Find XO: Ford Reduced Staff with AI, Rehired 350 Veterans After Quality Decline (the-independent.com)

- Ford deeply integrated AI into design and quality inspections and cut experienced engineers, but when automation missed defects, they spent billions and rehired about 350 veteran engineers. - They did not abandon AI but reintroduced human judgment, then achieved J.D. - Power's top initial quality ranking for the first time in 16 years. - The core of operational design is deciding who and when to supplement judgments not captured in data, rather than automation rates.