43
GM Lordstown has a new plant manager
By Kalea Hall
LORDSTOWN
The General Motors Lords-town Assembly Plant has a new plant manager.
Steve Notar Donato, who came to Lordstown in August 2014, was transferred to the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Lansing, Mich., where the Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS and ATS are produced.
Rick Demuynck was named the new Lords-town plant manager effective May 1. Demuynck was the assistant plant manager at Lordstown from November 2009 to July 2013.
He went on to be the plant manager at GM’s Grand Rapids Operations Plant in Wyoming, Mich., where precision-machined automotive components have been built for 70 years.
Demuynck spent a brief time as a plant manager at Parma Metal Center in Parma.
“It’s part of the business,” said Robert Morales, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714, of the management change. “Steve was great while he was here. Now it is time for him to take his efforts elsewhere.”
Both Morales, who represents the fabrication plant workers at Lordstown, and UAW Local 1112 President Glenn Johnson, who represents the assembly plant workers, welcome Demuynck back to Lordstown.
Johnson also said it has been good working with Notar Donato.
“We have had the opportunity to do a lot of good here in the community,” Johnson said.
He hopes to do the same with Demuynck.
“To have a good solid relationship with [the plant manager] is vital to moving the business along,” Johnson said.
Notar Donato was not available to comment.
The Lordstown plant has about 4,500 workers who build the Chevrolet Cruze, a top-selling compact car.
Production of the new, next-generation Cruze is back on again this week after a two-week suspension caused by the impact on suppliers from the Japan earthquakes.
It’s important for the Cruze production to go right the first time, so different processes are being used to ensure quality of the Cruzes, Johnson explained.
“We are trying to get up to speed,” Johnson said.