed excess parts to the previous built units in the holding areas. This is the most efficient practice since you don’t have to touch the units running down the line later; it’s also what we did. The factory I worked in wasn‘t in the auto industry but did, and still does, share many common suppliers and contract manufacturers such as Foxconn and Flex.

Agree, but it’s the lack of communication that is frustrating.

 

[Babyzak]

Does anyone know what it really means when you track your bronco through united road and the status is inactive?
Does it mean that it has been shipped and waiting to be transported by truck to dealer?

I would jump on to the 1/3 Build group and ask, there are ALOT of people on there that are very good with Tracking ..

 

[Babyzak]

Most on this forum seem to be intelligent and reasonable people but for those who think this is only a Ford issue you can do a quick Google search and find many pictures of GM trucks, SUVs and sedans along with Ford and other manufacturer vehicles sitting on lots, similar to Ice Mountain, waiting for chips. A good friend of mine just tried to order a new Chevy High Country dually and was told by the world‘s largest GM dealer in northern ID that he’s up to 12 months out but that was pure speculation on his part and he really didn’t know. He did tell my friend that GM/Chevy are leasing vacant lots at shut down malls and other places to store trucks waiting for chips.

That said it’s obvious Ford, GM and other manufacturers are continuing to run manufacturing lines and stock pile vehicles that are short chips. Their alternative is to shut down lines temporarily and either pay or furlough workers then attempt to shut off the supply chain for all other components to prevent stock piling nearly complete sets of materials for unassembled vehicles. In manufacturing once capacity is lost it‘s never recovered so in the case of chip shortages the best solution is to build, hold and wait for chips. This is the tactic we used in the smaller, $5 billion, company I worked at for a long time. We were often criticized for doing this by consultants who told us the auto industry would never result to such inefficient practices but would rather ensure 100% material availability. But, I visited several automotive plants during my career and the people on the ground readily admitted they’d build short a part and move vehicles to the parking lot for a short period of time waiting for the part so this isn’t a new practice it’s just never been done this widespread.

In summary, and in support of speculation of some on this thread, when the parts came in they’d prioritize the lines and feed excess parts to the previous built units in the holding areas. This is the most efficient practice since you don’t have to touch the units running down the line later; it’s also what we did. The factory I worked in wasn‘t in the auto industry but did, and still does, share many common suppliers and contract manufacturers such as Foxconn and Flex.

I agree totally, but this still doesnt explain or forgive FORD's lack of communication . As you said people on here are intelligent and reasonable. TELL THEM THE TRUTH, even if they do not want to hear it.

 

[Sharpy]

Anyone besides me feel like the dollar is our Bronco's

 

[dbeyers]

MY Basesquatch , built 1/4 squeeked by without an issue. I hope my wife's 3/28 build does too. hopefully yours does ..

maybe we can spec an analog instrument cluster?

 

[TXCOMT]

ETIS is working for me!

 

[PleaseDontRoll]

Just a word on WHY new builds are prioritized over existing vehicles on the lot. This wont make anyone feel better but I am fairly qualified to tell you the 'why'.

I spent a lot of my career in Automotive Manufacturing including General Assembly. My expertise is in Supply Chain. If you consider that a vehicle has 1800-2000 components on it from probably 100-150 different suppliers you start to see the logistics problems immediately. Industry firm order commitments run at 30 days with soft commits typically provided at 120 days and annual consumption commitments are typically 12 month forecasts.

What does this mean? It means by contract I cant stop those 1800 components from coming in for at least 30 days, even if I cancel my order with suppliers, they are shipping to me. I can only change my soft commits by a range (usually up or down by 15%) so I still cant STOP the parts from coming in. AND if I miss my annual commits I'm still on the hook to pay for the parts (against usually 70-80% of full cost).

That means that not only am I out the $$s but I need to STORE these parts somewhere and warehouse space in the auto industry is non-existent on the scales we are talking about here.

All of this means that I cant stop the production line even if I want to and its easier to store the parts I have as an assembled vehicle then as disassembled parts in a warehouse. This means the lines HAVE to run or I end up with hundreds of fully loaded trailers sitting in my container yard that I then pay detention fees on and the costs just snowball well beyond the labor to fix the existing vehicles.

Again - I know this makes no one feel better but at least you know why.

 

[Babyzak]

All,
This is not good but I'm going to defend Ford. This whole thing has been, for the most part during COVID. I can't find sardines in Hot Sauce for crying out loud. Yeah, they may be earning $$$, but I'm telling you the T1 suppliers are trying to keep in on the road. Labor shortages, material shortages and you name it. Think about masks. Who likes to wear a mask in a production facility? (I do for 24 hours a week) Not me.
Bottom line, this is not good, but this is not deliberate and there are tons of factors that contribute, not Ford being greedy or mean.
Flame away but know I hate this for all that are affected.
Sincerely,
sniffHound

P.S. I want my ride sooo bad.

Totally agree, but does not explain FORD LACK OF COMMUNICATION. The biggest problem is not knowing why.. so we start to speculate and guess.. CHIPS, MIC issues, 2.7 issues, COVID , alien alien abductions, sabotage by JEEP LOVERS, mouse infestation of MAP due to cookie crumbs..

JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW.. PLEASE

 

[sniffHound]

I agree. Communicate. Blame who needs to be blamed. COVID????? As the Kinks sang “Give the people what they want.” We

Totally agree, but does not explain FORD LACK OF COMMUNICATION. The biggest problem is not knowing why.. so we start to speculate and guess.. CHIPS, MIC issues, 2.7 issues, COVID , alien alien abductions, sabotage by JEEP LOVERS, mouse infestation of MAP due to cookie crumbs..

JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW.. PLEASE

 

[dbeyers]

Totally agree, but does not explain FORD LACK OF COMMUNICATION. The biggest problem is not knowing why.. so we start to speculate and guess.. CHIPS, MIC issues, 2.7 issues, COVID , alien alien abductions, sabotage by JEEP LOVERS, mouse infestation of MAP due to cookie crumbs..

JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW.. PLEASE

Not to dispute your basic point, but this is probably a dynamic mix of changing factors ... in the extreme it might require a dynamic, detailed report on each vehicle ... I suspect Ford has the basic info ... getting it out accurately and timely (perhaps even a x times a day basis - a portal not an email) in language they can understand to 200,000 Bronco order holders, that seems another matter? My guess is they are not prepared logistically and expense-wise to undertake that effort now. It might be that in the future order holders will demand this of all car manufacturers.

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