Ford Motor Company -- Flowchart Analysis Ford
Ford Motor Company is one of the largest manufacturing companies in the global marketplace. Fiscally, Ford has had two major recent periods; one of prosperity, one of decline. Period #1, the late 1980s to 19979, showed a steady pattern of growth, about 5-7% per annum. Sales in 1998 were down 6%, up 14% in 1999, giving the decade an average of 5.4% growth and a profit margin slightly above the industry of 7-9%. Costs of goods remained consistent at around 72%, and debt/leverage ratios steady. Since 2000, though, and most especially since 2007, Ford has seen its sales and profits diminish, its international market share decline, and its ability to compete effectively erode. For the primary market segment of Ford, the automotive side, financial and marketing decisions are based on numerous trends: competitive pricing, cost of goods and projections, ability to recap money through subsidiaries (maintenance, Ford Credit, etc.), global versus U.S. sales, and demographic trends)