FCA Windsor Assembly Plant gears up for re-tooling shutdown

The Windsor Assembly Plant, owned by FCA Canada, is gearing up for a 14-week shutdown to retool the facility and install robots to assist in putting together parts of the new Chrysler mini-van.

The company, formerly known as Chrysler Canada, said the upgrades will cost $2 billion U.S.

“This will be the biggest change that we've seen,” said employee Jill Dame, who has worked at the plant for more than 20 years. “I'm going to be in the same position [after the retooling] but…I'll be moving over one line, but I'll be doing the same thing.”

One of the major changes on the assembly line is the installation of a new skillet system, said plant manager Michael Brieda.

“The vehicle moves up and down as it travels to each work station,” he said. “We can program the vehicle to be at the optimum height for the employee so that when the employee is working, their hands are in the optimum area to assemble the vehicle.”

Brieda said the mechanics of the new system will minimize workers bending, and will have them in an ergonomic position making it easier to work.

But the biggest change, he said, is the 822 new robots.

“Overall, we'll have over 1,300 robots just in our body and white division alone that are producing 1,490 vehicles everyday,” said Brieda.

While the company said all this re-tooling is needed to build the next generation minivan, the president of the union representing FCA Canada workers at Windsor’s Assembly Plant thinks it might mean job losses down the road.

“When you talk about the increase in robots going to 1,300 robots in total at the Windsor Assembly Plant Body, you're probably going to see some job eliminations that come with that,” said Dino Chido, president of Unifor Local 444. “At the same time, they are increasing in other areas of the facility like the trim division and the paint shop area.”

But he adds, Unifor is encouraged by the investment to Windsor’s plant.

“I think this shows you the commitment Chrysler has to this community,” Chido said.

While the plant is shut down, all workers will have to rely on Employment Insurance temporarily. But the time away from the job is welcome to some workers, like Jill Dame.

“I plan on doing a lot of cleaning in my own house and on spending time with family,” said Dame.

The shutdown begins Feb. 16. The plant is expected to be up and running again in mid-May.