More bad news for Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F). After announcing a mammoth $8.6 billion loss just three weeks ago, the company is laying off 300 workers in the Detroit area. The workers at the Romeo Engine Plant are being let go due to a steep drop in demand for vehicles which use a V8 engine that goes into a majority of Ford's trucks and SUVs. As gas prices have climbed, large truck and SUV sales have plummeted.

The layoffs start Monday, according to a Ford spokesperson. The 300 being let go are a good chunk of the 1,075 people employed at the Romeo plant. Perhaps Michael Moore should show up and film another movie.

After Ford saw an 18% drop in truck and SUV sales during the first seven months of 2008, its Way Forward plan needs to be pushed into high gear. Ford needs to make the product mix as flexible as possible to meet the changing demand arising from changing tastes and gas prices fluctuations.

This situation reminds me of Clayton Christensen's Innovator's Dilemma a bit. Instead of innovating in the supply chain and manufacturing flexibility arenas, automakers that aren't adept at near-instantaneous changes in consumer buying habits are finding out just how painful the status quo can really be.