Quality Issues Loom Over 2013 Ram Production - Union Workers Protest Saturday Workshifts

About two dozen workers braved sleet and icy winds to protest a controversial new work schedule at Chrysler Group LLC's factories here Thursday. But the pickets may be the least of the company's worries.

According to internal company reports obtained by The Detroit News, there are serious quality issues at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which recently launched one of the automaker's most important new vehicles: the 2013 Ram 1500 pickup. And the morale problems sparked by the new shift schedule are only making these problems worse, according to workers.

During the first hour of production Thursday, workers at the Warren truck plant built 58 pickups. But only 16 of those vehicles passed final inspection, according to company documents. Quality improved as the day went on, but just over half of the trucks assembled by the first shift were approved for shipment. A company source told The News that number should be at least 78 percent and higher than that to meet the plant's quality goals.

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gkearns56 - 3/1/2013 4:52:04 PM

+2 Boost

And these fools want to unionize the Nissan plant in Tennessee. Gimme a break. You should be glad the government bailed you lazy butts out. But no - we're going to protest working more O/T (probably being paid this since they are hourly). Obviously they have never heard of that saying car dealers use, "Gotta make hay while you can".

Folks if you decide to buy these inferior quality products, then your only subscribing to these fools building poor quality vehicles. Isn't this the SAME plant we had those UAW clowns get caught smoking pot and drinking beer on their lunch break; then get fired; only to be reinstated by the company. What a bunch of idiots.

ricks0me - 3/1/2013 7:52:15 PM

+1 Boost

100% agreement with the above comment.

bfghemicuda - 3/2/2013 5:16:36 PM

+2 Boost

Here you have a manufacture that has developed a new truck that was named MT's Truck of The Year and making sure quality is a priority and the UAW workers are wining. First these workers were found drinking on the job and Chrysler fired them. Due to UAW rules and laws, Chrysler was forced to re-hire them. Now Chrysler is set on raising quality and UAW workers are bitching because there work schedule is changed. It just seems to me that if these workers wanted job security and have a product they could be proud to say they assembled, they would do what it takes. In all Chrysler takes the heat and the UAW leaders hide.

ParadoX - 3/2/2013 6:16:33 PM

+1 Boost

I wouldn't want to work on a Saturday.