Jim Buczkowski: Moving Ford Vehicle Electronics Beyond Expectations
Jim Buczkowski, Henry Ford Technical Fellow and director of Electrical and Electronics Systems
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- Who: Jim Buczkowski, Henry Ford Technical Fellow and director of Electrical and Electronics Systems, Ford Research and Innovation
- Role: Responsible for Ford’s electrical engineering teams and developing relevant global strategies that incorporate electronics technology within the vehicle
- Did you know? Buczkowski is one of four Henry Ford Technical Fellows at the company and is only the 13th executive in Ford Motor Company history to hold the prestigious title
Jim Buczkowski is a Henry Ford Technical Fellow and the director of Electrical and Electronics Systems, Ford Research and Innovation. He is responsible for Ford’s electrical engineering teams and developing relevant global strategies that incorporate electronics technology within the vehicle, which continues to be a significant growth area in the automotive space.
In this position Buczkowski reports jointly to Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation; and Raj Nair, vice president, Ford Engineering.
An automotive electronics industry expert with more than 30 years experience at Ford, Buczkowski is no stranger to tinkering with technology at work or at home. He has been a subscribed beta tester for TiVo, Slingbox and Microsoft Windows – Vista and Windows 7 – and takes great pride in his completely networked entertainment system within his home.
“I find these projects a great outlet to learn and understand the latest and greatest technology and how the technology may apply to my job at Ford,” said Buczkowski.
During his career, Buczkowski has championed Ford’s efforts to innovate more like a consumer electronics company rather than an automotive OEM. With his vast electronics engineering experience, he contributed to the super integration of body control functions that helped bring in-car connectivity technologies such as the award-winning Ford SYNC® and MyFord Touch™ systems to life.
He has also played a pivotal role in forging nontraditional partnerships with technology companies such as Microsoft and Sony. Such collaboration helped Ford obtain a leadership position in incorporating infotainment and device connectivity within the vehicle as well as creating an overall driving experience unmatched by competitors.
“Our focus is on taking electronics and computer technology and applying them to cars and trucks and making the vehicle an extension of your home – connected, comfortable, convenient, productive and safe,” Buczkowski said. “It’s all about creating a truly rich driving environment with no compromise in connectivity – where everything you expect will be at your fingertips or voice command, integrated into your drive with minimal distraction.”
Buczkowski continues to lead Ford’s efforts to maintain robust software delivery processes, which give the company the ability to quickly respond to an evolving consumer electronics portfolio, changing consumer needs and diverse global demands.
Currently one of four Henry Ford Technical Fellows at Ford, Buczkowski is only the 13th executive in the company’s history to be recognized with this prestigious title and is the first appointed from the discipline of Electrical and Electronics Systems.
Personal Insights and Fun Facts
- Buczkowski has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan
- He has six computers at home that stream audio and video to a plasma TV
- An avid tinkerer, Buczkowski is a subscribed beta tester for TiVo, Slingbox and Microsoft Windows
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
June 23, 2011