
440 Process Techniques for Engineering High-Performance Materials
The combination of automobiles and tires is another example of open sys-
tems. The two products are always made by different companies. In most
cases, engineers from two or more companies will cooperate to create speci-
cations to ensure the safety and reliability of the nal product. This was the
case for the Ford Motor Company and the Bridgestone Corporation in the
1990s. Engineers collaborated to specify a Firestone radial tire for the Ford
Explorer.
Ford designers created tness-for-use (FFU) issues by selecting a tire
that was slightly undersized for the heavy sport utilit