Chrysler Group Maintains Greatest Productivity Improvement Over Six Years, According to Harbour Report
May 31 2007 - 3:36PM
PR Newswire (US)
- Chrysler Group improves overall manufacturing efficiency by an
industry- leading 25 percent during last six years - Company hours
per vehicle productivity improves 2.4 percent overall to 32.90 -
Eight Chrysler Group assembly plants rank within top five of their
vehicle segment - Two Chrysler Group Stamping Plants ranked in top
10 - Four Chrysler Group engine and transmission plants rank in top
10 - Chrysler Group powertrain operations: Industry leader with 4.2
percent improvement in hours per transmission and 5 percent
improvement for engines AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 31
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Chrysler Group has improved its
overall manufacturing productivity by an industry-leading 25
percent over the last six years, according to the Harbour Report
North America 2007. The company has improved its overall hours per
vehicle (HPV) time by 2.4 percent to 32.90 for the 2006 calendar
year. The annual Harbour Report is a broadly accepted measure of
productivity in the automotive industry. Nearly all major
manufacturers participate in the survey. According to Ron Harbour,
President - Harbour Consulting, Chrysler Group's manufacturing
productivity is supported by numerous improvements throughout the
company. "Improving productivity in the face of lower production is
a huge accomplishment, but none of the domestic manufacturers can
afford to let up," said Ron Harbour , president of Harbour
Consulting. "Chrysler's 19 percent reduction in total manufacturing
hours per vehicle over the last five years is the biggest
improvement of the six largest North American automakers over that
period. The challenge now is to take that progress to the next
level." Among the highlights for the Chrysler Group, eight assembly
plants ranked within the top five of their segment for productivity
improvements. Windsor Assembly was North America's most productive
minivan plant and St. Louis South, second. For the midsize SUV
segment, Jefferson North Assembly took both first place for the
Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee and fifth for the Jeep Commander; Toledo
North, home of the Dodge Nitro ranked second place and third for
Jeep Liberty; Newark Assembly ranked second for the Dodge Durango
and Chrysler Aspen in the large utility segments; Brampton Assembly
ranked fifth for the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum
in the large - non-premium conventional segment; Warren Truck
ranked fifth for the Mitsubishi Raider in the midsize - non-premium
pick-up segment and Toledo Supplier Park ranked second for Wrangler
in the compact non-premium SUV segment. "The Company continues to
be on task to reach its goal of world-class productivity by end of
2007," said Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President
Manufacturing, Chrysler Group. "We are pleased to have made
productivity gains during a 10-vehicle launch year, the most
significant new-vehicle introduction in Chrysler Group history."
Powertrain The company's transmission plants continue to be the
industry leader with a 4.2 percent improvement - to 3.39 hours per
transmission. Eight Chrysler Group Powertrain plants scored at the
top of their segment. GEMA, Dundee - 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L four
cylinder (Ranked third among all engine plants) 2.68 HPE Mack Ave I
- 4.7L OHC V-8. Mack Ave II - 3.7L OHC V-6 (Ranked tenth among all
engine plants) Saltillo Engine Plant - 5.7L and 6.1L OHV V-8
HEMI(R) Kenosha Engine Plant - 3.5L and 4.0L OHV V-6 Trenton Engine
Plant - 3.3L and 3.8L OHV V-6 Kokomo Transmission Plant - W5A580
rear-wheel drive automatic transmission (Ranked second among all
transmission plants) Kokomo Transmission Plant - front-wheel drive
automatic transmission (Ranked highest among all FWD transmission
plants) 3.52 HPT Stamping Chrysler Group also demonstrated
expertise in stamping operations with a five percent improvement
year-over-year in hours per vehicle based upon parts- per labor
hour. Additionally, Toluca (Mexico) Assembly plant, home of the
Chrysler PT Cruiser and PT Cruiser convertible and Belividere
(Ill.), home of the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot,
were among the top-10 stamping plants - the highest for a domestic
manufacturer. The company is deploying a number of initiatives
intended to continue improving manufacturing excellence in the
future. Among them are increased support of assembly employees,
continued employee training and new workplace practices that are
designed to foster greater creativity and innovation among
employees on the plant floor. The company has also redesigned
material handling operations and employee work stations to improve
productivity and maintain high quality levels. The Harbour Report
is one of several measures the Chrysler Group uses to evaluate its
manufacturing operations. Other areas that are tracked by the
company include safety, quality, delivery, cost and morale, all of
which contribute to manufacturing performance. DATASOURCE: Chrysler
Group CONTACT: Michele Tinson, +1-248-512-0366, or cell,
+1-248-705-2456, or , or David Elshoff, +1-248-512-2690, or cell,
+1-248-797-2300, or , both of Chrysler Group Web site:
http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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