Detroit Chassis Update

Detroit Chassis Update

Detroit Chassis Programs F53 and F59, Mustang and F650/750

Everyone is working hard to embrace “One Detroit Chassis”. Cohesive teams are working seamlessly to deploy robust processes to achieve shared goals across all programs. Thorough process reviews are being conducted at both locations to ensure consistency, develop robustness and nurture continuous improvement.

Detroit Chassis Plant (DCP)
There is much activity going on at DCP!

We are busy working on F53 and F59 stripped chassis and Mustang front suspension sub-assemblies while preparing the Organization’s Facility, Machinery and Equipment for a major 2020 launch.

Detroit Chassis Avon (DCA)
Anderson (Andy) L. Dobbins was promoted to the position of President, Detroit Chassis Avon effective Monday, March 13, 2017. Andy’s leadership marks the beginning of a new era for the Detroit Chassis Avon organization.

Andy hit the ground running and has presided over intensified safety, training, quality and production enhancements, already confirmed by improved metrics.

Several facilities and infrastructure enhancements have been completed to provide more meeting space, more efficient material flow, upgraded comfort stations and a safer more hygienic environment to support building its F650/750 (H567) axles and tire & wheel assemblies.

A cross functional team is implementing a comprehensive ERP solution that incorporates sophisticated error proofing and communication with OHAP within a 4 hour broadcast window.

A detailed project plan has been generated and is reviewed weekly with all stakeholders, including Ford. The “go live” date is mid-August.

The team is broadening its customer service process to include key stakeholders at OHAP. This restructured process is greatly improving timely communication with our customers.

We encourage customers to submit documented inquiries and concerns. All concerns are reviewed, submitted to champions and action plans to address them are developed and communicated back to our customers.

We track our progress and share this information with the entire leadership team during monthly Balanced Scorecard Meetings. We have been able to consistently close 75% of concerns within the first 24 hours!

Twice each year, we conduct “Customer Joy” surveys to collect feedback from customers. This information is analyzed, discussed and communicated throughout the organization with the purpose of developing continuous improvement activities that will enhance the customer’s experience.

Concerns can be submitted via email to lratliff@detroitchassis.com.

The 2017 Business Applications in Manufacturing Management Program

Detroit Chassis Associates have also been busy in the community. We successfully wrapped up another Business Applications in Manufacturing Management session with 3 promising students from Davis Aerospace/ Golightly Technological High School: Rebecca Pettigrue, Nashia Wilkerson and Jalen Hamilton-Purnell.

Students recently completed a 10-week rigorous program in which they receive school credit that requires perfect attendance and the assignment of working alongside managers in various departments including: Safety, Engineering, Quality, Customer Service and Communications.

Students were responsible for attending and being engaged during meetings, completing daily logs, weekly reports, facilitating high-level meetings and delivering a final presentation to company owners, leaders, school faculty including the principal and their parents.

Once again we are pleased!

The method and model works! Students greatly benefit from having mentors in the business community to help open the window so they can see and map strategies for career guidance and success. All 3 students have been invited to return for the summer session and are scheduled to attend college in the fall. We are particularly excited that one of the students, Nashia Wilkerson is a 2nd generation DCPer;

Nayeesha Conway in the Materials Department is her mom. Nashia excelled during the program and was assigned the position of BAMM program assistant. She led by example and assisted her colleagues in meeting expectations all while accomplishing program requirements. Nashia’s weekly reports were insightful and well written.

Thank you to Michael and Carlton Guthrie for your undying passion to make a positive difference in the lives of young people, to all of the DCP leaders (Danon Dupree, David Forney, Ranson Smith, Fernando Gonzalez) for committing to serve as mentors for the 2017 BAMM program and for participating during the selection process. Thank you for taking valuable time to mentor students while still accomplishing your day-to-day goals and objectives.

We look forward to your continued support as we prepare for the summer session.

BAMM: Where your involvement makes an impact!

Detroit Chassis Update

2016 Safety Review

CONTINUING THE FOCUS ON WORLD CHAMPION PERFORMANCE!

Great things are happening at Detroit Chassis and we are eager to talk about it!

  1. Our Safety performance improved for the 3rd straight year, from a peak of 16 annual recordable injuries in 2014, 13 in 2015 and then a dramatic reduction to only 3 injuries in 2016.
  2. Our incident rate for recordable injuries was 1.49, down from 7.3 in 2014 and considerably below the industry average rate of 5.6 injuries for every 100 man/ years.
  3. We operated 240 consecutive days in 2016 without a recordable accident, the 4th longest stretch without a recordable in our history. Our record is 636 days from the 3rd quarter in 2005 to the 4th quarter in 2007.

This performance is exemplary! What have we done to drive such dramatic improvement?

  • Increased Awareness and Identification of Potential Hazards
  • Increased Job Rotation – Reduction of Repetitive Motion Injuries
  • Increased Safety Walks – Hazard Awareness to Identify and Fix Concerns
  • Encouraged everyone to report Concerns – See Something – Say Something
  • Continuous Improvement – Improvements can be made anywhere
  • TEAM WORK – Team Leaders, Production Leaders, Safety Committee and You – Working Together to Work Safely

Detroit Chassis strives for Continuous Improvement. We continually evaluate tooling and processes to build a Quality Product for our customer.

Other examples of our efforts

  • Added new remotes and controllers for the Frame Flip Process
  • Replaced and continue to replace the casters and toe guards on all moving carriers
  • Replaced and extended 2 large concrete pads in the back of the facility that were cracked and potentially hazardous
  • Proactively had all Overhead Steel Structures inspected, certified and tagged for integrity:

A Safety and Process Improvement Kaizen Event was held on January 21st in the Birdcage area. Twentyeight Action Items were identified during this event, not only for safety but also for material delivery, line side presentation, tooling improvements, floor plan redesign and much more.

Safety Update

  • David Forney
  • Pauline Player
  • Donna Rush
  • Jacqueline Durham
  • Ramara Jackson
  • Halim Sailor
  • Daisha Davis
  • Ed Mobley Jr.
  • Crawford Latham
  • Felicio McWillie
  • Cynthia Sanders
  • Greg Miller
  • Danon Dupree

Thank you team for your input and passion to address the concerns that have been identified and for such diligent follow up.

Other Developments:

Detroit Chassis has a new E-Maintenance Work Order tracking data base and system. Since the rollout in early 2016, we have successfully addressed and closed 247 of the 250 work orders entered into the system. Sixty percent of the work orders were related to safety. The E-Maintenance Work Order System is open to all Detroit Chassis Associates and work orders can be entered by everyone.

We are working towards ISO 14001 Certification by September 2017.
You ask, What is ISO 14001?

ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders.


Improvements with product flow and material delivery are coming to the Mustang line. Production will be starting back up this month for the Mustang Line and we want to shine so we are painting the floor, moving and improving the racking systems, adding new lift assists and making more changes to improve efficiency. Stop by and check on our progress.


Think Car is getting dusted off, recharged and placed back in service. We are hoping to utilize the Think Car to respond to Medical Emergencies and Tours of the facility.


Nope you’re not seeing things, our Hi-Lo’s actually have Blue Lights. Blue Lights indicates that the HI-Lo is in reverse.

Keep an eye out for the blue lights…

Kudos to the team for all of your efforts in making Safety the #1 priority at Detroit Chassis!

Our next publication will highlight developments at Detroit Chassis in Avon, Ohio (DCA).

Stay tuned!