Ford is expected to produce the Taurus at the Flat Rock plant.

[trailfndr]

http://www.freep.com/article/20121021/BUSINESS0102/310210174/Taurus-Lincoln-MKS-production-may-add-jobs-in-Flat-Rock-expansion?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

 

 

Ford is expected to produce the Taurus at the Flat Rock plant.

By Alisa Priddle

Detroit Free Press Business Writer

 

 

Production of the next generation of Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS, the company's flagship sedans , is expected to move to Michigan's Flat Rock plant in a couple of years, providing security and maybe even more jobs than the 1,400 people to be hired for a current expansion, the Free Press has learned.

The exact number of new jobs is not yet known, but Flat Rock will become Ford's central hub for midsize and full-size cars. That marks a sharp contrast from a year ago, when the factory was barely able to keep one shift busy making the Ford Mustang and the Mazda6. There were fears among workers that the plant, formerly known as AutoAlliance International, might be scrapped or sold off.

Full-size sedans don't sell in volumes as high as midsize cars, but they tend to be profitable and establish a brand's image.

"I'm looking forward to adding jobs to the Downriver area and to help the community," said Steve Gonzales, president of UAW Local 3000, which represents workers at Flat Rock.

Already, union officials are expecting the second shift that begins next July will require the addition of 1,400 jobs -- 200 more than originally planned to add Ford Fusion production. About 1,763 workers currently make the Mustang on a single shift and will add the Fusion in February. Company officials say they expect only 1,200 new jobs initially.

Gonzales is hoping the addition of the bigger cars eventually will require a third shift. At the very least, it should require some additional workers on the first two shifts.

Today, Ford assembles the MKS and Taurus in Chicago at a plant that also makes the Explorer SUV and police versions of the Explorer and Taurus. It now employs three crews of workers.

Flat Rock is a joint venture of Ford and Mazda, but production had wound down to a single shift. Then Mazda made the decision to halt production Aug. 24 and build the next-generation Mazda6 in Japan, making the plant's future even more precarious.

It was in UAW negotiations a year ago that Ford committed to the future of Flat Rock, announcing plans to spend $555 million to make the plant capable of making six vehicles from three different platforms. The immediate plans are to add the Fusion to augment production of the midsize model in Mexico. Ford also promised to keep the next-generation Mustang at Flat Rock.

The UAW hoped to add Lincoln production, too, and was lobbying for the midsize MKZ, the cousin to the Fusion.

Instead, Ford plans to give Flat Rock the full-size MKS sedan when the next generation comes out in the 2014 time frame, multiple people have told the Free Press. Flat Rock could get some, or all, of Taurus production, as well.

Ford spokesman Todd Nissen declined to comment on future product plans.

What makes the transition possible is Ford's strategy of engineering the next-generation big sedans from the same underpinnings as the smaller Fusion and MKZ, said Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis with AutoPacific in Ann Arbor.

Internally, Ford refers to this platform as CD4. Eventually, it will serve as the foundation for a wide swath of vehicles for both Ford and Lincoln, including midsize and full-size sedans, Explorer, the next generation of Edge and MKX crossovers and potentially the future Flex and Lincoln MKT larger crossovers, said Michael Robinet, managing director of IHS Automotive Consulting in Northville.

If Ford's Flat Rock, Chicago and Oakville, Ontario, plants are all equipped to make CD4 vehicles, Ford can shift products between plants to meet demand, he said.

Ford and nearly all automakers are reducing the number of platforms because it reduces production costs.

"Platform reduction gives them economies of scale and production flexibility," Robinet said. "It means Ford can maximize its mix of vehicles available to customers and profits with more opportunities to fill plants."

Jim Farley, Ford's head of global sales and marketing, said the large sedan market is half what it used to be.

As a result, the industry is blurring mid- and large premium sedans. "People don't want enormous cars in the U.S.," Farley said.

The current MKS has been criticized as too large but without enough interior space. The next generation is expected to be more nimble and spacious with an ample backseat for owners in China who like to be chauffeured. Lincoln will start exporting to China in the second half of 2014, and the MKS and the MKT Town Car livery vehicle are expected to be well received.

Mark Fields, president of the Americas, said the next MKS must have "appealing design, bulletproof quality, technology and craftsmanship”

Edited October 21, 2012 by trailfndr

[Decker]

CAP processed 147 CD4.1 platforms, Feb. through April of this year. The measuring of our systems was completed and we coated all the units in electro coat, prime and color.

 

One thing of interest is the key information in the article (I know.. "information" and the freepress???) Flat Rock, Chicago, Oakville and Ontario will be building this platform. It does not refer to the plans of multiple platforms? CAP is gearing up for just that.

 

"A couple years" is referenced.... hmmm.... what else will be in play in a coulpe years? Be or get prepared for the "them against us" being played to the max...... The one issue that will be thrown at Chicago, Oakville and Ontario is that Flat Rock`s Local leadership has met with open arms the MOA. What else will be given up, just to keep these promises? :shades:

 

All in all, good news for Flat Rocker`s....

 

Moving product, from plant to plant? I can hear Jimmy and Bob now.

 

Decker

1 of the 1788

[25yrs]

CAP processed 147 CD4.1 platforms, Feb. through April of this year. The measuring of our systems was completed and we coated all the units in electro coat, prime and color.

 

One thing of interest is the key information in the article (I know.. "information" and the freepress???) Flat Rock, Chicago, Oakville and Ontario will be building this platform. It does not refer to the plans of multiple platforms? CAP is gearing up for just that.

 

"A couple years" is referenced.... hmmm.... what else will be in play in a coulpe years? Be or get prepared for the "them against us" being played to the max...... The one issue that will be thrown at Chicago, Oakville and Ontario is that Flat Rock`s Local leadership has met with open arms the MOA. What else will be given up, just to keep these promises? :shades:

 

All in all, good news for Flat Rocker`s....

