Ford cutbacks won't impair WNY economy, official says. (Ford Motor Co.; Western New York)

Ford Motor Co.'s deep cuts into its supplier ranks through the remainder of the 1990s aren't expected to have a major impact on Western New York, officials said.

The outcome could be both positive and negative. Although some companies might lose Ford business, others could pick up some.

The group most at risk of facing life without Ford are suppliers who do only a small percentage of business with the carmaker, a company representative said.

"We are trying to work with fewer suppliers. It is more efficient," said Kathryn Blackwell. "So if a company has only a small amount of their business with us, it might make sense for us to consolidate it with a supplier who we do more business with."

The number of Western New York suppliers could …