RAFAEL MOLANO OLARTE, FUNDADOR DE RAMO S.A.

PUBLICATION: DIARIO LA REPÚBLICA - COMPANIES AND INDUSTRIES

A strict management of costs, prices for the margins do not threaten the company nor the consumer's pocket and a holistic approach, are just three of the factors that have enabled it to establish itself as an Industry Products signatures of food longest tradition in the country. Esta empresa, que en 2006 vendió 117.983 millones de pesos, según cifras de la Superintendencia de Sociedades, se creó hace 58 años gracias a la necesidad de independencia de Rafael Molano Olarte, su fundador, quien hoy se mantiene al frente de la organización apoyado por sus ocho hijos y su esposa, Ana Luisa Camacho. The company, which in 2006 sold 117,983 million pesos, according to figures from the Superintendency of Companies, was established 58 years ago thanks to the need for independence Olarte Rafael Molano, its founder, who today remains at the helm of the organization supported by their eight children and his wife, Ana Luisa Camacho. Ramo cuenta con capital netamente nacional y no tiene el menor interés en vender ninguna acción a multinacionales, pero está dando los pasos necesarios para convertirse en una de ellas, extendiendo sus operaciones a Estados Unidos y España, países donde ya tiene aprobados y homologados sus productos para la producción y comercialización. Ramo has distinctly national capital and has no interest in selling anything to multinationals, but is taking the steps necessary to become one of them, extending its operations to United States and Spain, countries which already have their products tested and approved for the production and marketing. Productos Ramo trabaja en la globalización, concepto que no es otra cosa que pensar con criterio global y actuar de forma local, según dice, Mauricio Molano, hijo mayor del empresario. Products Branch works on globalization, a concept which is nothing else to think holistic approach and act locally, he says, Mauricio Molano, eldest son of the businessman. “Ramo siempre se desarrolló con una concepción internacional y eso se evidenció a los 15 años de su constitución cuando comenzó a importar maquinaria para la industria de alimentos”. "Ramo was provided with an international and that was evident in the 15 years of its establishment when it began to import machinery for the food industry." El espíritu de independencia de Rafael Molano Olarte, quien fue educado con una cultura organizacional, lo llevó a buscar negocios teniendo claro que no quería ser un comerciante, porque aunque no tiene nada en contra de ellos, cree que el empresario trabaja procesos, investiga, combina recursos de manera eficiente y renueva procesos. The spirit of independence from Rafael Molano Olarte, who was raised with an organizational culture, led him to seek business with a clear no one wanted to be a trader, although it has nothing against them, the entrepreneur works cree processes, investigates, combine resources efficiently and renewing processes. En conclusión, es un líder transformador. In conclusion, it is a leading processor. Sin embargo, estos aspectos no lo son todo. However, these issues are not everything. Uno de los factores determinantes dentro de filosofía de esta sociedad son los precios sociales los cuales se logran gracias al modelo económico manejado por la compañía, el cual está sustentado en la integración vertical. One of the determining factors in the company's philosophy is the social price which is achieved thanks to the economic model driven by the company, which is based on vertical integration. Ramo produce desde las cuajadas en hatos propios, pasando por los alimentos para las gallinas, hasta la fabricación de muchas de las materias primas para la elaboración de productos como la achira, el maíz y las mermeladas, entre otros. Ramo rennet produced from herds themselves through food for the hens to the manufacture of many raw materials for the manufacture of products such as ACHIRA, corn and marmalade, amongst others. Como si esto fuera poco, Ramo cuenta con su propio molino, lo que le permite trasladar precios favorables al consumidor final. As if this were not enough, Ramo has its own mill, allowing it to move to the final consumer prices. Por ahora, Molano Olarte dice que no permitirá que a su empresa ingrese capital extranjero ya que no lo necesita. For now, Molano Olarte said he did not allow his company to enter foreign capital and it does not. “Ramo es y debe ser una empresa multinacional y para eso se está preparando y por ello está planeando el montaje de plantas en California, en el sur de la Florida o en España”, precisa Mauricio Molano. "Industry is and should be a multinational company and is preparing for that and so is planning assembly plants in California, South Florida or Spain," says Mauricio Molano. “Lo que estamos haciendo es lo necesario para cubrir el territorio nacional. "What we're doing is necessary to cover the national territory. Sin embargo, conocemos bien los mercados externos y la empresa está preparada tanto en su parte administrativa como en los procesos”, asegura el directivo, quien está convencido de que en un año y medio la firma logrará este objetivo. However, well-known foreign markets and the company is prepared both in its administration and in the process, "said the manager, who believes in a year and a half the firm achieve this goal. La visión de Rafael Molano Olarte al frente de la organización Ramo, le permitió ser escogido como el Empresario del Año 2007 por parte de la Universidad del Rosario, que recientemente le entregó el reconocimiento. The vision of Rafael Molano Olarte as head of the organization Ramo, allowed to be chosen as the Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 by the Universidad del Rosario, who recently gave him recognition. Publication: Diario La República - Compañías e Industrias Publication: Diario La República - Companies and Industries Provider: Diario La Republica Provider: Diario La Republica Date: March 3, 2008 Date: March 3, 2008



