US – The engine plant in Michigan has become the fifth North American facility to achieve the designation, four years after adopting the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) strategy which is designed to minimise waste, increase productivity and improve quality and safety.
Trenton went through an audit earlier this month and achieved a score of 52, two points above the minimum required for bronze status. Marks are awarded for ten technical and ten managerial ‘pillars’ of competence, with nought to five points given for each. The technical pillars cover safety, workplace organisation, logistics and the environment, while the managerial pillars include management commitment, clarity of objectives, personnel allocation, motivation of operators and the commitment of the organisation. A score of 100 indicates world-class level.
In North America, three other Chrysler facilities currently hold bronze status: the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio, the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Mexico and the Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan. The Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario progressed to silver in March this year.
