Oshawa Car Assembly

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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