Design for Service Commodity Specialist

Ford Ford · Auto · Allen Park, MI +1 · Marketing & Sales

This role focuses on integrating serviceability considerations early in the product development cycle for vehicles, aiming to ensure efficient repairs, lower costs, and superior customer experience. The specialist will collaborate with product development teams, influence design for serviceability, manage special service tools, and drive warranty cost reduction. The role also involves supporting program launches and developing common, efficient global processes, with an emphasis on utilizing AI-driven insights and LLMs for analysis and efficiency.

What you'd actually do

  1. Proactively collaborate with IPTSE Product Development (PD) teams to influence core and program design for enhanced serviceability of advanced thermal systems, next generation cooling strategies, and overall customer ownership experience.
  2. Engage PD teams at early design milestones to positively impact vehicle serviceability, reduce Cost of Ownership, and improve repair cost and quality for current and future models including efficient implementation of current technology and creating clear strategies for future technology.
  3. Monitor, introduce, and refine service requirements, ensuring compliance or approved deviations by supporting thermal system PD and embedding Service consideration.
  4. Strategically identify Essential Special Service Tools (ESSTs) and secure their funding through Financial Information Requests, while actively working to minimize the overall need for specialized tooling by reusing ESSTs or eliminating the need.
  5. Drive the achievement of targeted Warranty Cost Avoidance objectives by identifying and implementing serviceability improvements (e.g., reducing service labor times, optimizing component-level service, minimizing ESST needs)

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
  • 5+ years of experience supporting or leading Engineering Business Office functions.
  • 5+ years of experience with cross-functional stakeholder management.
  • 4+ of prototype material, purchase service, ED&T, resource planning and sourcing processes.
  • 3+ years of experience demonstrating the ability to manage complex, cross functional workflows.

Nice to have

  • MBA or master’s degree
  • 8+ years of experience leading Engineering Business Office organizations.
  • Demonstrated leadership capability across functional boundaries.
  • Proven project management experience in complex environments.
  • Strong communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership.
  • Working knowledge of using LLMs and Dashboards to improve work efficiency
  • Strong skills in Excel, PowerPoint, Word