Innovative ideas are critical to American business today given the highly competitive global market. Now more than ever, businesses are developing creative and unique products and processes to advance their market positions.

At University of Detroit Mercy College of Engineering & Science's 2008 Ford Innovation Symposium, Sept. 15, Ford Motor Company representatives discussed some of the current and future innovations that have brought Ford Motor Company to the top.  One of the most exciting innovations today is Ford's award-winning SYNC system, which Ford reports should bring the automaker $1 million in sales by early 2009.

"American consumers are looking for new cutting-edge vehicles that are efficient, intelligent and green," says Leo Hanifin, dean of UDM's College of Engineering & Science.  "And companies like Ford Motor Company are continually driving hard to provide consumers such innovative products."

Derrick Kuzak.

The Ford Symposium panel was led by alumnus Derrick Kuzak '73, '77, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development. In this role at Ford, Kuzak has overall responsibility for all aspects of the company's Product Development System and leads the team responsible for offering more Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand products, faster. Previously, Kuzak served in roles responsible for the engineering of all North American vehicles and the design and engineering of vehicles in the European market.

Kuzak joined Ford in 1978 as a research engineer. Born in Detroit in 1951, he holds both B.E.E. and M.E. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit, where he also achieved a doctorate in Systems Engineering.

Clockwise from top left: Amy Garby, Joe Pierucci, Hermann Salenbauch and Jim Buczkowski.

Other symposium speakers from Ford Motor Company included:

• Jim Buczkowski, director, Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering
• Amy Garby, Innovation project leader
• Joe Pierucci, manager, Advanced Product Strategy
• Hermann Salenbauch, director, Advanced Product Creation and Special Vehicle Team

"SYNC is already a hit among customers for its exceptional Bluetooth-connectivity for mobile phones and full voice control of media devices including MP3 players on the road, but we're not stopping there," says Kuzak.

"Ford is answering customers' calls for even greater connectivity with the best technology solutions from companies like Microsoft and SIRIUS, connecting customers with mobile devices, important information they need on the road and bringing the experience to life with the latest in navigation technology and branded audio," Kuzak says.

Starting this year, Ford began pioneering a new era of satellite communications, aggressively moving beyond music and into data delivery.  With the launch of Ford's next-generation navigation systems, the company will become the first automaker to offer SIRIUS Travel Link.

You can watch the 2008 Ford Innovation Symposium online! Go to the UDMcast.

Ford leaders during question and answer period at the 2008 Ford Innovation Symposium.