Difference between revisions of "Oshawa Car Assembly"

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Located in [[Norwood, Ohio]], the '''Norwood Assembly''' Plant built [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] cars between the years of 1923 and 1987. When it first opened the plant employed 600 workers and was capable of producing 200 cars per day.  At its peak in the early 1970s it employed nearly 9,000.
[[Image:2006CamaroConcept-001.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The [[fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro]] is a product of the Oshawa Car Assembly.]]
'''Oshawa Car Assembly''' is a major car manufacturing facility in the city of [[Oshawa, Ontario|Oshawa]], Ontario, Canada building various [[automobiles]] for [[General Motors]].  The factory is one of the largest car plants in the world and has won a number of awards. The plant is part of the larger GM Autoplex, which includes [[Oshawa Truck Assembly]]. It is often referred to as Oshawa Assembly Plant #1 and #2. The Oshawa Plant # 1 is being converted to a state of the art Flexible Manufacturing facility in early 2008 for the production of the new [[Fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro|Chevrolet Camaro]], which will begin there in late 2008.


The first car rolled off the assembly line on [[August 13]] [[1923]]. Among the cars built at Norwood were the [[Chevrolet]] [[Chevrolet Bel Air|Bel Air]], Biscayne, Impala, Nova, Caprice, and [[Chevrolet Camaro|Camaro]], the [[Pontiac Firebird]], and the Buick Apollo.  The plant grew to cover an area of approximately {{convert|50|acre|m2}} and had {{convert|3000000|sqft|m2|-3}} of space under roof.
The facility has over 10 million square feet (930,000 m²) of factory floor. There are approximately 5,400 hourly employees and 400 salaried employees. The hourly-rated workers are represented by the [[Canadian Auto Workers]] Union (CAW), Local [[CAW Local 222|222]]. Current products include the [[Chevrolet Impala]], and [[Buick LaCrosse]] (named "Buick Allure" for the Canadian market).  The Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix were discontinued in June and November, 2007 respectively.


The facility had a number of labor disputes, including a 174-day long strike in 1972, at the time the longest strike in GM history.  As a result of the strike, 1,100 partially completed cars were scrapped or otherwise disposed of because it was not economically feasible to update them to the more stringent 1973 vehicle standards.  After the strike GM opted to move Nova production away from Norwood to protect the model from future labor problems.
The plant won the JD Power Gold Award for initial quality in 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002; as well a numerous other individual awards for the specific models it produces. In 2007, the plant won silver for initial quality, and a Gold Best in Segment award for the Pontiac Grand Prix, and Bronze Best in Segment for the Monte Carlo.  


==Closing==
The plant is currently managed by Dan Hermer; plant staff include Gerry Meek (assistant plant manager), Jeff Rios (Body Shop Plant Manager), Greg Pratt (Paint Shop Plant Manager),and Darcy Ste. Marie (Trim & Chassis Plant Manager). The contiguous Stamping Plant is managed by Phil Renner. CAW 222 President is Chris Buckley, the Car Plant Shop Chairperson is Ron Carlyle.  
While newer GM plants had a one-story design, the Norwood plant had a less efficient three-story design.  Additionally, the plant could not expand outward as it was surrounded by an interstate highway to the north, railroad lines to the east and west, a business district on a State Route to the west and a residential neighborhood to the south.


Citing its obsolescence, expense, and high worker absentee rate, GM announced on [[November 6]] [[1986]], that the Norwood Assembly Plant would be closed along with ten other GM facilities.  The plant produced its last vehicle on [[August 26]] [[1987]], a Chevrolet Camaro.  That date came to be known in Norwood as Black Wednesday.  At the time of its closing the plant employed approximately 4,200 workers. Most of the plant was demolished in 1989.  The main factory building sat vacant for nearly 10 years. The City of Norwood, having relied on the carmaker for nearly 35 percent of its taxbase, faced economic catastrophe and possible bankruptcy. The City wished to re-develop the site due to its unique and attractive location - at the juncture of an Interstate Highway 562, U.S. Route 3 (Montgomery Road) and Ohio State Route 561 (Smith Road). Easily accessible from all directions, Norwood saw an opportunity to revitalize itself. Norwood approached GM about demolishing the plant. Initially the carmaker refused.
Harbour Consulting rated Oshawa #2 as the most efficient auto plant in North America in 2007. Oshawa #1 is the second most efficient in North America. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060602/AUTO01/606020394/1148|title=Efficient auto factories aren't spared the ax|work=[[Detroit News]]|accessdate=June 2|accessyear=2006}}</ref>


