Do Gorillas work for GM????
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 2
From: Hope, Arkansas - '07 LMB Coupe
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I guess things have changed drastically since your last visit. I've visited the plant twice in the last few years and your description doesn't reflect the practices that I've seen there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
From: Decatur, Alabama-Bowling Green, Kentucky
CI 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
NCM Lifetime Member
Yea, right, computerized torque wrenches.
Ok, my trip thru Bowling Green was about 1991, but at that time about all I saw was hand tightening or power electric drills to drive screws and small nuts. I don't remember seeing a slip clutch on any power tool. The tire power driver probably did have a torque stick on it, but that was about all I saw.
I lagged behind and talked to one guy on the line. He was putting brake parts on. You know, the parts in the service manual that have all those 'critical' warnings and 'failure to follow these procedures may cause loss of life' warnings. This guy had a line wrench where the head (wrench) part had been cut off and re-welded onto a straight handle a couple of inches longer than you would get on a store bought line wrench and wrapped with some kind of cushioning tape. He was putting the brake lines on the calipers. He just tightened down by hand. No measuring tool at all.
In trying to talk to him, his only comment was how the bosses had cut back on overtime shifts. Not letting anyone make any money. I didn't try to tell him if no one was buying the cars, those 'bosses' sure didn't need to be running overtime making even more of them.
Overall, during this time, I thought the line was very scary. People smoking all over the place, except where they were using flamible adhesives, radios blaring at many workstations, and as I said, hand tools or 'regular' power tools putting things together.
I saw the 'first start' of a car. The car was still in the air, and a guy put his but into the car and plugged an electronic box into the electronics test plug and proceeded to run a few tests. The lights came on and off and he started the car. He put it into gear, an automatic, and of course the tires turned since it was in the air. Did a few other tests or whatever. Then, while the car was probably running at least 800rpm or so, he moved the shift from drive into park. The park powl (sp) screamed as it tried to lock the transmission. I really don't think this was a test, I think the guy was just too lazy to pull his foot into the car and push the brake to stop the rear tire spin, he just jammed it into park.
I've read other peoples description of current visits on the assembly line where they talked about the care taken in building the car. I just hope it's true. From my trip in 1991, there was room for huge improvements in how they put these cars together, and the attitude of the workers.
Ok, my trip thru Bowling Green was about 1991, but at that time about all I saw was hand tightening or power electric drills to drive screws and small nuts. I don't remember seeing a slip clutch on any power tool. The tire power driver probably did have a torque stick on it, but that was about all I saw.
I lagged behind and talked to one guy on the line. He was putting brake parts on. You know, the parts in the service manual that have all those 'critical' warnings and 'failure to follow these procedures may cause loss of life' warnings. This guy had a line wrench where the head (wrench) part had been cut off and re-welded onto a straight handle a couple of inches longer than you would get on a store bought line wrench and wrapped with some kind of cushioning tape. He was putting the brake lines on the calipers. He just tightened down by hand. No measuring tool at all.
In trying to talk to him, his only comment was how the bosses had cut back on overtime shifts. Not letting anyone make any money. I didn't try to tell him if no one was buying the cars, those 'bosses' sure didn't need to be running overtime making even more of them.
Overall, during this time, I thought the line was very scary. People smoking all over the place, except where they were using flamible adhesives, radios blaring at many workstations, and as I said, hand tools or 'regular' power tools putting things together.
I saw the 'first start' of a car. The car was still in the air, and a guy put his but into the car and plugged an electronic box into the electronics test plug and proceeded to run a few tests. The lights came on and off and he started the car. He put it into gear, an automatic, and of course the tires turned since it was in the air. Did a few other tests or whatever. Then, while the car was probably running at least 800rpm or so, he moved the shift from drive into park. The park powl (sp) screamed as it tried to lock the transmission. I really don't think this was a test, I think the guy was just too lazy to pull his foot into the car and push the brake to stop the rear tire spin, he just jammed it into park.
I've read other peoples description of current visits on the assembly line where they talked about the care taken in building the car. I just hope it's true. From my trip in 1991, there was room for huge improvements in how they put these cars together, and the attitude of the workers.
The workers at Bowling Green Assembly are very proud of the product they build and really enjoy having visitors come through the plant. And yes- the drivers are computer controlled. They are set to torque within a certain spec.
Did you see the National Geographic Channel "Ultimate Factories" show that featured Bowling Green Assembly? It may be on again soon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,964
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville AL
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
BTW, I've never owned a BMW, nor plan to, and have owned Corvettes for the last 25 years. My first tour of the Bowling Green facility was around 1990 and the last one was last year.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 78
From: Miami FL
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
What about the Lordstown plant? In 1980 my students from Cleveland State University took a tour there. The next day I asked them what they thought. The overwhelming comment was: "The workers were all wearing T-shirts that said "F*ck Management!" ".
If you had to make Vegas and Cavaliers, I guess you might have a bad attitude.
If you had to make Vegas and Cavaliers, I guess you might have a bad attitude.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 6
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 4
From: Palm Beach County, Florida
Never been to the plant, but I can assume that with modern tools and procedures, the quality is going to be better. Despite this, the quality must really come from the factory workers taking pride in their work, and the management taking pride in their product and workers. I've heard similar horror stories about other auto factories before.
Part of the reason GM is in trouble is the lazy, sloppy work of the past, resulting in a bad reputation for quality. It's a very difficult reputation to change.....
Part of the reason GM is in trouble is the lazy, sloppy work of the past, resulting in a bad reputation for quality. It's a very difficult reputation to change.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,964
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville AL
CI 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 6
Yes, that's about how I remember it also. The one great thing I remember was that the tour was pretty casual and we got to look at some interesting things just off the posted path. I remember seeing a huge, as in wide, DOHC engine sitting on a stand that turned out to be the LT5 in the then new ZR1
I also remember the tour guide said he didn't work for GM, it was a contract job. He was in his early 20's or so, and really didn't know much about the car or plant past what seemed to be a memorized script. And he appeared to be recovering from a previous night of intensive alcohol or drugs.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,660
Likes: 828
From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL
What about the Lordstown plant? In 1980 my students from Cleveland State University took a tour there. The next day I asked them what they thought. The overwhelming comment was: "The workers were all wearing T-shirts that said "F*ck Management!" ".
If you had to make Vegas and Cavaliers, I guess you might have a bad attitude.
If you had to make Vegas and Cavaliers, I guess you might have a bad attitude.
