Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) recently announced that its Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit has been awarded a bronze designation in the world-class manufacturing (WCM) methodology for its efforts to eliminate waste, increase productivity, and improve quality and safety. The plant becomes FCA's 12th North American facility to currently hold the bronze designation and the sixth to earn an award since January.
A structured and rigorous production methodology designed to make plants more flexible and competitive, WCM can be applied to all aspects of the plant, from quality and maintenance to cost control and logistics, with the goal of reaching zero accidents, zero waste, zero breakdowns and zero inventory. The WCM methodology is unique in that it engages the workforce to create and implement suggestions from employees on how to improve their jobs and plants, promoting a sense of ownership. Independent audits are conducted throughout the year to assess WCM know-how and competence as demonstrated during employee-conducted presentations and a review of projects that have been executed across the plant.
Because the focus of WCM is to eliminate waste of all kinds, it is key to reducing the impact of the production processes. It means using resources wisely, making facilities more productive and creating clean, ergonomically friendly workstations for employees.
"Achieving bronze is a well-deserved honor for the team at Jefferson North," said Brian Harlow, vice president of manufacturing at FCA North America. "As we have been retooling and shifting production at other plants, Jefferson North has been running virtually non-stop to build some of our most popular vehicles. Our Jefferson North workforce is to be commended for its dedication to applying WCM principles to improve the plant's operations and embracing it as a way of life."
The Jefferson North Plant, which currently has more than 5,000 employees, builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and Dodge Durango.
For more information, visit www.fcanorthamerica.com.
