WARREN Delphi Corp. realigns its operating sectors

A company realignment will help product development, Packard says.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
WARREN -- Delphi Packard Electric Systems is part of a new operating sector within its parent company.
Delphi Corp., which is based in Troy, Mich., said Tuesday that it is realigning itself to improve lean production efforts, technology development and customer relations. The changes go into effect Jan. 1.
Ann Cornell, a spokeswoman for Warren-based Packard, said realigning the company's operating units will improve new product development because the divisions in each unit are more closely related.
Packard will be part of the newly created Electrical, Electronics, Safety and Interior Sector.
Packard now is part of the Safety, Thermal and Electrical Architecture Sector.
Delphi Thermal is being moved out of Packard's unit, while Delphi Delco Electronics is being moved in.
Delco has been operating separately because it was a company that had been acquired by Delphi. Delco works closely with Packard because its electronics are used in many of Packard's electrical systems.
Also in Packard's operating unit is Delphi Safety and Interior and Delphi Product & amp; Service Solutions, which provides after-market products.
David Wohleen will be named president of this unit and will report to J.T. Battenberg III, company chairman, president and chief executive. Wohleen will oversee Jim Spencer, who is the president of Packard.
Wohleen has been executive vice president for the Electronics and Mobile Communications Sector, which won't exist in the new alignment.
Other units
The second operating unit will be the Dynamics, Propulsion and Thermal Sector, which includes Delphi Energy & amp; Chassis, Delphi Saginaw Steering and Delphi Thermal.
Rodney O'Neal will be president of this unit. He now oversees the Safety, Thermal and Electrical Architecture Sector.
Delphi also created a third unit, called the Automotive Holdings Group, which will include product lines, joint ventures and plants sites that don't fit into the company's strategic plan or don't meet its growth or profit targets.
These are lines, businesses or plants that the company is trying to fix or sell.
Battenberg said he expects the changes to help efforts to improve growth, customer satisfaction and profitability.
"We expect the transition to be seamless to our customers, provide potential for greater return for our investors and to further engage our employees and suppliers in the transformation of Delphi," he said.
shilling@vindy.com