Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) in Rayong has converted its Product Development Engineering office into a co-working area calls ‘Makerspace’ to encourage creativity and collaboration and ultimately help enhance its product development capability.
According to a press release from the American auto maker, 52 multi-talented engineers at the Product Development Engineering team at FTM are responsible for new model launches in Thailand and export markets.
They also work with the manufacturing team to enhance vehicle quality, capability and technology, constantly looking for ways to cultivate a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
The Makerspace area is equipped with high tech devices and tools such as 3D printers, creative thinking booths, open brain-storming areas, interactive audio visual equipment that allows easy collaboration with Ford global teams, and a ‘relax zone’ that gives employees a place to decompress.
“Makerspace allows us to build a culture of internal entrepreneurs where our team members can see how their creativity and innovation can help make positive contributions to product quality,” said Ammad Bhatti, Product Development Engineering Manager at FTM. “Everyone can express their ideas freely, and we collaborate to generate the thinking and harness that spirit of innovation to ensure the success in our product development.”
He said Makerspace plays an important role in leveraging the team’s expertise to further drive technological advancement of Ford vehicles, and enhance manufacturing quality improvements, speed, and efficiency to ensure customer satisfaction both in Thailand and 180 export markets.
Besides evolving cubicle offices into a dynamic, vibrant, and open space for better concentration and inspiration, Makerspace also provides opportunities for Ford engineers to go beyond traditional thinking by developing expertise and building knowledge in new areas of automotive design.
At the early stage of Covid-19 pandemic, Ford engineers also supported the company’s CSR initiative to help frontline workers fight the pandemic.
“Our team collaborated with Chulalongkorn University to develop the design and prototype of a low-cost ventilator system. As part of Thailand’s first Smart Ward project, they also worked with Charoenkrung Pracharak hospital and Panyapiwat Institute of Management to develop an autonomous medical delivery robots, allowing medical staff the ability to deliver medication, and interact with patients remotely mitigating the risk of coronavirus infection,” Bhatti said.
