Mulally: Continuous Improvement is 'at the Centerpiece of the Entire Ford Transformation'

With a focus on communication, collaboration and accountability, Alan Mulally has led Ford from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability -- without government bailout funds -- and has positioned the automaker for global growth.

In the process, Mulally has become the face of the U.S. auto industry's renaissance, and has earned a spot in the 2011 IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

In a conversation with IndustryWeek earlier this month, Mulally reflected on his career at Ford and Boeing, and talked about the challenges and opportunities on the horizon for America's No. 2 automaker.

IW: Which of your achievements at Ford make you the proudest?

AM: Well I think I'd start with the products.

We now have arguably one of the finest complete product lines of any vehicle manufacturer worldwide -- and we're serving the customer with a complete lineup of very safe and efficient and wonderful cars and trucks and utilities. Another thing that we all feel very good about is the fact that we are now serving all of our customers around the world -- in the Americas, in Europe, Russia, Asia Pacific, India, China -- we're bringing all of these wonderful Ford products to so many customers around the world. Another one is that we're really creating a strong business. We've been growing. We've paid back the money that we borrowed. We're investing for the future -- we're going to add 12,000 jobs in the United States over the next couple of years, and they're great jobs, great careers. We are fighting for the soul of American manufacturing. We're competing with the best in the world, and we're actually exporting our vehicles now around the world based on our U.S. competitiveness. And the third one would be that we are all so proud to be contributing to a better world. What we are doing on petro and diesel engines and powertrains, on lightweight materials, on electrification, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, all-electric, hydrogen, natural gas -- we really are contributing to a better world. IW: What are the core values and leadership principles that have driven your success at Ford? AM: I'd start with the fundamental principle of people working together.

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