Sounds like Ford's #1 problem is failure to train its engineers, in how to design reasonably maintainable vehicles.
My 2010 Mercedes had headlight bulbs that died frequently. But there was no way for a human to reach in and replace them, without either some special tool or disassembling a bunch of stuff at the front of the car. Just one example. You can find many similar complaints elsewhere.
I replaced that VW with a Honda in 2010, and will never buy another "German Engineering" car.
I spent more time building a make shift tool to detach/attach the battery than I did actual work. This due to them placing a bolt really bad so you can't access it with a normal wrench.
Not offering a paid upgrade to a 4G modem for the app features when they kill the 3G network in Sweden is also a bummer (they do in the US though, guess they are afraid of law suits).
I like the car in general, but they do some bad decisions that make me look at other brands when considering a new car.
Step one, remove car from bulb. Step two, replace bulb. Step three, assemble in reverse order.
>> He noted, for example, learning to take a diesel engine out of a Ford Super Duty truck takes at least five years.
>> The current system is not meeting the standard, he added.
I fully agree with your opinion .... but this guy's quote is bizarre.
What system is failing to meet the 5-years-to-learn-how-to-remove-one-particular-engine standard?
High school trades? Community college? Private $xx,000 high-debt mechanic school?
None of these are remotely capable of teaching Ford's hyper-narrow specialization. Trying to would be a disaster.
Not Applicable. If it somehow took an engineering degree to toast a Pop-Tart, the "failing to meet" would have nothing whatsoever to do with any education system for engineers.
EDIT: On another read...I'd say the bizarre quote is just Farley desperately trying to throw the blame somewhere, somewhere far away from where it belongs - with him and Ford.