Increase Productivity - Implement Energy Management Systems with Project Management Techniques

Abstract

The Glass Division is the second smallest of Ford Motor Company's 20 odd major divisions. It employs four percent of Ford's people, uses but one and one-half percent of the manufacturing space yet it consumes 20 percent of the energy. As Plant Engineering Manager of this small but active division, I devote a big part of my time on justifying energy expenditures and the means to reduce these costs. Ten years ago energy costs were one tenth of today's costs and just about three percent of the division's operating costs. Now they are approaching twelve percent. We believe that energy management systems would contribute to improved productivity in the manufacturing and fabricating facilities. But instinctiveness is not enough to get the funds approved to install the system. We are planning to conduct a major undertaking to prove feasibility. It will be a methodical plan of action. We have prepared a graphic plan of action of the major work items that have to be done to prepare the feasibility report.

This presentation highlights the work associated with completing the feasibility report. From this report we develop the documents required for management approval. And we feel comfortable that this approach will result in having energy management systems installed in our division plants.