Plant Operations/Management

GM To Take Volt Plant Off-Line To Control Supply

August 28, 2012 10:28 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

General Motors will temporarily close the Detroit-area plant that makes the Chevrolet Volt next month to control inventory and prepare to make a new model. Spokesman Bill Grotz says the factory will be off-line to match supply with demand and prepare to build the 2014 Chevrolet Impala. He wouldn't say how long. Grotz says GM is happy with its supply of electric Volts.

Ford To Sell Luxury Lincoln Brand In China

August 28, 2012 10:26 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

Ford Motor Co., eager to grab a piece of China's growing luxury market, plans to start selling its Lincoln luxury brand here in 2014. It will be the first time that the nearly 100-year-old brand will be sold in China. At an event at a converted 600-year-old temple in Beijing, CEO Alan Mulally and other Ford executives said they believe Chinese customers will appreciate Lincoln's heritage as well as its new lineup of vehicles.

Suzuki Holds Talks With Haryana Chief Minister

August 27, 2012 1:58 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki met Sunday in New Delhi with the chief minister of India's northern state of Haryana where a Suzuki car plant was wracked by violence last month following a labor dispute. Suzuki and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda are believed to have discussed future operations in Haryana by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.

Ford Breaks Ground On New Plant In China

August 27, 2012 10:12 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

Ford is building a sixth plant in China as part of an effort to increase its sales in the world's largest auto market. Ford CEO Alan Mulally attended a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the new $600M assembly plant in the city of Chongqing. It will have the capacity to make 250,000 vehicles per year when it's finished in late 2014.

Judge Nixes Bonuses To Hawker Beechcraft Execs

August 24, 2012 2:17 pm | by Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press | News | Comments

A bankruptcy judge nixed on Friday a proposal to give eight top Hawker Beechcraft executives up to $5.3 million in bonuses, ruling the plan merely rewarded them for staying at their jobs. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stuart Bernstein ruled that the bonus plan sought by the Kansas plane maker set the bar too low to qualify as anything other than a retention program for insiders.

Suzuki To Set Up Skill Development Institute In India

August 24, 2012 2:11 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Suzuki Motors Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki said Friday the Japanese carmaker plans to set up a skill development institute in western India to help train Indian workers and improve their professional skills. Suzuki unveiled the plan in a meeting in Ahmedabad with Narendra Modi, the chief minister of the western Indian state of Gujarat.

Long-Running NY Auto Parts Plant Shut Down

August 24, 2012 2:05 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A Syracuse-area manufacturing company that has been in business for nearly 125 years has shut down production. WSYR-TV in Syracuse reports that the last auto parts assembly lines at New Process Gear in suburban DeWitt shut down Thursday. The plant will be completely closed by the end of the year.

Woodward Picks Rockford Area For $200M Expansion

August 24, 2012 10:06 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Energy and aerospace company Woodward Inc. plans to build a new $200 million northern Illinois manufacturing campus, state and company officials announced Thursday. The Rockford area campus will feature a 300,000-square-foot production plant and office center on 60 acres and is estimated to create some 660 jobs over the next five years.

Rockwood Buying Talison Lithium In $732M Deal

August 24, 2012 10:04 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Chemical maker Rockwood Holdings is buying Talison Lithium for $732 million in order to strengthen its lithium business. "This acquisition will enable us to better serve both our existing global customers as well as Talison's current lithium concentrate customers in China and the rest of the world," Rockwood Chairman and CEO Seifi Ghasemi said in a statement on Thursday.

Seagate Technology Agrees To Buy Solyndra Plant

August 24, 2012 10:03 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Seagate Technology has reached a tentative deal to buy the former headquarters of solar company Solyndra. The Oakland Tribune reports the Cupertino-based maker of disc drives has entered into an agreement to purchase the massive building in Fremont, which has been empty since Solyndra filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2011.

To Maintain Or Not To Maintain Your ERP System

August 24, 2012 8:40 am | by Mike Schmidt, Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | Articles | Comments

It’s no secret that advancements in ERP technology and ever-evolving market trends are leading some manufacturers to review the overall effectiveness of the systems they employ today. The age of the system, flexibility of the technology, and the system’s ability to integrate with other critical business systems are all key considerations.

German Opel Plants Put Workers On Reduced Hours

August 23, 2012 2:22 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

General Motors Co.'s Opel unit says employees at two of its German plants will work reduced hours over the next few months as the company struggles with a sagging European car market. Opel said Thursday it agreed with its employee council and the IG Metall industrial union that workers at the Ruesselsheim plant and the Kaiserslautern components factory will work reduced hours on 20 days through the end of the year.

