General Motors’ latest target for investment is the company’s plant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which will get $119 million to support the site’s components production capability. The action will create 300 jobs, nearly doubling the facility’s workforce.
The move is the latest in GM’s plan to invest $5.4 billion into its plants and other sites during the next three years to improve product quality and capability. The plan called for the addition of about 650 new employees and this move accounts for half of them.
The Grand Rapids plant, which produces engine components, employs 500 people working three shifts. The money will be used to “support production of future vehicle components,” and GM said more details would be available at a later date.
“This investment in the future recognizes the excellent workforce at Grand Rapids Operations,” said GM North America Manufacturing Manager Scott Whybrew. “It also demonstrates GM’s collaboration with our UAW partners to innovate and bring tangible benefits to our customers.”
Overall, GM’s announced moves covering about $3 billion of the $5.4 billion it plans to invest. The plan was announced on April 30 with the investment of more than $700 million at three plants in metro Detroit. Since then, it’s outlined investments as large as $1.2 billion at its truck plant in Indiana and another $1 billion for its technical center in Warren, Michigan. This is the smallest investment announcement to date.
(GM invests another $1.2 billion at Indiana truck plant. For more, Click Here.)
Last week, GM said it will invest $175 million in its Lansing, Michigan, plant to build the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. In addition to the new tooling and equipment, the move also resumption of 500 workers on a second shift that had been on temporary lay off. The company has announced $2.8 billion in expenditures since it revealed its multi-billion dollar investment plan.
(Click Here for details GM plowing $439 million into Corvette paint shop.)
GM’s announced also announced it was investing $1.2 billion in its full-size truck plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The investment will improve the plant’s painting, sequencing and assembly operations.
(To see more about GM’s $5.4 billion investment plans, Click Here.)
Prior to that, GM announced it was plowing $439 million into its Bowling Green, Kentucky plant, which makes the Corvette.
This is good news. Maybe GM should consider making their own, high quality ignition/key assembly?