GM FYI Blog

By Heidi Magyar
BCI, Lansing Grand River Assembly

Have you ever visited an automotive assembly plant? That’s the first question I ask visitors to Lansing Grand River Assembly (LGR). The next question is more personal: “What do you drive and why?” I’m always curious to hear the responses. They range from “My family has always driven…” to “They have the best quality.” It’s good to start with these questions before they tour the plant because I know their perception of a GM Assembly Plant is about to change.

Twelve years ago I joined the GM team with my own perceptions — I knew more about lawn mowers than cars but took a role as a customer assistance representative helping folks resolve issues with their cars. Oldsmobile taught me about cars and working as a team. Saturn taught me to respect the passion people have for their cars. But, manufacturing showed me what GM is all about — hearts, hands and heritage. And, as visitors touring Lansing Grand River Assembly, I know they will see a glimpse of what I have learned at GM.

On November 12, 2001, the LGR team shared its first Cadillac CTS with the world. Since then four more LGR products including the Cadillac SRX, STS, CTS-V and STS-V are shipping to over 40 countries. During this time the goal of the LGR team has been the same: “To build world-class products that meet our customers’ expectations in quality, cost and delivery by developing and empowering our highly skilled teams. . .” This is a portion of our mission statement. While our plant is young, only five years old, it’s been recognized in the industry with Gold and Silver J.D. Power Awards for quality. This is a tribute to the outstanding workmanship by our UAW local 652 partners. They continue to build on the 107-year heritage of producing quality GM vehicles in Lansing, Mich.

On the tour, visitors see examples of the plant’s flexibility to build very different products at one time on the same line. They see parts being delivered “just in time” to team members by a very automated system. Visitors also see safety as the plant’s first priority; bright lights, polished floors, musical Andon boards, team members in common clothing and warm welcomes. Throughout the plant they see examples of how teams are engaged in the business, working to eliminate waste, and focused on quality.

As the tour finishes, quiet from the group is normal. There is always a pause before the flood of questions. The last question visitors are asked is, “Is it what you expected?” The answer is overwhelmingly “no.” It is rarely what people, ranging from retirees to students, anticipated.

• “I never expected the complexity, and level of training, people need to build a car.”

• “Everyone was so busy, no one was sitting around.”
• “There were more women than I expected.”
• “Where was the dirt and smoke?”

These are the kind of comments I frequently hear and it’s pleasing to know that their perceptions have changed. They are starting to see my GM. It makes me smile because I love my job — it’s in my heart, my hands and now my heritage.