GM To Build New Cruze In Lordstown

August 23, 2012 2:18 pm | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

General Motors will build its next-generation Chevrolet Cruze compact car at its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, near Youngstown, according to a person briefed on the matter. GM will make the announcement on Thursday, said the person, who did not want to be identified because the formal announcement hasn't been made.

Udall Renews Call To Extend Wind Tax Break

August 23, 2012 2:16 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Sen. Mark Udall is renewing his call to extend a wind-energy tax break following news of more layoffs at Vestas. Vestas, the world's biggest maker of wind turbines, said Wednesday that it's cutting 7 percent of its overall workforce in its second round of lay-offs this year.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. Make 1 Millionth Gun

August 21, 2012 2:12 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. said late Monday that it has made its one millionth gun this month, putting it on track to produce a record number this year. The Southport, Conn.-based company said it reached the milestone on last Wednesday. It expects to beat its own record of 1,114,700 firearms produced in one year, set in 2011.

Maruti Suzuki Restarts Riot-Hit Car Plant

August 21, 2012 10:09 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

A factory owned by India's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, reopened Tuesday, more than a month after a riot by workers killed a company manager and injured dozens. Around 500 police and security personnel stood guard as workers lined up to enter Maruti's plant in Manesar, a southwestern suburb of New Delhi.

Samsung To Invest $4B In Austin Plant

August 21, 2012 10:08 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Samsung Electronics co. will spend $4 billion renovating its plant in the U.S. to increase production of advanced chips used in smartphones and tablet computers. Samsung's Tuesday announcement is its latest push into the lucrative logic chip business.

Company Files Notice To End Big Rivers Contract

August 21, 2012 10:06 am | by Bruce Schreiner, Associated Press | News | Comments

An aluminum company embroiled in a dispute over its electricity costs said Monday it has given notice to terminate its power contract, a move signaling that the future of its large western Kentucky smelter is in deep jeopardy. Century Aluminum Co. said it gave a 12-month notice to end the contract with Big Rivers Electric Corp. for its Hawesville smelter, which employs about 700 people.

Honda's New Accord Brings Investment, Jobs To OH

August 20, 2012 10:14 am | by Lisa Cornwell, Associated Press | News | Comments

Honda's new Accord sedan to be unveiled Monday at a central Ohio plant has led to more than $220 million in investments and more jobs in two of its other Ohio plants, with companies that supply Honda with products and services also getting a boost.

Mister Bee Potato Chip Factory Abuzz With Activity

August 20, 2012 10:05 am | by George Hohmann, Charleston Daily Mail | News | Comments

Mister Bee, established in 1951, shut down in November and filed for bankruptcy protection. James Richard "Rick" Barton and Randall Holden bought the company's assets earlier this year. Barton and Holden are veterans of manufacturing. They are among the founding partners of Wincore, a Parkersburg-based manufacturer of windows and doors.

Precise Product Movement

August 20, 2012 8:47 am | by David Mantey, Editor, PD&D | Articles | Comments

Since 1973, companies have turned to Hartland, WI-based Dorner Manufacturing for improved efficiency and productivity when it comes to the design, manufacture, and distribution of conveyance systems. Dorner recently developed a precise product movement solution, Precision Move, for its 2200 and 3200 series belt conveyors, which are used in manufacturing and packaging processes in many industrial applications.

Imagining The Future Of Lean & Six Sigma, Part 1

August 20, 2012 8:40 am | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions LLC | Blogs | Comments

A friend and colleague asked me a difficult question recently. He queried, “What do you think the future of Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) will be? Will it continue, or is it a dying idea?” I did my best to offer my personal perspective while caught a little unprepared for such a thought.

Last Jeep Liberty Rolls Off Ohio Line

August 17, 2012 1:54 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The last Jeep Liberty model has rolled off an Ohio assembly line. WTOL-TV reports that the Toledo Chrysler assembly plant finished building the 11-year-old small SUV on Thursday. That part of the plant will be retooled to build another Jeep product.

People Affected By Refinery Fire Sue Chevron

August 17, 2012 1:47 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Nine people have sued Chevron Corp. over a California refinery fire that sent thousands to hospitals with respiratory issues and contributed to higher gasoline prices on the West Coast. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Contra Costa County Superior Court claims Chevron was grossly negligent in its handling of refinery maintenance as well as emergency response to the blaze in Richmond.

Maruti Suzuki To Restart Riot Hit Car Plant

August 17, 2012 10:16 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Top Indian carmaker Maruti Suzuki said Thursday it would reopen a factory with tightened security including a force of 100 police after a riot by workers last month killed one person and injured dozens of others. The company would restart production at the Manesar plant outside New Delhi from Aug. 21 in phases, after beefing up security, Maruti chairman R. C. Bhargava said.