Native tongue

Co-location was a key factor in the successful product development efforts for the 1996 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Designers and engineers in the product development team, officially designated as DN101, overcame their traditional antipathy to each other and collaborated closely to reach common styling and technical goals. Instead of working separately in different buildings, all DN101 team members were able to consult with each other on their respective concerns because of their physical proximity. The result is a well-designed, well-engineered car which was developed in a relatively short amount of time.