PRODUCTS BRANCH SA, a family recipe that became Olarte Rafael Molano rule
Él y Ana Luisa Camacho, ambos boyacenses, han construido durante 58 años esa empresa de la que poco se conoce, pero con la cual todos los colombianos han tenido que ver. He and Ana Luisa Camacho, both boyacenses have built this company over 58 years of which little is known, but which all Colombians have had to do.
El Chocoramo, el Gala y los Maizitos, entre otros, han hecho parte de generaciones de consumidores y de tenderos, que no pueden ignorarlos. The Chocoramo, the Gala and Maizitos, among others, have done some generations of consumers and shopkeepers, who can not ignore them.
Además de las mediciones de recordación y valor de la marca, basta navegar por sitios web como YouTube y Facebook para entender el reconocimiento que tiene el Chocoramo, ese ponqué cubierto de chocolate y con empaque naranja, buque insignia de la compañía. In addition to the measurements of recall and brand value, just browse websites such as YouTube and Facebook to hear the appreciation that has Chocoramo that ponqué covered with chocolate and orange packaging, the flagship of the company. Esta vende unos 155.000 millones de pesos anuales en Colombia, más que la multinacional Bimbo, y estima que el consumo de chocoramo llega a los 120 millones de unidades por año. This sold about 155,000 pesos per year in Colombia, rather than the multinational Bimbo, and estimated consumption chocoramo reach 120 million units per year.
El mejor entre 20.000 The best among 20,000
Por lo que ha construido, Rafael Molano, fundador y presidente de Productos Ramo SA, fue elegido por la Universidad del Rosario y su Facultad de Administración como El Empresario del Año 2007. As built, Rafael Molano, founder and president of Products Industry SA, was chosen by the University of Rosario and its School of Management as the Entrepreneur of the Year 2007.
La selección incluyó a 20.000 firmas de todo el país, entre las cuales se escogieron 30 mediante criterios como desempeño financiero, capital colombiano, reconocimiento de marca, dirección estratégica, productividad, calidad de productos y/o servicios, innovación y gestión directiva. The selection included 20,000 signatures from around the country, among which 30 were chosen by criteria such as financial performance, the Colombian capital, brand recognition, strategic planning, productivity, quality of products and services, innovation and management directive.
En una casa del barrio Los Alcázares, en Bogotá, empezó el desarrollo del ponqué Ramo, inspirado en la fórmula de la abuela y financiado con un crédito de la cooperativa de Bavaria, donde Molano trabajó en la década de 1950. In a neighborhood of Los Alcazares house in Bogota, began developing the ponqué Ramo, inspired by the words of the grandmother and funded with a credit cooperative in Bavaria, where Molano worked in the 1950s.
Luego comenzó la distribución a las tiendas, la venta por porciones para facilitar la salida del producto y el ajuste de este con unas cintas de papel de seda para no que no se desbaratara, un aporte de Ana Luisa, que siempre ha puesto el toque de buen gusto. Then began the distribution to stores, sold portions to facilitate the release of this product and the adjustment of the tape with some tissue paper so as not to disrupt is not a contribution of Ana Luisa, who always has a touch of good taste.
Ante la aceptación de los consumidores, don Rafael dejó Bavaria y tecnificó su empresa: una batidora, un horno más grande y el uso de la marca Ramo -tomada de la forma que tomaba la cinta cuando se ajustaba el ponqué y no del nombre del fundador-, cuenta Mauricio Molano, el mayor de sus ocho hijos. With the acceptance of consumers, Rafael left Bavaria Tecnifos and your company: a blender, an oven and the largest use of the mark-branch taken from the form that took the tape when the ponqué line and not the name of the founder - Mauritius has Molano, the eldest of their eight children.