As its finances grew critical, Norwood threatened General Motors with a lawsuit. Apparently, Norwood had not been collecting taxes on earnings paid to workers on sick-leave or injury-leave since the factory opened in 1923. Only regular payroll taxes were collected. Norwood calculated uncollected taxes as being in the millions of dollars. The carmaker and City settled their dispute, with the site being demolished at the carmaker's expense. The property was turned over to the City for development in exchange for the City dropping its demand for back-taxes. The development of the GM Assembly site helped jump-start Norwood's economy.
==History==
A series of "flex" businesses were constructed. Where once had stood a single blue-collar car factory, the property was transformed into a mixed-use combination of business - office, light industrial and retail, providing mix-use income to the City.  
In the mid-1980s, GM began a large transformation of the facility, naming the site "Autoplex." The changeover came in three steps, the first being conversion of the truck plant to [[GMT400]] production in 1986. The next step was retooling Line 2 for the new [[GM W platform|W-body]] [[Buick Regal|Regal]], which began production in mid-1987. The final installment was a long changeover of Line 1 for the [[Chevrolet Lumina]]<ref name='Wards88'>{{cite book |title=Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1988 |publisher=Ward's Communications, Inc |year=1988}}</ref>, which went into production on January 8, 1989<ref name='Wards89'>{{cite book |title=Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1989 |publisher=Ward's Communications, Inc |year=1989}}</ref> as a 1990 model.


As of spring 2007 the only remnants of former GM buildings were two parking garages. Those were absorbed into a new office complex along Smith Road (State Rte. 561), with additions of an adult gym/workout center, day-care center, restaurants, banking center and several medium and small businesses. One small street, formerly leading into the GM plant from Montgomery Road (U.S. Route 22), was closed and developed into a mixed use complex named after a major tenant [[Matrixx Marketing]] and later [[Convergys Corporation]] complex. It has been home to those businesses as well as a bank, satellite television provider and medical consulting/MRI/diagnostic laboratory.
In January 1988, Oshawa became the first North American GM plant to solve the issues with cutting the second shift by alternating day- and night-shift workers at two-week intervals. This system was later adopted at other plants around the continent.<ref name='Wards88'/>


As of Fall, 2007, the third and last piece of usable land from the GM plant at the corner of Montgomery Road (U.S. Route 22) and Smith Road (State Rte 3) was developed with plans for a  medical arts building. 
==Current models==
* 2010- [[Chevrolet Camaro]] (New Flexible Assembly Line)
* 2005-present [[Buick LaCrosse|Buick LaCrosse/Allure]]
* 1999-present [[Chevrolet Impala]]


The successful development of those former GM Assembly properties spurred interest by other developers to choose Norwood for commercial development. One mile away, two open-air shopping malls were built at the former [[LeBlond Machine Tool]] Company, located where Interstate 71 and Ohio State Rte 561 (Edwards Road) converge. Those properties were named Rookwood Pavilion and Rookwood Commons and have been very successful as well.     
==Former models==
* 1995-2007 [[Chevrolet Monte Carlo]]
* 2004-2007 [[Pontiac Grand Prix]]
* 1988-2004 [[Buick Regal]]
* 1982-1990 [[Chevrolet Celebrity]]
* 1990-2001 [[Chevrolet Lumina]]
* 1982-1988 [[Pontiac 6000]]
* [[Chevrolet Caprice Classic]]
* 1978-1981 [[Chevrolet Malibu]]
* 1976-1981 [[Chevrolet Bel Air]]
* 1973-1975 [[Chevrolet Biscayne]]
* [[Chevrolet Kingswood Estate]] ([[Chevrolet Caprice]])
* [[Chevrolet Kingswood]] ([[Chevrolet Impala]])
* [[Chevrolet Townsman]] ([[Chevrolet Bel Air]])
* 1969-1972 [[Chevrolet Brookwood]] ([[Chevrolet Biscayne]]) station wagons
* [[Pontiac Strato Chief]]
* [[Pontiac Laurentian]]
* 1958-1986 [[Pontiac Parisienne]]
* [[Pontiac Grande Parisienne]]
* [[Pontiac Catalina]]
* [[Pontiac Bonneville]]


==Economic impact==
The date refers to the years that the particular model was produced at Oshawa facility.
The plant constituted 35% of the City of Norwood's tax base, approximately $2 million annually.  As a result many city services were reduced and eliminated, and property tax rates raised.  The plant employed 430 Norwood residents at the time of its closing, with the remaining employees mostly living in and around the Cincinnati area.  The City of Norwood quickly moved to rehabilitate the site, and by 1991 the Central Parke office project housed in excess of 1,000 workers using nearly {{convert|250000|sqft|m2}} of office space.


