At 50, GM Lordstown cruises steadily in fast lane of success

Fifty years ago, Ohio Gov. James A. Rhodes joined officials of the General Motors Corp. in detonating a blast that broke ground for the GM Lordstown Complex. It was a blast that would forever change the economic and industrial landscape of the Greater Youngstown area.

The immensely positive impact of that ear-shattering explosion Sept. 29, 1964, continues to reverberate for the iconic auto company, its mammoth work force and the economy and quality of life in the Mahoning Valley.

Today, the stellar performance of GM Lordstown and its workers speaks for itself. It has become the largest Chevrolet plant in the United States and ranks as its most productive factory in all of North America. It has built more than 15 million vehicles since it officially opened in April 1966.

We join others at the company and in the community in celebrating this week’s milestone for the region’s largest private employer, remembering its largely rich and glorious past and, most importantly, in eagerly anticipating the promising road ahead for the Chevrolet Division of GM’s presence in our community for many decades to come.

Of course, much like any mature enterprise, GM Lordstown endured its fair share of growing pains and image stains in its early years.

Throughout much of the 1970s, for example, it became a national symbol of organized-labor militancy. Strike after strike after strike crippled operations at its automobile and former van production plants. High absenteeism and charges of shoddy workmanship cast the plant in a negative spotlight.

And many will remember the embarrassing engineering, safety, engine and body problems with the Vega — the great-great grandfather of the Cruze — that made it and the workers who assembled it the unfortunate butt of many a joke. Since that low point, the complex has made steady gains in reinventing itself in a positive mold.

SHRINKING WORKFORCE

Over the years, as well, the size of the Lordstown workforce has shrunk dramatically. Due in large part to technological innovations, blue- and white-collar employment at the complex has fallen from a record 12,000 in 1985 to approximately 4,500 today.

But those hearty 4,500 workers have worked tirelessly to build better cars and brighter images of the facility and its commitment to quality.

Today, that crew produces one of the most successful small-car models in the global marketplace. In fact, the Chevrolet Cruze consistently ranks in the Top 10 compact models in sales. Just last week, the plant rolled out its 1 millionth Cruze.

As for the future, all systems look go for accelerated success. Stronger labor-management relations, solid work ethics and a commitment to detailed craftsmanship have earned the Valley automaker bragging rights to build the next-generation Cruze model, expected to roll out in the 2016 model year. GM has rewarded the plant by investing $50 million in the plant for that changeover.

Another constant through the years at GM Lordstown has been the commitment to community demonstrated by GM and its workers. Just last week the GM Foundation awarded $100,000 to seven nonprofit Valley groups. United Auto Workers locals at the plant rank among the largest donors to that fund in showing their gratitude for community support.

This week, it is the community’s turn to return the gratitude to the carmaker and its employees and wish them ongoing success as they cruise into what we’re confident will be their Fabulous Fifties.