Chrysler Group Celebrates Manufacturing Launch of All-New 2007 Dodge Caliber
01 Février 2006 - 7:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
- Innovative manufacturing processes are being implemented - Plant
will incorporate a new workplace organization model for employees -
New models and second shift will be added this year - Dodge
Caliber: Crossover features, bold styling, affordable power AUBURN
HILLS, Mich., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Chrysler Group
today marked the start of production of the all-new 2007 Dodge
Caliber at its Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant. Along with the new
vehicle, the plant also is launching an innovative manufacturing
process that will provide the company the ability to make up to
three models and test build a fourth model on one assembly line.
Joining in the event today were Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group
President and CEO; Frank Ewasyshyn, Chrysler Group Executive Vice
President of Manufacturing; Nate Gooden, UAW Vice President and
Member of the Supervisory Board of DaimlerChrysler; Rod
Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois, along with other guests and
approximately 1,650 plant employees. The Dodge Caliber's crossover
design and bold styling coupled with innovative features and
affordable power allows owners to be active, do more and stand out.
"Starting with the manufacturing launch of the 2007 Dodge Caliber,
the Chrysler Group has an onslaught of great new products coming to
the market this year -- 10, a new company record," said LaSorda.
"This plant shows that we are implementing innovative solutions to
compete in this fiercely competitive global market." The Belvidere
Assembly Plant is the first Chrysler Group manufacturing plant to
use a body shop that is comprised entirely of robotics and free of
vehicle-specific heavy tooling. The 780 new robots in Belvidere's
body shop can make necessary tool changes automatically, within a
45-second cycle time, giving the plant the flexibility to build the
Dodge Caliber and three additional vehicles with no negative impact
on production. This new process will both allow the company to vary
production to better meet customers' preferences and make the
change-over to next-generation models simple and cost-efficient.
The new flexible robotic body shop, already partially in place at
other plants, will be fully implemented next at the Chrysler
Group's Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant and St. Louis South
(Fenton, Mo.) Assembly Plant. In addition to the recent launch of
the Dodge Caliber, the Belvidere Assembly Plant also will launch a
second shift next month, bringing total employment at the facility
to approximately 2,650, and will launch the production of another
new model, the all-new 2007 Jeep(R) Compass, later this year. The
Chrysler Group cooperated with the union as well as state and local
government to help make the new investment possible. "The employees
of the Belvidere Assembly Plant have proven that they can make
great products with high quality and do so in a highly productive
way," said Gooden. "With the launch of the Dodge Caliber, we will
again show that we are producing world-class vehicles that are
ready for the world market." The Dodge Caliber will be available in
close to 100 markets world-wide. Belvidere employees are working
under a new workplace model that is being implemented throughout
Chrysler Group's Manufacturing organization. In addition to
extensive training, this new workplace model fosters greater
creativity and innovation on the plant floor and lets employees
assist in the design of their work stations. These changes provide
a better work environment for employees and give increased support
to assembly line team members. "This is a great day for Belvidere
and a great day for Illinois, and I congratulate the men and women
of the Belvidere Assembly plant," said Governor Blagojevich. "We
continue to implement policies that are both pro-worker, and
pro-business." Another example of innovation at the upgraded
Belvidere Assembly Plant is its inbound parts sequencing center,
which delivers complete subassemblies just-in-time to the
manufacturing floor. These pre-assembled modules reduce the number
of components required to assemble the Caliber, improving
productivity, quality and worker ergonomics. A tunnel connects the
500,000 square-foot sequencing center to the Belvidere Assembly
Plant. This facility, operated by TDS/US -- one of Chrysler Group's
largest minority-owned suppliers -- represents the highest level of
integration with a Chrysler Group plant. TDS/US organizes parts and
delivers them to the end of the tunnel where Belvidere employees
pick them up and transport them to the manufacturing floor. This
process maintains in-plant stocks at optimal levels, minimizes
delivery times and reduces costs an estimated 12 percent a year
compared with the previous process model. By carefully managing the
material flow at the plant, the sequencing center helps workers
focus on manufacturing quality and allows Belvidere to remain one
of the most efficient manufacturing models in the Chrysler Group
family. The sequencing center manages more than 2,300 different
parts that are used in Caliber's build process. The
3.7-million-square-foot Belvidere Assembly Plant is home to UAW
Locals 1268 and 1761. The new body shop and other upgrades are part
of a $419 million total program investment that was announced in
January 2005. The plant began production of the Plymouth Fury and
Dodge Monaco in 1965. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:
cr82@daimlerchrysler.com DATASOURCE: Chrysler Group CONTACT: Edward
Saenz, +1-248-512-2674, or Michele Tinson, +1-248-512-0366, both of
Chrysler Group Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
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