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St. Paul Ford plant's pros and cons
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PRO
•Among the most productive U.S. vehicle factories. Average vehicle in 2004 built in 20.77 hours, about 3.5 hours less than comparable U.S. plants.
•A company-owned generator on the Mississippi River holds down energy costs.
•A 40,000-square-foot robotics and high-tech training center, partly financed by the state.
CON
•Plummeting Ranger sales in 2004 and 2005; 2004 production down nearly 27 percent from 2000.
•Plant running in low gear; in 2003 it ran at 103 percent of capacity, thanks to overtime. Last year, the level fell to 83 percent.
•More vehicle choices than in the past, lowering demand for many models and reducing the ability of Ford and others to raise prices.
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