Chrysler’s Windsor, Ont. plant gets top manufacturing designation

Chrysler’s minivan plant in Windsor, Ont. continues to lead the automaker’s pack of North American manufacturing facilities, becoming the first on the continent to receive a silver designation in its internal World Class Manufacturing (WCM) benchmark.

The Windsor facility, which produces minivans for the Chrysler and Dodge brands, was awarded a silver status for its results in implementing the WCM system, an internal benchmark used to measure the efficiency of Chrysler and Fiat plants around the world.

The ranking is the highest in any of the company’s North American manufacturing facilities.

WCM focuses on reducing waste, increasing productivity and improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way throughout the automaker’s operations.

The designation was awarded following a three-day audit March 26 to 28 that evaluated 10 technical pillars, including safety, workplace organization, logistics and the environment, and 10 managerial pillars, such as management commitment, clarity of objectives, allocation of people, motivation of operators and commitment of the organization.

A score of zero to five points is awarded for each category by two auditors. An overall score of 60 out of a possible 100 earns a plant a silver designation.

WCM was first implemented by Fiat in 2006 and introduced to Chrysler as part of the brands’ alliance in June 2009.

The Windsor plant earned the first WCM award level, a bronze designation, in April 2012.

Three of the automaker’s other North American facilities currently hold bronze status: its engine plant in Dundee, Mich., an assembly facility in Toledo, Ohio, and an assembly facility in Saltillo, Mexico.

Chrysler’s Windsor plant runs three shifts and employs nearly 4,700 people.