Factory tours at Broadmeadows?

[Road_Warrior]

The Minister for Finance has approved the disbursement of fundage for a holiday to Victoria to see the Moto GP in October.

While we are there, I'd like to have a look at the Ford factory. Do they do tours? I'd like to have a look through Broady both because it is the Ford Australia factory, but also because I would like to see the inner workings of a car plant, how one works and see how a car is made.

I know about the Discovery Centre in Geelong and will go there if I can't get a tour of the plant, but to satisfy my inner automotive construction nerd a look at the inner sanctum of the plant would be just super

Is this possible?

[Autolite]

Hi Roady,
I went on a tour (Ford factory) about a year ago however it was organised through a mate who has a relative working there. I would suggest contacting Ford directly and see what's available. The tour only lasted about 30-45 mins but it was very interesting to see all of the manufacturing processes.

[Road_Warrior]

Yeah I gave them a call and they told me to send them an email and they will consider my request. No guarantees though and I get the impression that they don't really do them. No harm in asking though.

[Seduce XR6]

That sounds great, as I am in NSW & have never been south of Canberra I have not ever been but would love too one day, can you take a few pics if you go & tell us what it was like.

[Road_Warrior]

I would imagine the taking of happy snaps would be totally banned.

[NC_Lane]

Not sure about Ford, but I went to see the Toyota factory from work.. Was about a 2 hour tour and we went from start to finish, except the paintshop, which was in a airlock..

[Raptor]

I've done the factory tour a few times. I'd recommend it if you can get in.

Try contacting the Ford Discovery Centre, they should be able to advise on the status of factory tours. It's also well worth a visit in it's own right while your down that way, it's located in Geelong.

[1970galaxie]

I did the tour years ago when they were building XFs.
Rang them, told us when the tour was on, rocked up, and there we were.

I can't remember if we were told not to take photos or not. I guess they did, because I always take photos. .......and I haven't got any. But got a booklet on how the operation works.

[tommyd]

I've always maintained that the process of building a car is one of the wonders of the modern manufacturing world. Any person with only half an interest in cars would be fascinated.

Unfortunately it's getting harder and harder to give people that opportunity. Not nearly as good, but pretty much the next best thing, is this series of pictures taken recently in Ford's spanking new plant in Chennai. The pics actually cover quite a lot of ground, and are remarkable if only for the fact that photography is always banned within plants.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...s-fiestas.html

[4dlvr]

im 100% sure ford plant broadmeadows does not do tours anymore
tried to organize one last year and that's what i was told

[Brazen]

Yeah there are more and more issues with OH&S and insurance having members of the public in a car plant.

[bobthebilda]

You could just hold off on that trip for a few years. Then it might just be a matter of looking in the "factories for lease" section in the paper.

[GK]

Originally Posted by tommyd

I've always maintained that the process of building a car is one of the wonders of the modern manufacturing world. Any person with only half an interest in cars would be fascinated.

Unfortunately it's getting harder and harder to give people that opportunity. Not nearly as good, but pretty much the next best thing, is this series of pictures taken recently in Ford's spanking new plant in Chennai. The pics actually cover quite a lot of ground, and are remarkable if only for the fact that photography is always banned within plants.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...s-fiestas.html

Great link - many thanks!

GK

[Aussie Falcon]

Originally Posted by tommyd

I've always maintained that the process of building a car is one of the wonders of the modern manufacturing world. Any person with only half an interest in cars would be fascinated.

Unfortunately it's getting harder and harder to give people that opportunity. Not nearly as good, but pretty much the next best thing, is this series of pictures taken recently in Ford's spanking new plant in Chennai. The pics actually cover quite a lot of ground, and are remarkable if only for the fact that photography is always banned within plants.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...s-fiestas.html

This was the Car Ford Australia help develop http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2009...for-figo-16801

[Biggav]

yeh the discovery centre said when i was there 3mths ago that tours had been canned and not sure when they would start up again.

[divine_afg]

Had the prevlige back in High School. Went on an Excursion for Business Managment Assignment. Its an amazing experience. Lots of gifts and brochures.
The HR Team had organised games and Trivia Questions. I answered most of them lol.
I can never Forget when they asked how many other car manufacturers Ford owns or has stake in. I new all of them from top of my head, I was quite impressed myself and most of the people in the room. I got polo shirt as reward and I cherish it dearly.
I hope you get an oppurtunity to tour and its fantastic experience seeing all the robots at work and how the cars come in production line (in parts) and theirs this line of workers standing waiting to put it all together one by one.
if you get an opportunity let me know i want to do it again.

cheers
H

[ltd]

Pity they don't do them anymore, would be great to see the FG being built.

