Lean Transformation Update
8/23/2006
WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMBRACING CHANGE BY LEARNING AND GROWTH
DETROIT, MI – Detroit Chassis LLC, an automotive manufacturing company of niche vehicles and RV chassis announced the update on its lean transformation, today. Detroit Chassis began its lean journey when the plant first opened in 1999. Leadership defined value from the customer’s perspective and mapped a lean implementation journey in pursuit of perfection. DCP is reaping the benefits of its lean journey and will continue to benefit for years to come.
What is the formula for success?
Detroit Chassis applied a three-pronged approach.
· Wast elimination
· Safety, Quality & Production
· Associate Involvement
Together, these approaches ensure success. Detroit Chassis’ safety record is phenomenal when viewed over a trend of four years. The fact that we have worked 242 days without a recordable injury challenges the belief of some that obtaining zero recordables is pie in the sky thinking!
Detroit Chassis has strategic plans in place to improve First Time Through Quality (FTTQ). Our goal is 100% on time, all the time, every time.
Associate involvement is the essential ingredient in Detroit Chassis’ success formula. CEO and President, Michael Guthrie recognizes that a transformation of any significance begins in the minds of all stakeholders. Mike G, as associates affectionately call him, stated the vision of enterprise wide lean implementation to facilitate growth for the next generation. He assembled a team of capable and accountable leaders. Those leaders are everywhere. They are in the office, they are in the field, they are in the boardroom making tough decisions to keep the business on the lean journey. Mostly, those leaders are on the plant floor in work cells performing the day-to-day task of assembling parts on a F53 chassis.
The associate involvement approach revealed how powerful it was February 2005 when a team of cross-functional leaders descended on the plant floor disguised as the C.Lean Team. This team, C.Lean, had a bias for action, sometimes-unplanned action, but still action. The associates were challenged to help improve their processes with priority given to safety, quality and productivity. The associates were recognized as the experts on the job. They were the subject matter experts. They loved the involvement and the recognition.
We generated 752 proposals with a 100% closure rate as a direct result of associate involvement. Those proposals fueled Detroit Chassis’ safety, quality and productivity improvements.
“The lean journey at Detroit Chassis began several years ago, the transformation however, is now becoming more visible and making a greater impact on the company’s financial health and it’s ability to penetrate new market share. The three pronged approach of waste elimination; focus on safety, quality and productivity and associate involvement is proving to be what makes dreams (visions) come true” stated, Patricia Carson, Lean Champion.
Contact: Linda Ratliff, 313-571-2100 x 506, lratliff@detroitchassis.com