Marchionne moves quickly to upgrade Chrysler manufacturing

Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Group’s new CEO, is wasting no time in making changes at the automaker. And, contrary to the norm in modern business, his focus is on management.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Marchionne said: “The problem is never with the blue collar – with the people running the business day to day. It’s the people at the top of the structure.”

Marchionne made good on his word recently with major shakeups in Chrysler management. Some have moved up and some have moved out but the CEO wants everyone to get the message.

According to Rick Laporte, president of the CAW local at Chrysler’s Windsor plant, Marchionne and his team have zeroed-in on implementing a world-class manufacturing system. Laporte said, “Fiat has stressed with us that they will remove the barriers in their way, including members of management who do not change their old ways.”

Leon Rideout, CAW local president at the Chrysler plant in Toronto, said the new bosses have enlarged assembly line teams from six members to ten.

Laporte to his local members about the changes, saying, “You will see it and feel it the first day back to work.”