Joseph R. Hinrichs
Vice President, North America Manufacturing
Ford Motor Company

Joseph R. Hinrichs, 40, is vice president, North America Manufacturing, Ford Motor Company. He is responsible for the operations of 41 assembly, stamping and powertrain plants in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He also oversees the company’s Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering, Stamping Engineering, Manufacturing Strategy and Business Office and Material Planning and Logistics organizations. Hinrichs reports to Mark Fields, president, The Americas, Ford Motor Company.

He assumed this position Sept. 27, 2006. Previously, Hinrichs was vice president, North America Vehicle Operations, responsible for 19 assembly plants and eight stamping and tool and die plants in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

From January to October 2005, Hinrichs served as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. There, he led Ford of Canada’s operations, including the national headquarters, six regional sales offices, five vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing plants, two parts distribution centers, and affiliates including Ford Credit, Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover and Hertz.

Prior to joining Ford of Canada, Hinrichs was director of manufacturing, Vehicle Operations, responsible for the manufacturing, quality, and launch of several Ford sport utility vehicles and trucks produced at six assembly plants. He also was responsible for working with the Product Creation process to develop and launch new competitive vehicles within these product lines.

Before that, Hinrichs was executive director, Material Planning and Logistics, Ford Motor Company, from April 2002 to July 2003. In this capacity, he was responsible for material planning, production control, scheduling, inventory management, logistics and total material flow at all of Ford’s manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Hinrichs joined Ford in December 2000 as plant manager of the Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Prior to joining Ford, he served as a partner and senior vice president of Ryan Enterprises Group, a manufacturing investment group in Chicago. Early in his career, Hinrichs spent 10 years at General Motors in various positions in engineering and manufacturing, including plant manager.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 1989, and a master’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School in 1994 as a GM Fellow.

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