The 1,400 employees, which were hired for the domestic production of the 2014 Ford Fusion at the facility, spend about a week in a simulated factory to learn everything from what gloves to use on certain lines to attempting to mast the tasks they may be performing on the line. Tasks range from tightening nuts and bolts to connecting brake lines, fitting weather stripping and fixing an alternator on an engine.
Flat Rock Assembly Plant is training 1,400 new employees in their simulated factory on how to make the all-new Fusion.FLAT ROCK, MI- New employees to Ford Motor Co.’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant are the first in Michigan to train on a simulated factory before hitting the plant floor for the automaker.
The 1,400 employees, which were hired for the domestic production of the 2014 Ford Fusion at the facility, spend about a week in a simulated factory to learn everything from what gloves to use on certain lines to attempting to mast the tasks they may be performing on the line. Tasks range from tightening nuts and bolts to connecting brake lines, fitting weather stripping and fixing an alternator on an engine.
Workers train on 10 stations – one every 40 minutes – including electrical connectors, engine build-up, brake line and radiator hose install, and DC electric tools. Workers also receive one-on-one training from hourly instructors, as well as instruction on safety procedures, tooling and operator instruction sheets, according to Ford.
Officials said the new simulated training is expected to be the standard for its future new vehicle launches.
Flat Rock Assembly Plant will start Fusion production in the third quarter of 2013. On two shifts, the plant will have 3,000 employees building two of the Dearborn-based automaker's most-important vehicles -- Ford Mustang and Ford Fusion.
Ford announced last fall it will build the all-new Fusion in the United States and hire 1,400 new employees to meet surging demand for the award-winning vehicle. Currently, Fusion is being built only at Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico.
Check back to MLive Autos for more information on the new simulated factory.