[SSport16]

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/s...unch/32417481/

Wooden cars of course...can't wait for the real ones!

GM trainees prepare for Camaro launch

5:09 p.m. EDT August 26, 2015

LANSING – The gears of the mock assembly line screeched to life, sending plywood cars toward the 28 trainees at the General Motors’ Lansing Grand River Assembly plant.

The sound of power drills echoed in the simulation room as trainees put on and took off wooden bumpers, headlights and steering wheels in a never-ending circle.

For two 10-minute rounds, they were expected to assemble and deconstruct 18 flawless cars for imaginary awaiting customers. That’s just over a minute per car. They made 15 vehicles, of which 14 had defects.

No one wanted to pull the stop line for help.

“Not everyone wants to pull the cord, but their problems will get bigger if they don’t,” said Jason Smith, a team leader for the trainees. The exercise was meant to teach them that.

These trainees are the last of 450 new employees brought on to work second shift at the plant in preparation for the launch of the 2016 Camaro.

The second shift was cut in January. It will return after final training and orientation in the next week or so. GM has recalled the laid off employees, who either went to the Delta Township plant or Flint plant.

For the past few days, new employees have attended classes and participated on the simulation line to prepare them for the real one, where mistakes can’t be made.

“When you get out on the floor, you’re working on $70,000 to $100,000 cars,” said Jim Caplis, an engineer who instructed the class. “You don’t want to be practicing on them.”

The 2016 Camaro is in preproduction now, as models are being made for crash tests and test drives within the company. But, by the fall, they will hit the dealership floors at a suggested price of $26,695 or $37,295 depending on the model.

“When I first started here, we didn’t have training,” said Smith, who has worked at the plant for 16 years. “They stuck you on the floor and had you fend for yourself. Today, you are more prepared for the job.”

Traci Potter’s first few times on the simulated line were enjoyable. She assembled headlights and tail lights.

“At Magna Powertrain, we were given 45 seconds to put on a whole part of a car,” said Potter, of Holt, who started training on Monday. “So I can deal with this. It was fun.”

Chris Frosty, of Corunna, had worked at a few car dealerships before but jumped at the chance when he heard second shift was returning to the plant.

“The fact that they are bringing Camaro production to Lansing says a lot about (this plant) and its employees,” said Frosty, who was hired in June. “It shows that the auto industry is good and it’s going to keep growing.”

[F N MUSCLE]

Hahaha. Saw this last night too. Too funny. The one shot of the 20 something year old girl drilling made cringe. She looked super nervous putting together that wooden car.

Good that they get practice though.

[EE7]

It always amazes me when I see other car manufacturers plants where all of the employees are in clean jump suits with the company logo. Then I see pictures of GM's plants and it looks like they don't care what you wear to work.

[KMPrenger]

"They made 15 vehicles, of which 14 had defects."

Lets hope the training does them well....very well.

[bhavyas]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

"They made 15 vehicles, of which 14 had defects."

Lets hope the training does them well....very well.

hahaha.. I was going to post the same thing...

[KaBoom1701]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

"They made 15 vehicles, of which 14 had defects."

Lets hope the training does them well....very well.

lol.....give them a brake. I'm sure GM will have them all sorted all by the time the real production starts.

[Goblue1313]

Hey! Looks like they are building the stripped down 1SS model that everyone wants. No frills just pure performanceeeeeeee!

[joemosfet]

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

lol.....give them a brake.

Nah, they'd install that incorrectly, too.

[RenegadeXR]

You know who to blame now if you jump in your new 2016 Camaro and see a circular piece of wood in place of the steering wheel.

GM employee: "But I was just following my training..."
GM manager: "You had one job..."

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by F N MUSCLE

Hahaha. Saw this last night too. Too funny. The one shot of the 20 something year old girl drilling made cringe. She looked super nervous putting together that wooden car.

Good that they get practice though.

LOL...me too! Hopefully all will go well, the robots will help a lot! LOL

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by Goblue1313

Hey! Looks like they are building the stripped down 1SS model that everyone wants. No frills just pure performanceeeeeeee!

And lightweight wood!

[huggercamaro21]

They are starting this pretty early right? I mean, we still have over a month before they go into production. Hopefully all this time practicing will make for fewer QC issues. Hoping mine comes before December!!!! Trying to dodge the snow!

[Pace]

Now I understand why you never buy year 1.

[BMR Sales]

My God, they don't even know how to hold a Drill - no wonder they have recalls!