Hoping to improve quality in its North American plants, Chrysler has opened a 25,000-square-foot training center in Warren, Michigan to teach Fiat’s World Class Manufacturing (WCM) system.
First implemented by Chrysler just after the automaker’s return from bankruptcy in 2009, Fiat’s award-winning system is designed to boost production performance, progressively eliminate waste and encourage input from line workers to propose improvements to their jobs and plants.
WCM employs regular audits to assign each plant a two-digit rating based on factors like output, worker and plant safety, product quality, plant waste, and job interactions. A score of 50 is recognized as a bronze ranking, 60 is silver, 70 is gold and 85 is world class.
While some Chrysler plants scored in the single digits after an initial audit, Automotive News reports that after several years of WCM methods four facilities are now nearing the bronze level, representing the kind of progress on vehicle quality and manufacturing efficiency the automaker would like to advance with the new World Class Manufacturing Academy. The system has also resulted in 200,000 worker suggestions, many of which Chrysler says have been put into practice.
“WCM has engaged and empowered our UAW-represented workforce by challenging them to become more involved in driving change within our plants,†said General Holiefield, vice president of the UAW Chrysler Department. “Our employees understand that WCM is the foundation of Chrysler Group’s continued success and the WCM Academy provides the opportunity for continued growth and development. By embracing WCM, we can secure manufacturing jobs and additional investment in our plants.â€