Empezaron las contrataciones y la necesidad de sacar la fábrica de la casa y estandarizar los productos. They started hiring and the need to remove the mill house and standardize products. Corrían los años 60 cuando abrió su primera planta en lo que hoy se conoce como Sanandresito. Ran the 60 when it opened its first plant in what is now known as Sanandresito.
Fue toda una innovación que el ponqué estuviera disponible y fresco en las tiendas, pues hasta ese momento se asociaba y se preparaba para las celebraciones. It was an innovation that all the cool ponqué available in stores, because until that time was associated and was preparing for the celebrations. En 1967 fue destacado en un concurso internacional de mercadeo. In 1967 he was featured in an international marketing.
En los 70 la producción se trasladó a Mosquera. At 70 he moved to the production Mosquera. Por esa época hubo un boom de la marca gracias al programa de televisión que popularizó el estribillo: "Feliz cumpleaños amiguito / te desea ponqué Ramo", del compositor Santander Díaz. At that time there was a boom of the mark thanks to popular television program that the chorus: "Happy birthday buddy / Ramo ponqué you want," the composer Santander Díaz.
Las necesidades del mercado colombiano llevaron a Molano a abrir fábricas en Sabaneta (Antioquia) y en Palmira (Valle) en 1983. Colombian market needs led to open factories in Molano Sabaneta (Antioquia) and Palmira (Valle) in 1983.
Para la distribución, Productos Ramo puso a marchar los emblemáticos triciclos que abastecen dos veces por semana las tiendas en una cuidadosa zonificación. For distribution, Productos Ramo made the symbolic march tricycles supplying twice a week in
stores careful zoning.
Hoy, la otrora microempresa de don Rafael Molano genera 3.000 puestos de trabajo directos y 1.500 indirectos, produce su propia harina, el chocolate y hasta los 500 mil huevos diarios que necesita, y maneja cuatro líneas de negocio: ponqués, colaciones, pan y fritos. Today, the once microenterprise Rafael Molano generates 3000 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect produces its own flour, chocolate and up to 500 thousand eggs daily needs, and manages four business lines: ponqués, snacks, bread and fried .
El futuro de los Productos Ramo The future of the Products Industry
En los años 90, cuando se empezó a hablar de la necesidad de que las empresas se globalizaran para subsistir, se habló del interés de multinacionales como Bimbo por hacerse a Ramo. In the 90s, when people started talking about the need for global companies to survive, there was talk of interest from multinationals like a bouquet made by Bimbo. Más de 15 años después, la empresa cree que puede seguir creciendo sola. More than 15 years later, the company believes it can continue to grow alone.
La internacionalización es uno de los grandes objetivos de Productos Ramo, así como la construcción de una cuarta planta y el fortalecimiento en la Costa Caribe. Internationalization is one of the major objectives of Products Industry and the construction of fourth floor and the strengthening in the Caribbean Coast.
"Ramo es muy colombiana y no queremos ni necesitamos vender la empresa", advierte el hijo mayor de los Molano, que tienen un protocolo familiar con reglas claras que les permite trabajar para fortalecer lo que han construido sus padres. "Industry is in Colombia and we do not want or need to sell the company," said the eldest son of Molano, who have a protocol family with clear rules that allow them to work to strengthen what they have built their parents.

