Gear Production
Issue link: http://gear.epubxp.com/i/155418
F E AT U R E The Jeep Cherokee features a nine-speed automatic transmission. Not all that long ago, a six-speed transmission was considered gear-intensive. The Auto Industry & Gear Making he importance of gears made right in the auto industry cannot be overstated. In fact, there is probably no more critical element to the performance of a car or truck than its transmission, be it automatic or manual. But because it is the mass-production auto industry, in which cars and trucks are rolling off the line at 60 or more jobs per hour, volumes are key and cost is king. So how do you create products that are cost competitive and of the highest quality? Here are three approaches, one about a car manufacturer putting more emphasis on its capacity, one about how a machine producer is increasing effciency through fowing parts, and one about how a car maker is assuring quality in production. T Chrysler Makes Gears in Kokomo— Plenty of Them People who develop and manufacture gears for automotive applications are a special breed, dedicated to what is seemingly a blend of art, science and engineering. Kokomo, Indiana, may not be the world's capital of gear production, but that city, located about 60 miles due north of Indianapolis, more than makes its share of gears. Kokomo is the home of the Chrysler Kokomo Transmission Plant, the Chrysler Indiana Transmission Plant I and the Indiana Transmission Plant II. KTP is a 3.1-million-square-foot plant that produces a variety of transmissions, including those for the Chrysler Town & Country minivan, the Dodge Avenger, Chrysler 200, Dodge Journey, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300, and Dodge Charger. ITP I is a 1.2-million-square-foot plant that manufactures rear-drive transmissions for the Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Ram pickups. ITP II is the newest and the smallest of the plants; it opened in 2003 (ITP I: 1998; KTP: 1956), and at 600,000 square feet,it produces fve-speeds for the 300, Grand Cherokee, Durango, Challenger and Charger. Chrysler is committed to these transmission facilities. Just listen to Sergio Marchionne chairman and CEO of Chrysler, speaking in Kokomo on Feb. 28, 2013: "Today, I am delighted to formally announce that we will expand our powertrain September 2013—9