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• The Harbour Report 2002 Summary

• The Harbour Report 2003 Summary

• The Harbour Report  2005 Summary

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Harbour Report 2005: GM Leads seven of 13 segments; three out of top five assembly plants overall

• GM's Oshawa #1 is Most Productive Assembly Plant in North America

• Most improved manufacturer for last five years; improves 22 percent

In addition, GM’s stamping operations improved productivity by 2.7 percent. The company’s Marion, Indiana plant led in major progressive pieces per hour (PPH) equipment productivity and the Lansing, Mich. plant led in transfer press PPH equipment productivity. In powertrains, Flint Engine North was the most productive 6-cylinder OHV engine plant in the industry at 3.52 hours per unit.

“Our manufacturing productivity is a critical piece of our ability to compete in today’s fierce market place,” said Guy Briggs, GM group vice president for Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “We are pleased with the results of our Oshawa #1 assembly plant and continue to implement strategies that will improve manufacturing productivity in all our facilities.”

“Everyone at GM, including our Union partners, management and employees, are focused on working hard together to make GM a more successful company. We will continue to improve our productivity and efficiency in order to further improve our competitive position in the market,” Briggs added

"The fact that overall productivity at GM has improved 22 percent over the past five years affirms that our joint approach significantly enhances GM's manufacturing productivity," said UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker. "Yet, even with GM's notable improvements in 2004 as seen in the Harbour report," Shoemaker added, "additional progress is definitely possible and necessary."

The world’s largest automaker’s efficiency gains have also been fueled by the company’s continued improvements in product quality.

“GM’s productivity improvements are closely tied to our quality commitment,” said Briggs. Two weeks ago, GM received the Gold, Silver and Bronze plant quality awards in North / South America in the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and also received numerous vehicle segment quality awards in both J. D. Power IQS and Strategic Vision’s 2005 Total Quality Index TM. “ Oshawa #1 is a prime example in that it is not only the most productive plant in North America, but also number two in initial quality, right behind Oshawa #2.”

“Despite recent challenges, it is obvious that GM’s manufacturing organization has maintained its focus,” said Ron Harbour, president of Harbour Consulting. “More than two-thirds of GM’s assembly plants show year-over-year improvements, and that is very impressive, particularly given the environment the company is operating in.”

Some of GM’s productivity highlights according to Harbour include:

• At 34.33 total labor hours per vehicle (including assembly, stamping, engine and transmission manufacturing), GM improved its overall manufacturing productivity by 2.5 percent.

GM has three of the top five most productive vehicle assembly plants in North America.

• Oshawa #1, Ontario, was ranked #1 at 15.85 hours per vehicle.

• Oshawa #2, Ontario, was ranked #4 at 17.47 hours per vehicle.

• Lansing M, Mich., was ranked #5 at 17.53 hours per vehicle.

GM vehicle assembly plants led in seven of 13 North American assembly plant segments:

• Lansing M, Mich., was the industry’s most productive compact car plant at 17.53 hours per vehicle.

• Oshawa #1, Ontario, was the most productive midsize car plant at 15.85 hours per vehicle.

• Lansing Grand River, Mich., was the most productive luxury car plant at 24.11 hours per vehicle.

• Moraine, Ohio, was the most productive midsize SUV plant at 20.73 hours per vehicle.

• Arlington, Texas, was the most productive fullsize SUV plant at 22.39 hours per vehicle.

• Fort Wayne, Ind., was the most productive fullsize pickup plant at 19.86 hours per vehicle.

• Wentzville, Mo., was the most productive large van plant at 24.41 hours per vehicle.

June 2, 2005