Assembly Line Photos

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by kipps

Keith,

I don't quite understand your last comment about the tug in the picture. Had someone just abandoned it at the end of their shift, and it's now in the way for the next shift?

No - in the photo above the tug is sitting next to the line (between the pickup line and the main aisle) and is staged and ready to go if and when needed.

Originally Posted by kipps

How much did the assembly workers get shifted around to keep the job interesting? By time he retires, would a fellow have worked nearly every aspect of assembly, or would he have spent the whole 30 years installing door handles?

Pretty much everything was/is seniority based.

When we start up a new line, or a new shift in an existing plant, management has the ability to place workers where they think they will be a good fit. After that, if a worker wants to put in for a different job, or a better job with the commensurate pay increase, he can apply and if he has more seniority than the other person he can get that job.

Some folks were happy were they were, even if it was a tough job. My fender set guys tended to stay in that spot for a long time (which is good). Other folks would try to move to a repair job, or quality man, or even a driver out back, to try to get away from being tied directly to the assembly line.

K