Originator: Stephen I. Dains/sdains
Page 3
Date Issued: 2-16-04
guidebookcommon spring 2004.doc
DateRevised: 5/6/2004
C.
THEENGINEERINGASSESSMENT -WHATTOEXPECT
Participation in theFordTruckQualityProgram is voluntary (mandatory for Fordqualifiedpool
accounts participating in the specific industries describedonPage1, Introduction) and restricted
to final stagemanufacturers. Participation is not open to component suppliers or intermediate
stagemodifiers. AFTQPparticipant that undergoes
achange inownership, location, or
management is tonotifyFordspecial VehicleEngineeringof thesechanges
. TheFTQP
status does not automatically apply after any such change. Under theFTQP, the final stage
manufacturer is responsible for the completed vehicle, even if someportion is sub-contracted to
intermediate stagebuilders or completed vehiclemodifiers. Participants areexpected to
implement theguidelines in thismanual, any published revisions to thismanual, andQ-Bulletins
tomaintainprogramparticipation. All thesedocuments areavailableonlineat
MinimumRequirementsandKeyElementsof thisGuide
Important elements of thedesignandmanufacturingprocess arehighlighted throughout this
manual. Theseelements are judged tobebasic
MinimumRequirements
(MR) thatmust be
met (a ratingof
YES
on rating sheet) by anymodifier. They aredouble lineboxed in this guide to
drawattention to their important natureas notedhere:
MINIMUMREQUIREMENTS
Fordhas likewise identified
OtherCriteria
(OC)that are judged key elements necessary to
promote thehighest possiblequality and customer acceptance. These
OtherCriteria
arealso
assessedas part of theengineering visitationprocess and their inclusionby the final stage
manufacturer is encouraged. Thebuilders effectiveness inaddressingeach OC item is
tabulatedon the rating sheet. Theassessment teamwill award from0-2points for each OC
item. The2-point "OC" itemare single lineboxed in this guide todrawattention to their important
natureas notedbelow. The1-point items arenot boxed, but are scoredon theassessment form.
OTHERCRITERIA
Assessment Intent &Focus:
Theassessment intends togauge theability of a final stagemanufacturer toproducea consistent
quality level, throughout theproduct line, through control over theengineering, fabrication, and
vehicledelivery processes.
It is important to recognize that theengineeringassessment
primarily reflects theabilityof thebuilder, andnot thequalityof anyspecificproduct.
The
assessment will review thebuilder's overall approach toprocess control, quality control,
engineering, andmanufacturing, and it will identify areaswhere changes shouldbe considered to
bettermeet theprogramgoals.
Builder StepsTowardProgramApplication
:
Toarrange for aFTQPAssessment, the following steps shouldbe taken:
1. Review this
FTQPGuidebook
,
including the corresponding section regarding the
related vehicle segment, theapplicable
IncompleteVehicleManual
, the
Body
BuildersLayout Book
and theapplicablequality bulletins available through theBody
Builder AdvisoryService. TheappropriateFordShopManualsmay alsobeneeded.
All but the shopmanuals areavailableonlineat
.
2. Performa self-assessment by evaluating your operations using theFTQP
Assessment Formprintedat theback of the industry unique sectionof this book.
Other Documentationmay be requested.
3. If all theMinimumRequirements aremet, returna copy of theAssessment Form
addressed to "FordTruckQualityPrograms". AppendixXIII contains both theaddress
and fax number.
4. Once theFTQP sectionhas received theAssessment Form, youwill be contacted to
