While Ford began its cost-saving program more than a year ago, the program has become a higher priority in recent weeks.

That plan reprioritizes the use of D.E.P. resources to increase investment in long-term, cost-saving programs: watershed protection, water conservation, preventive infrastructure maintenance and customer service.

Another part of G.M.'s cost-saving program will be substantial price reductions on components and materials that the company will be seeking from its suppliers.

They cover not just expensive sickness care, but also preventive care and cost-saving programs to give patients better control of chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma.

They both expressed concerns that a major justification for the proposed merger was a cost-saving program that would require many thousands of workers to be laid off.

In 1993, President George Bush authorized a cost-saving program that eliminated accountability for merely "secret" material.

Because the city decided not to monitor each agency's progress this spring, it will be November before preliminary results of the city's cost-saving program are known.

He is now proposing to trim Medicaid services to encourage recipients to join cost-saving managed-care programs, which would require a Federal waiver.

The company will begin to see significant savings from its cost-saving program, Mr. Lindgren said.

UHAB also provides cost-saving programs for housing cooperatives such as fire and liability insurance, fuel purchases and bookkeeping services.