At Ford, learning exactly when and how things will fail—over many years and across a spectrum of millions of vehicles around the world—can save untold amounts of money and maybe even human lives. So in the stripped-down cab in Building 4, the piston continues to push on the gas pedal, then let up, then push again, over and over. This simple exercise is worth billions of dollars. Look closely enough and you can see all the complexity, perils, and opportunities of managing failure. And, as it happens, you might also catch a glimpse of the future of manufacturing.