GMs Canadian Plants Again Lead the Way in Productivity

General Motors of Canada’s Oshawa Car plant is the most productive vehicle assembly plant in North America, according to “The Harbour Report North America 2006.” The Oshawa plant took the top two spots with line 2 placing first for assembly productivity with 15.68 hours per vehicle and line 1 followed in second with 16.34 hours per vehicle.
Arturo Elias, president General Motors of Canada said, “Topping the Harbour Report is a great achievement at a time when productivity is a critical challenge facing Canada’s economy. This really shows what can be accomplished with constant focus and it is a testament to our great employees at GM Canada.”
Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers said, “Whether you look at quality or productivity results, Oshawa Car Plant employees have a solid track record for setting the industry benchmark. Our Canadian members recognize that the automotive industry is more competitive than at any other time in our history, and results like this are important to satisfying GM customers.”
The results helped GM make history as the first time any manufacturer has placed first in three of the four manufacturing Harbour Award categories. In addition to Oshawa being recognized as the most productive assembly plant in North America, GM’s Spring Hill, Tenn. led the engine plant category and GM’s plant in Toledo, Ohio was the most productive transmission plant. GM led in 12 of the study’s 23 vehicle segments, six of them in cars, one in crossovers, one in vans and four in trucks.
The Oshawa Car Plant produces the Buick Allure and Pontiac Grand Prix passenger cars on line 2 and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Impala on line 1. This Canadian plant has placed within the top two plants across North America according to the Harbour productivity report in each of the last five years. Oshawa Car has also topped the J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study as the best quality plant in North and South America in four of the last five years. Last summer GM announced that Oshawa Car would be the future home of the highly anticipated Chevrolet Camaro.