 

Moving product, from plant to plant? I can hear Jimmy and Bob now.

 

Decker

1 of the 1788

Just an FYI. Oakville is in Ontario, same plant.

[Decker]

Just an FYI. Oakville is in Ontario, same plant.

 

Thanks 25yrs.

[trailfndr]

It does not refer to the plans of multiple platforms? CAP is gearing up for just that.

Decker

1 of the 1788

 

from the article... It was in UAW negotiations a year ago that Ford committed to the future of Flat Rock, announcing plans to spend $555 million to make the plant capable of making six vehicles from three different platforms. The immediate plans are to add the Fusion to augment production of the midsize model in Mexico. Ford also promised to keep the next-generation Mustang at Flat Rock.

 

Muliple vehicle platforms ARE mentioned.. FRAP has been gearing up for just that.

[Decker]

from the article... It was in UAW negotiations a year ago that Ford committed to the future of Flat Rock, announcing plans to spend $555 million to make the plant capable of making six vehicles from three different platforms. The immediate plans are to add the Fusion to augment production of the midsize model in Mexico. Ford also promised to keep the next-generation Mustang at Flat Rock.

 

Muliple vehicle platforms ARE mentioned.. FRAP has been gearing up for just that.

 

Ford promised.... UAW negotiations..... "us against, them"... has already begun.

 

We at CAP could not see any benefit to a tier 2 workforce or a MOA, we saw through the promises in the recent past and our members listened to the threats of the last negotiations. Then we see the CAW with their smaller numbers fight for and negotiate an agreement that reimburses their members for their labor, with such points of interest during their negotiations as high productivitiy, quality levels second to none and stating that labor costs are a meer 8% of the total cost of each unit and not a focal point to save or help the company survive. Great points of interest when sitting at the table with Ford and the rest.

 

If I remember right, (being wrong has happened, as you have pointed out) the last negotiations stated FRAP would be used for overflow product production when sales exceeded Mexico`s capacity. Now the overflow of Taurus from CAP when sales of Explorer exceeds capacity. Movement of MKS to FRAP to allow for increased capacity of Explorer at CAP. Then the pormise of other low sales units. Did anywhere in the contract state AAI or FRAP would be the sole producer of any product other than the Mustang? (the Home Of ???) Sounds like FRAP may be secure with being an overflow plant.

 

Are the bricks of the next negotiation being layed? Do any tier 1 members really think their wages and benefits are secure? Maybe the IUAW could reopen the contract now that the profits are flowing from the day after the negotiations were final......

 

Good luck, trailfinder.

 

Decker

1 of the 1788

[trailfndr]

Pay and benefits are far from being secure in this economic clusterf**k. As for the CAW, they have ALWAYS been stronger than the UAW when it comes to negotiations. They split from the UAW in the 70's because they felt the UAW was giving away too many consessions, and were not representing the workforce. (As most UAW members feel today)

 

Nothing is going to change here in the US, as the IUAW is in bed with the companies to the point of forgetting about the membership and their needs. Its all about Greed...what can the UAW give up to benifit the few at the top? It won't change until the membership slaps the crap out of the leadership and tells them in no uncertian terms that they have had enough. Now seriously, we all know that is NOT going to happen anytime in the near future, and probably not until the 1st teir workers are all gone, and the 2nd teir gets tired of being the companies whipping boys and girls.

 

One of the biggest problems we face in negotiation, are the laws of this country. We have the right to strike...but the company also has the right to fire us if we do. Canada does not have that issue, so a strike is much more meaningful and apt to hurt the company that much more. The law here is actually cancels out the "Right to Strike" so effectively we don't have the right. We can thank the Republican party for screwing over the countries workers many years ago, and the democrats for not fixing it when they had the opprotunity. Its like giving the right to own a gun, but making it illegal to have ammo.

 

As for the MOA at flat rock...that has been in place since the plant opened in 1987, and the reality is...IT WORKS! The classification system of our fathers uaw is a thing of the past, and unfortunatly is so outdated as to be a detriment in most cases. We will never compete with the forign auto workers if we are not a flexable workforce. Classifications elliminates flexability. An MOA does not give up any rights the worker has..It makes for a better, more well trained workforce, that can adapt quickly to changes in the workplace, making them a more valuable asset to the company

 

Having worked at Flat Rock for 21 years, and then seeing how different and divisive Dearborn is..Saline was, and MAP currently is...I would take an MOA in a minute. I don't know how things are at CAP..other than what I see on this site, so I can't comment on the situation in your facility, but over here...The Union in three of the plants I have been in, seem to only be interested in dividing the membership in order to stay in power, even at the expense of the workers. One thing I can say about Flat Rock...the members are NOT pushovers when it comes to electing their officers. Change at the top, is almost constant, as they won't tolerate leadership that doesn't answer to the needs of the workers they are supposed to represent. They have never had a leadership team that lasted more than 2 terms, most only 1 term.

 

Unfortunatly, from my perspective, the other three plants I have been in seem to be more of a dictatorship than a leadership. That hurts workers, AND the company in the long run. Leadership at my current facility (MAP) is a joke. Bill Johnson is more interested in fighting the company, than he is in trying to fix things to avoid stupid fights. Grievances are needed...but so is compromise. And Bill doesn't compromise, he lies to the membership, and refuses to give us copies of our local contract. If this is what a "Traditional" plant is like...it sheer stupidity for the membership to keep it going. It will lead to destruction from within.

 

Change can be difficult, but if we as a workforce, refuse to change with the times, we are doomed to fail.