Episode 25 - Robert Lillquist - Ford Motor Company
Robert Lillquist - Ford Motor Company
Episode 25: Show Notes
Welcome to another episode of The Industrial Movement, where we discuss the people, the processes, and the equipment that drives American manufacturing. When we think of America and manufacturing, the first company that should come to mind is the Ford Motor Company. Ford is a staple of American culture and is regarded by many as an essential driving force of the American manufacturing industry. In today’s show, we speak to special guest Robert Lillquist, the F-Series Manufacturing Engineer at Ford Motor Company, who has worked his way up in the company after starting there seven years ago. Robert is known by his peers as a motivated and disciplined individual who has a passion for engineering, sustainability, and renewable energy. His broad range of expertise allows him to be involved in almost all manufacturing processes and is able to provide a unique perspective on solving problems. We learn about Roberts's professional background, his current role at Ford, some of the biggest challenges that Robert has experienced, what is essential to becoming successful, the importance of thinking out of the box, the management style at Ford, what the best selling vehicle of all time was, and much more. Tune in today to get advice and tips from a respected figure and leader in manufacturing, Robert Lillquist!
Key Points From This Episode:
We learn about Robert’s professional background and his current role at Ford.
Robert goes into deeper detail about his role during the final assembly stage.
Other roles and processes Robert is involved with outside of the assembly stage.
What is the biggest challenge when manufacturing a car, according to Robert.
Examples of problems that can manifest during the different phases of the process.
Advice that Robert has for other leaders in manufacturing.
The importance of keeping an open mind and being flexible.
A brief discussion about the best-selling vehicle of all time.
Some of the biggest lessons Robert has learned during his time at Ford.
Why an effective strategy is essential to the success of a company.
Differences in management styles between Ford and other car manufacturers.
How innovation can ensure that a company will sustain the market.
Don’t be afraid to raise your ideas or ask questions: take control of your fate.
Tweetables:
“They're changing things all the time. They're changing geometry, the changing materials and that’s a big challenge for us. It's like trying to hit a moving target.” — Robert Lillquist [0:18:27]
“Just the balancing act is probably the biggest challenge that I worked through.” — Robert Lillquist [0:19:55]
“Keep an open mind, keep the most open mind that you can.” — Robert Lillquist [0:24:19]
“Try to have an influence on strategy and try to control your fate. Those are two big lessons I've learned.” — Robert Lillquist [0:32:40]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ford Motor Company on LinkedIn
The Industrial Movement on Twitter