Toledo Assembly prepares 2,200 workers for next-gen Jeep Wrangler

(October 30, 2017) TOLEDO, Ohio — The FCA Toledo Assembly Complex and The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation have teamed up to prepare more than 2,200 workers to build the next-generation Jeep Wrangler, launching later this year.
 
Over the past six weeks, employees from the Toledo North plant, where the new Wrangler will be built, have been participating in a comprehensive training and launch readiness program known as the “Toledo Way.”

The week-long program included three, eight-hour days of hands-on technical training at The University of Toledo’s Scott Park Campus, a day of community service, and a day devoted to learning about the Jeep brand and time behind the wheel of a Wrangler to experience its off-road capability.
 
The hands-on activities, developed collaboratively with UT, focused on expanding the employees’ knowledge of and competence in World Class Manufacturing, the Company’s manufacturing methodology that aims to eliminate waste, while improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way. The classes were tailored to meet the specific needs of workers in various departments and taught by instructors from UT and Northwest State Community College.
 
“This training was unprecedented in size and scope,” said Chuck Padden, Toledo Assembly Complex plant manager. “It would have been impossible for us to execute this training while also preparing for an important vehicle launch without the cooperation of the UT and Northwest State Community College staff.
 
“They not only provided us with a location large enough to hold these classes, but enhanced our curriculum by developing unique hands-on activities that would engage our employees,” said Padden. “We believe this experience has given our Toledo workforce the necessary tools to ensure a successful launch of the Wrangler.”

The Jeep Wrangler has called Toledo home for more than 75 years. Since 2006, the iconic Jeep model has been built in the south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex, or what has also been known as Toledo Supplier Park, an innovative manufacturing project that engages supplier partners to help build the Wrangler body and chassis before being transferred to the FCA US-managed south plant for final assembly.

When the next-generation Wrangler launches later this year, it will continue to be built in Toledo, but will roll off the line from Toledo Assembly’s north plant. The Wrangler’s move from the south to the north plant represents the second step of the company’s two-phased, $3.5 billion industrialization plan to realign its U.S. manufacturing operations to expand the Jeep and Ram brands. FCA US is investing $700 million to retool the north plant for production of the all-new Wrangler and adding 700 new jobs.

To date, more than 2 million Wranglers have rolled off the line of Toledo’s south plant.