Ford Chairman: US Needs Energy, Industrial Policy DETROIT (Michigan Radio) - Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford says government has a role in making sure the nation's manufacturing base is globally competitive.

Ford made his remarks at the start of the National Summit in Detroit.

He says the "silver lining" in the economic slowdown is that the country is waking up to the fact that its industrial base is eroding - and that something needs to be done.

"As a country, we have had collective ADD I think as it pertains to the issues," Ford said during the summit's opening session. "Something pops up, another thing disappears. We can't have that. We have to have a longer-range outlook."

Business, academic and government leaders are taking part in the summit. Over the next three days they're expected to come up with a set of recommendations in the areas of energy, technology, environment and manufacturing.

Contact Sarah Hulet at sarahhu@umich.edu © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio