(Ford Motor Co.: Dearborn, MI) -- The new F-Series trucks are the latest vehicles to benefit from Ford Motor Co.’s new dirt-detection technology to ensure optimal paint and surface quality. The system uses high-resolution cameras and reflected light to digitally identify surface imperfections finer than a grain of salt in final vehicle assembly, and to cue operators where to polish and buff out imperfections.

By using dirt-detection technology, Ford improved paint quality and reduced customer complaints of vehicle surface finish by 82 percent within one year, as measured by customer warranty data for F-Series models produced at the company’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Michigan.

“This system ensures better paint jobs and surface finishes for Ford customers around the world,” says Tom Dougan, project manager of global paint applications at Ford.

How it works

The 3D imaging system applies varying degrees and angles of light while scoping the paint surface of vehicle bodies to identify dirt in paint and other irregular paint conditions. High-resolution images—3,150 images are captured in 15 seconds for every vehicle made—are stitched together for a full 3D image that can be digitally compared to a perfect computer model.

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