In 2007 there is approximately {{convert|1000000|sqft|m2}} of office and retail space in the area once occupied by the factory.
==See also==
*[[Oshawa Truck Assembly]] (shares the same site as this facility)
*[[General Motors Canada]]
*[[Final Offer (film)|Final Offer]] - 1984 documentary film that shows life on the floor of the Oshawa Plant.


==References==
==References==
* {{cite news|title=Plant too old for changing auto industry|author=Lisa Cardillo Rose|first=Lisa Cardillo|last=Rose|work=[[The Cincinnati Post]]|date=1997-08-09|url=http://www.cincypost.com/news/1997/gm080997.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050129073315/http://www.cincypost.com/news/1997/gm080997.html|archivedate=2005-01-29}}
<div class='references-small'><references/></div>
* Cincinnati Enqirer ([[January 29]], [[2006]]). ''[http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060129/NEWS01/601290370/1077 Norwood's fight for survival; Ford's plan to close its Batavia plant recalls the plight of local GM autoworkers in 1987]''.


{{coord|39|10|0.13|N|-84|27|24.16|E|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{coord|43|52|3.28|N|-78|51|58.99|E|region:CA_type:landmark|display=title}}


[[Category:General Motors factories]]
[[Category:General Motors factories]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle assembly plants in Ohio]]
[[Category:Motor vehicle assembly plants in Canada]]
[[Category:Hamilton County, Ohio]]

Latest revision as of 15:28, 3 February 2009

The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is a product of the Oshawa Car Assembly.

Oshawa Car Assembly is a major car manufacturing facility in the city of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada building various automobiles for General Motors. The factory is one of the largest car plants in the world and has won a number of awards. The plant is part of the larger GM Autoplex, which includes Oshawa Truck Assembly. It is often referred to as Oshawa Assembly Plant #1 and #2. The Oshawa Plant # 1 is being converted to a state of the art Flexible Manufacturing facility in early 2008 for the production of the new Chevrolet Camaro, which will begin there in late 2008.

The facility has over 10 million square feet (930,000 m²) of factory floor. There are approximately 5,400 hourly employees and 400 salaried employees. The hourly-rated workers are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW), Local 222. Current products include the Chevrolet Impala, and Buick LaCrosse (named "Buick Allure" for the Canadian market). The Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix were discontinued in June and November, 2007 respectively.

The plant won the JD Power Gold Award for initial quality in 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002; as well a numerous other individual awards for the specific models it produces. In 2007, the plant won silver for initial quality, and a Gold Best in Segment award for the Pontiac Grand Prix, and Bronze Best in Segment for the Monte Carlo.

The plant is currently managed by Dan Hermer; plant staff include Gerry Meek (assistant plant manager), Jeff Rios (Body Shop Plant Manager), Greg Pratt (Paint Shop Plant Manager),and Darcy Ste. Marie (Trim & Chassis Plant Manager). The contiguous Stamping Plant is managed by Phil Renner. CAW 222 President is Chris Buckley, the Car Plant Shop Chairperson is Ron Carlyle.

Harbour Consulting rated Oshawa #2 as the most efficient auto plant in North America in 2007. Oshawa #1 is the second most efficient in North America. [1]

History

In the mid-1980s, GM began a large transformation of the facility, naming the site "Autoplex." The changeover came in three steps, the first being conversion of the truck plant to GMT400 production in 1986. The next step was retooling Line 2 for the new W-body Regal, which began production in mid-1987. The final installment was a long changeover of Line 1 for the Chevrolet Lumina[2], which went into production on January 8, 1989[3] as a 1990 model.

In January 1988, Oshawa became the first North American GM plant to solve the issues with cutting the second shift by alternating day- and night-shift workers at two-week intervals. This system was later adopted at other plants around the continent.[2]

Current models

Former models

The date refers to the years that the particular model was produced at Oshawa facility.

See also

  • Oshawa Truck Assembly (shares the same site as this facility)
  • General Motors Canada
  • Final Offer - 1984 documentary film that shows life on the floor of the Oshawa Plant.

References

  1. ↑ "Efficient auto factories aren't spared the ax". Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060602/AUTO01/606020394/1148. Retrieved on June 2. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1988. Ward's Communications, Inc. 1988. 
  3. ↑ Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1989. Ward's Communications, Inc. 1989. 

Coordinates: 43°52′3.28″N -78°51′58.99″E / 43.8675778°N 77.1336139°W / 43.8675778; -77.1336139

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