Ford has announced the recruitment of 350 experienced engineers, some of whom are former employees, to address quality issues that arose from their reliance on artificial intelligence and automation.
According to reports, Kumar Galhotra, the company’s chief operating officer, explained to reporters that Ford increasingly depended on automated quality control systems, which did not meet expectations. Consequently, the company decided to rehire technical experts who are tasked with identifying potential issues before any components reach the assembly line.
Charles Poon, Ford’s vice president of vehicle hardware engineering, mentioned that the company had mistakenly believed that merely integrating artificial intelligence and applying design specifications would ensure high-quality outcomes.
It’s important to note that Ford is not entirely discarding its AI initiatives. The seasoned engineers, often referred to as “gray beard” engineers, will be instrumental in mentoring younger personnel and refining the AI tools in use.
This strategy appears to be fruitful, as Ford expects to save $1 billion in costs this year. Additionally, the automaker recently ranked first among mainstream brands in the JD Power Initial Quality Survey.