[DJL351]

We asked too when we were over there for the FG FPV launch.
Misses spoke to every know person to try and get something happening for my old man and I - even to the point
of making sure that they were aware that we had both worked for Ford for a combined 20+ years.

It made no difference.

The girls at the Ford Discovery Centre were very sympathetic and even made a couple of calls for us. But we left Melb without getting even a peek. :(

[Smoke Pursuit]

Yeh ive tried.. No luck.

Going to try and get a dealer to get me in there one day.

[66 STANG]

I was lucky enough not only to have an official tour through the Broadmeadows factory, but also drive my XYGT through it as part of the Falcon 50th Anniversary day celebrations on June 28th. I hadn't ever been through a car manufacturing plant before and I must say it was an awesome (but freezing cold) day all round!

[Road_Warrior]

Looks like the Ford gods have smiled on me

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Looks like the Ford gods have smiled on me

Share??

[divine_afg]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Looks like the Ford gods have smiled on me

Please let the gods know you have friends@AFF

[Road_Warrior]

Well we got the opportunity to go through the plant on Tuesday. I'd say because there was a school tour already booked, they tacked us on at the end of it. They have a little trolley bus/electric train thing that they use to show large groups of people around in the plant and at the same time it keeps all the tourists confined to parts of the plant that won't interfere with its operations. We got offered a 'walk around' which got us a bit closer to the action

It was an interesting experience. Giant welding robots, a $300,000 rattle gun that does all 5 wheel nuts at once, precision timed parts delivery and all controlled by computer. They're currently rebalancing the line operations to account for the demise of the Falcon wagon. Weren't allowed (or taken near) the paint shop because it is a closed environment and only those paint shop staff are allowed there, and I didn't see any secret stuff because all that goes on either at PD down in Geelong or the separate Pilot assembly line at Broady. Although I did see a Focus RS parked up outside and a Territory body that had a large square hole cut out of the 1/4 panel around the fuel filler??

My Mrs and I want to express our gratitude to Ford and the people there for making us feel welcome. As an aside - Ford should consider reintroducing the webcam build photos from the BA days for those curious owners who would like to see their car being built.

[Brazen]

I encourage anyone to take a factory tour, I have toured both the Holden factory and the Mitsubishi factory (before it closed) and even though they are not the most glamorous places in the world, I love them - loud noises, big machines, big buildings and shiny cars popping out the end of them.

Through a journalist connection I was able to get a really good look at the Holden factory at Elizabeth including seeing the new WM Caprice in 2005 and finding out about the CKD program to Buick in China for the Statesman and seeing the VE before release (including the Brazil market Chev Omega), It was actually one of my life's motoring highlights.

I think we are really lucky to have a motor industry in this country and my dream is to have a tour of the Ford factory in Broadmedows to see where my loyal Fairmont was born.

[CQB-241]

Any chance now? My dealer was hoping to swing a look for me (was looking hopeful last year) but has today been told that tours no longer available.
Look Ford, we know you are taking local production away, at least letting the diehards (who incidentally, like this one, may have contracted to purchase your local product) may soften the blow of the loss.
I am in WA and was prepared to travel for this....car is being born on 27/3/15 (or thereabouts) which would have timed well if it coincided.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by CQB-241

Any chance now? My dealer was hoping to swing a look for me (was looking hopeful last year) but has today been told that tours no longer available.
Look Ford, we know you are taking local production away, at least letting the diehards (who incidentally, like this one, may have contracted to purchase your local product) may soften the blow of the loss.
I am in WA and was prepared to travel for this....car is being born on 27/3/15 (or thereabouts) which would have timed well if it coincided.

Contact them directly. All you can do is ask.

[CQB-241]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Contact them directly. All you can do is ask.

Any hints who to ask?

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by CQB-241

Any hints who to ask?

Not really. From memory I rang head office and asked, they weren't sure but they took my details and some time later I was contacted via email and told there was a factory tour on X date etc.

[vbvbvb088]

In 82 I went there for a school excursion. Great day. don't remember much but all the ladies sitting at sewing machines making door trims etc.... lots of orange fabric - Fairmont Ghia's door trims?