Parts firms seeing shift: Ford's cost cutting streamlines its group of suppliers.

Byline: Jason Roberson

Jul. 23--Ford Motor Co. says its new plans for broadening its Way Forward cost-cutting efforts should have no surprising impact on key suppliers because the automaker already was taking steps to streamline its supply chain and target its spending with top performers. In September, Ford began the first phase of cutting by half its network of more than 2,000 suppliers. The company said it was seeking to save money by spending with fewer suppliers that could provide the best value and innovations to Ford in exchange for secure, long-term business. Paul Wood, Ford's spokesman for manufacturing and purchasing, said Friday the supplier restructuring was moving along as planned. Ford spends $70 billion annually on car and truck parts. …