Mustang Mach-E Team Improves Productivity Even in Quarantine
Progress never stops. Similar to every other automaker, Ford has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But thanks to some clever organization, plenty of resourcefulness, creativity and a bit of luck, development on new vehicles continues—even from home.
That’s the case for the hundreds of engineers, developers and specialists working on the all-new, all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover, which is still on track to begin deliveries in late 2020. By the way, Ford says it will have more details to share on the timing of its upcoming models once its factories and facilities are safely back online.
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The Car Guide interviewed three key people in charge of this highly anticipated vehicle including engineering manager Robert Iorio, calibration engineer Aleyna Kapur, and SYNC software supervisor Husein Dakroub. Based in Dearborn, Michigan near Ford’s headquarters, they’ve been confined to their homes since March 16. But make no mistake: they’re taking advantage of every minute to keep things rolling.
It’s not like they don’t face any pressure. After all, the Mustang Mach-E is arguably the most important new product for Ford in ages—no matter what fans of the Bronco might say.
Many team members brought home desktop computers, work benches and other equipment. Some even have access to prototypes that were finished in early February before the company shut its plants and facilities, allowing them to continue work on the electronic architecture and various settings.
A father of two young children, Husein Dakroub explained to us how he transformed his home office and also had a retrofitted Ford Expedition mule with the Mustang Mach-E interface. He can test and validate the operation of in-car technologies such as the new SYNC 4 infotainment system, which will offer an even more personalized experience and a brand new way for customers to interact with their EV.
Of course, there have been many challenges to overcome along the way, starting with finding a proper work-life balance. When it comes to the first part of it, some employees had problems with internet connection speeds, but they’ve received support and been upgraded to a higher bandwidth. Also, since not everyone has physical access to the vehicle, communication (via emails, videoconferences, etc.) and data sharing (via the cloud) are absolutely essential.
Robert Iorio told us the fact that he can no longer ride in the Mach-E along with three or four other engineers to evaluate certain aspects together is really tough. Instead, they have to share their experience and feedback online through photos and videos while maintaining good teamwork and trusting each other.
“These are weird times we’re going through [with COVID-19], but I’d have to say I’ve never seen my team so excited to work a vehicle,” Aleyna Kapur admitted.
To which Dakroub added, “We had to adjust at first, but we are used to working remotely. In fact, productivity has even increased over the past couple of weeks.”
Who would have thought?