CONSTANZA GÓMEZ CONSTANCE GÓMEZ REDACCIÓN DE ECONOMÍA Y NEGOCIOS DRAFTING OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS



















MARQUIS MILLS CONVERSE

This is a story of legends, heroes and innovators together by love of sport.
Converse y sus zapatillas forman parte de la historia. Converse sneakers and are part of history.
Americana tanto como la Coca Cola y se pueden ver en todo el mundo. American as Coca Cola and can be seen throughout the world.
La All Star, la más vendida de todos los tiempos y la Jack Purcell, fueron las primeras zapatillas de deporte en pasar al mundo de la moda. The All Star, the best selling of all time, and the Jack Purcell, were the first sneakers to move the world of fashion.
La historia de esta antigua y magnífica compañía, comienza en 1908 en el estado de Massachussets. The history of this ancient and wonderful company, started in 1908 in the state of Massachusetts.
Ese año, un chico de New Hampshire, Marquis Mills Converse, fundó la Converse Rubber Shoe Company (Compañía de zapatillas de caucho). That year, a kid from New Hampshire, Marquis Mills Converse founded the Converse Rubber Shoe Company (Company rubber slippers).
El Sr. Converse, apostó rápidamente por el potencial de la industria de la goma en las zapatillas. Mr. Converse, quickly opted for the potential of the industry of rubber slippers. Después de dos años, Converse tenia 350 empleados produciendo calzado protector resistente con suela de caucho. After two years, Converse had 350 employees producing resistant protective footwear with rubber soles.
Los jugadores de baloncesto empezaron a utilizar suelas de caucho en sus zapatillas, y así, Converse, empezó a producir zapatillas para este relativamente nuevo deporte. The basketball players began to use rubber soles on their shoes, and so, Converse started producing shoes for this relatively new sport.
En 1917, la compañía tomó una de las decisiones más importantes de su historia. In 1917, the company took one of the most important decisions in its history. Consistía en lanzar una zapatilla diseñada específicamente para el baloncesto, con el objetivo de mantener la productividad durante la tradicional caída de ventas del verano. Was to launch a shoe designed specifically for basketball, to maintain the productivity drop during the traditional summer sales.
El resultado fue, la legendaria All Star, aún hoy en día, casi un siglo después, vendida en todo el mundo. The result was, the legendary All Star, even today, nearly a century later, sold throughout the world.
En 1921, un ex jugador de baloncesto, Chuck Taylor, se unió a la compañía y, añadiendo algunos cambios en la suela de la zapatilla, empezaron a vender la nueva “All Star Chuck Taylor” por todo Estados Unidos. In 1921, a former basketball player, Chuck Taylor, joined the company and adding a few changes in the sole of the shoe, began selling the new "Chuck Taylor All Star" throughout United States.
Había nacido la zapatilla más vendida de todos los tiempos. He was born the best selling shoe of all time. Con el tiempo, Converse, se identificó con iconos fuera de lo común, que rompían reglas. Over time, Converse, was identified with icons out of the ordinary, broke rules.
James Dean, Elvis Presley, Chuck Taylor, John Lennon, Magic Jonson…, son algunas de las leyendas de antaño vinculadas a la filosofía y al estilo de vida de Converse. James Dean, Elvis Presley, Chuck Taylor, John Lennon, Magic Johnson ... are some of the legends of the past linked to the philosophy and lifestyle of Converse.
Converse fue y es, una marca pionera, símbolo de autenticidad e independencia. Converse was and is a pioneering brand, a symbol of authenticity and independence. Un mito. A myth.















ENZO FERRARI

Enzo Ferrari, "Il Commendatore", born on February 18, 1898 in Modena, Italy. No pudo completar su educación escolar por la muerte temprana de su padre, y tuvo que trabajar como empleado en el taller del cuerpo de bomberos de la ciudad. Was unable to complete their school education by the early death of his father, and had to work as an employee in a workshop fire in the city. After serving as a soldier in World War I, he worked as a a test driver in Turin in 1918.Luego de servir como soldado en la Primera Guerra Mundial, trabajó como piloto de pruebas en Turín en 1918.Time then became an official and pilot tests in Construzioni Meccaniche nazionali in Began to compete officially in the Parma-Berceto 1919. Ese mismo año corrió la mítica Targa Florio. That same year he ran the legendary Targa Florio. Un año después, se traslada a Alfa Romeo en un vínculo que duró 20 años pasando por piloto de pruebas, piloto oficial, asistente de ventas y al final como director de la división de competición de la marca hasta noviembre de 1939. A year later, he moved to Alfa Romeo in a relationship that lasted 20 years through pilot testing, pilot officer, sales assistant and finally as director of the division of brand competition until November 1939. Durante ese trayecto espectacular por Alfa recibió el galardón de Cavalieri en 1924 y el de Commendatore en 1927. During this spectacular ride Alfa Cavalieri received the award in 1924 and the Commendatore in 1927. In 1929 he created his account with the Scuderia Ferrari headquarters in Modena, with the sole purpose of competing and organize races
Years later, he founded a special team and made his mark in the division and Engineering Career Alfa Romeo, then controlling the competition section in 1933. In 1940 Ferrari wil be disassociated from Alfa Romeo to become the ¨Ferrari Auto Avio Construzioni¨, originally to be cooperating with the national aviation company in Rome.
In 1943, in full WWII, Enzo Ferrari factory moved from Modena to Maranello and began to construct various machines. Ésta fue bombardeada por los aliados en 1944 y se interrumpieron sus actividades hasta 1946, cuando la casa fue reconstruida. Ni bien rehecha ésta, empezaron con los trabajos para el lanzamiento del primer auto Ferrari. It was bombed by the allies in 1944 and its activities were halted until 1946, when the house was rebuilt. Remade it or not, began to work for the launch of the first Ferrari car. In 1950, he entered the Formula 1.



