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, saidthe upgrades will cost $2 billion U.S.

This will be the biggest change that we've seen, saidemployee 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] butI'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 anew skillet system, saidplant 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 saidthe mechanics of the new system will minimize workers bending, and willhave them in an ergonomic positionmaking 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 bodyand white division alone that are producing 1,490 vehicles everyday, saidBrieda.

While the company saidall this re-tooling is needed to build the next generation minivan, the president of the union representing FCA Canada workers at Windsors 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, saidDino 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 Windsors 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.