Ford Relaunching F-150 Production after Supplier Fire

Ford Motor Co. expects to resume production of its F-Series pickup trucks, the company’s top selling and most profitable line, on Friday after a supplier plant fire idled output a week ago.

The company will restart operations in Dearborn, Mich., on Friday and remaining factories on Monday. Ford says the disruption will reduce its second-quarter earnings by 12-14 cents per share but won’t impact full-year results.

Ford was forced to suspend production at four assembly plants on May 9 after a fire at Meridian Magnesium Products near Lansing, Mich., cut off supplies of die-cast radiator supports and other components. The disaster also affected North American operations at BMW, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors.

Ford notes that its North American dealers had an average 84-day supply—roughly 30% above average—in stock when the shutdown began.