HENRY FORD
(July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of modern assembly lines used in mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry. He was a prolific inventor and was awarded 161 U.S. patents. As owner of the Ford Company he became one of the richest and best-known people in the world. He is credited with "Fordism", that is, the mass production of large numbers of inexpensive automobiles using the assembly line, coupled with high wages for his workers. Ford had a global vision, with consumerism as the key to peace. Ford did not believe in accountants; he amassed one of the world's largest fortunes without ever having his company audited under his administration. Henry Ford's intense commitment to lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a franchise system that put a dealership in every city in North America, and in major cities on six continents. Ford left most of his vast wealth to the Ford Foundation but arranged for his family to control the company permanently.

Early years
Henry Ford was born July 30, 1863, on a farm next to a rural town west of Detroit, Michigan (this area is now part of Dearborn, Michigan).[1] His father, William Ford (1826–1905), was born in County Cork, Ireland. His mother, Mary Litogot Ford (1839–1876), was born in Michigan; she was the youngest child of Belgian immigrants; her parents died when Mary was a child and she was adopted by neighbors, the O'Herns. Henry Ford's siblings include Margaret Ford (1867–1938); Jane Ford (c. 1868–1945); William Ford (1871–1917) and Robert Ford (1873–1934).
His father gave Henry a pocket watch in his early teens. At fifteen, Ford dismantled and reassembled the timepieces of friends and neighbors dozens of times, gaining the reputation of a watch repairman.[2] At twenty, Ford walked four miles to their Episcopal church every Sunday.[3]
Ford was devastated when his mother died in 1876. His father expected him to eventually take over the family farm but Henry despised farm work. He told his father, "I never had any particular love for the farm—it was the mother on the farm I loved."[4]
In 1879, he left home to work as an apprentice machinist in the city of Detroit, first with James F. Flower & Bros., and later with the Detroit Dry Dock Co. In 1882, he returned to Dearborn to work on the family farm and became adept at operating the Westinghouse portable steam engine. He was later hired by Westinghouse company to service their steam engines.

Henry Ford at twenty five years old in 1888.
Ford married Clara Ala Bryant (c. 1865–1950) in 1888 and supported himself by farming and running a sawmill.[5] They had a single child: Edsel Bryant Ford (1893-1943).[6]
In 1891, Ford became an engineer with the Edison Illuminating Company, and after his promotion to Chief Engineer in 1893, he had enough time and money to devote attention to his personal experiments on gasoline engines. These experiments culminated in 1896 with the completion of his own self-propelled vehicle named the Ford Quadricycle, which he test-drove on June 4. After various test-drives, Ford brainstormed ways to improve the Quadricycle.[7]
Also in 1896, Ford attended a meeting of Edison executives, where he was introduced to Thomas Edison. Edison approved of Ford's automobile experimentation; encouraged by Edison's approval, Ford designed and built a second vehicle, which was completed in 1898.[8] Backed by the capital of Detroit lumber baron William H. Murphy, Ford resigned from Edison and founded the Detroit Automobile Company on August 5, 1899.[9] However, the automobiles produced were of a lower quality and higher price than Ford liked. Ultimately, the company was not successful and was dissolved in January 1901.[9]
With the help of C. Harold Wills, Ford designed, built, and successfully raced a twenty six horsepower automobile in October 1901. With this success, Murphy and other stockholders in the Detroit Automobile Company formed the Henry Ford Company on November 30, 1901, with Ford as chief engineer.[10] However, Murphy brought in Henry M. Leland as a consultant. As a result, Ford left the company bearing his name in 1902. With Ford gone, Murphy renamed the company the Cadillac Automobile Company.[10]
Ford also produced the 80+ horsepower racer "999", and getting Barney Oldfield to drive it to victory in October 1902. Ford received the backing of an old acquaintance, Alexander Y. Malcomson, a Detroit-area coal dealer.[10] They formed a partnership, "Ford & Malcomson, Ltd." to manufacture automobiles. Ford went to work designing an inexpensive automobile, and the duo leased a factory and contracted with a machine shop owned by John and Horace E. Dodge to supply over $160,000 in parts.[10] Sales were slow, and a crisis arose when the Dodge brothers demanded payment for their first shipment.


Henry Ford with Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone. Ft. Myers, Florida, February 11, 1929.
In response, Malcomson brought in another group of investors and convinced the Dodge Brothers to accept a portion of the new company.[11] Ford & Malcomson was reincorporated as the Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903,[11] with $28,000 capital. The original investors included Ford and Malcomson, the Dodge brothers, Malcomson's uncle John S. Gray, Horace Rackham, and James Couzens. In a newly designed car, Ford gave an exhibition on the ice of Lake St. Clair, driving 1 mile (1.6 km) in 39.4 seconds, setting a new land speed record at 91.3 miles per hour (147.0 km/h). Convinced by this success, the race driver Barney Oldfield, who named this new Ford model "999" in honor of a racing locomotive of the day, took the car around the country, making the Ford brand known throughout the United States. Ford also was one of the early backers of the Indianapolis 500.
Ford astonished the world in 1914 by offering a $5 per day wage, which more than doubled the rate of most of his workers. (Using the Consumer Price Index, this was equivalent to $106 per day in 2008 dollars.) The move proved extremely profitable; instead of constant turnover of employees, the best mechanics in Detroit flocked to Ford, bringing in their human capital and expertise, raising productivity, and lowering training costs. Ford called it "wage motive." The company's use of vertical integration also proved successful when Ford built a gigantic factory that shipped in raw materials and shipped out finished automobiles
Model T
The Model T was introduced on October 1, 1908. It had the steering wheel on the left, which every other company soon copied. The entire engine and transmission were enclosed; the four cylinders were cast in a solid block; the suspension used two semi-elliptic springs.
The car was very simple to drive, and easy and cheap to repair. It was so cheap at $825 in 1908 (the price fell every year) that by the 1920s a majority of American drivers learned to drive on the Model T.
Ford created a massive publicity machine in Detroit to ensure every newspaper carried stories and ads about the new product. Ford's network of local dealers made the car ubiquitous in virtually every city in North America. As independent dealers, the franchises grew rich and publicized not just the Ford but the very concept of automobiling; local motor clubs sprang up to help new drivers and to explore the countryside. Ford was always eager to sell to farmers, who looked on the vehicle as a commercial device to help their business. Sales skyrocketed—several years posted 100% gains on the previous year. Always on the hunt for more efficiency and lower costs, in 1913 Ford introduced the moving assembly belts into his plants, which enabled an enormous increase in production. Although Henry Ford is often credited with the idea, contemporary sources indicate that the concept and its development came from employees Clarence Avery, Peter E. Martin, Charles E. Sorensen, and C. Harold Wills. (See Piquette Plant)

Ford Assembly Line, 1913
Sales passed 250,000 in 1914. By 1916, as the price dropped to $360 for the basic touring car, sales reached 472,000.[12] (Using the Consumer Price Index, this price was equivalent to $7,020 in 2008 dollars.)
By 1918, half of all cars in America were Model T's. However, it was a monolithic block; as Ford wrote in his autobiography, "Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black".[13] Until the development of the assembly line, which mandated black because of its quicker drying time, Model T's were available in other colors including red. The design was fervently promoted and defended by Ford, and production continued as late as 1927; the final total production was 15,007,034. This record stood for the next 45 years.
This record was achieved in just 19 years flat from the introduction of the first Model T (1908).
President Woodrow Wilson asked Ford to run as a Democrat for the United States Senate from Michigan in 1918. Although the nation was at war, Ford ran as a peace candidate and a strong supporter of the proposed League of Nations.[14]
Henry Ford turned the presidency of Ford Motor Company over to his son Edsel Ford in December 1918. Henry, however, retained final decision authority and sometimes reversed his son. Henry started another company, Henry Ford and Son, and made a show of taking himself and his best employees to the new company; the goal was to scare the remaining holdout stockholders of the Ford Motor Company to sell their stakes to him before they lost most of their value. (He was determined to have full control over strategic decisions). The ruse worked, and Henry and Edsel purchased all remaining stock from the other investors, thus giving the family sole ownership of the company.
By the mid-1920s, sales of the Model T began to decline due to rising competition. Other auto makers offered payment plans through which consumers could buy their cars, which usually included more modern mechanical features and styling not available with the Model T. Despite urgings from Edsel, Henry steadfastly refused to incorporate new features into the Model T or to form a customer credit plan.