Download Print Press Kit: 2012 Fiat 500 New 2012 Fiat 500 – MANUFACTURING Chrysler Group LLC Modifies Toluca (Mexico) Assembly Plant for Production of the All-new 2012 Fiat 500 Plant implements new processes and procedures throughout to ensure new Fiat 500 meets or exceeds customer expectations More than 2,000 workers trained in World Class Manufacturing (WCM) Close to 80 percent of employee suggestions implemented to improve processes Auburn Hills, Mich. February 22, 2011 - After nearly 16 months of preparation, Chrysler Group LLC’s Toluca (Mexico) Assembly Plant is ready for production of the new 2012 Fiat 500. Chrysler Group announced that it would produce the Fiat 500 in Toluca in August 2009, taking the place of the Chrysler PT Cruiser which ended production after 10 years in June 2010. The Fiat 500 will share the line with the new 2011 Dodge Journey. In anticipation of the launch of the new Fiat 500, the Toluca Assembly Plant, which has been producing Chrysler vehicles since 1968, went through a significant transformation as part of World Class Manufacturing (WCM), an extensive and thorough process to restore all Chrysler Group facilities to their original and maximum functionality. World Class Manufacturing (WCM) Takes Hold What makes WCM different is that it fully engages employees in eliminating waste and empowers them to take ownership of the process. For Toluca, the first step in ensuring the success of WCM meant putting everyone through training. More than 2,600 employees participated in more than 25,000 hours of training focused on principles of WCM that could immediately help the employee identify and attack waste and losses on the line. Additionally, employees have completed more than 50,000 hours of training on the new equipment installed at the plant. With the implementation of WCM, employees felt empowered to offer nearly 25,000 suggestions on improvements that could be made throughout the plant, of which 78 percent were implemented. Toluca Assembly Plant prepares itself for the new Fiat 500 The plant implemented significant changes in all areas of the plant, starting from stamping, through to the body shop, to paint, then final assembly. In the stamping plant, the company invested more than $44 million to develop 110 new dies (22 sets), for different body parts for the new 2012 Fiat 500. The plant also installed two new washer machines – one at the blanking press line for the inner and outer parts, and one at the transfer press line for the outer stamping parts – which ensure the elimination of 99 percent of the impurities that could affect the quality of the stampings. In the body shop, the plant installed five new automated closure lines, including an innovative new process which uses dies for seaming the outer edges of the liftgate, hood, right and left doors called a hemming table-top system. This new system provides for maximum flexibility for the production of more than one vehicle on the closure lines. In addition, a new system for a sealant cure process assures the body applies to the hood, tailgate, and right and left door. The paint shop was also transformed in order to ensure that the highest quality Fiat 500 rolls off the assembly. As a requirement for production of the Fiat 500, the plant installed a new, fully automated “PVC” sealant application system, a completely new process for Chrysler Group manufacturing. The application system guarantees that no water leaks into the vehicle’s cabin and reduces noise. Because customers can personalize their vehicles with 14 unique exterior paint colors, the Toluca Assembly Plant needed a system to manage paint color changes quickly and with minimal waste. Chrysler came up with an innovative process involving two new paint systems for exterior color management. Toluca Assembly Plant also installed new equipment for the application of urethane during power sunroof and fixed-glass roof mounting for the new 2012 Fiat 500. To meet Fiat specifications, the plant installed new torque tooling on the assembly line to avoid any noise or vibration that might be caused by a loose nut or screw. Another innovative quality control device adopted from the Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) is the “suspension exerciser,” which is assures the suspension settles correctly before the vehicle passes through the wheel alignment process. Because the new 2012 Fiat 500 will be exported to South American markets with a flex-fuel option, the plant installed new storage and dispensing equipment for ethanol fuel management. To meet Brazilian market requirements, the Toluca Assembly Plant integrated a new crystal-laser beam Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) marker. Attention to Quality Reaches New Levels With a renewed focus on quality, Toluca has implemented three different programs to verify the build quality of every new 2012 Fiat 500 that leaves the plant. The first is Presigi, a process adopted from FGA that consists of a 32-mile course designed with various road conditions to simulate customer driving conditions and focus on the dynamic quality of the new Fiat 500. Second, technical experts at Toluca Assembly Plant’s Technical Vehicle Verification Center evaluate wheel alignment, headlamp alignment and appearance. And lastly, a state-of-the-art Metrology Center focuses on dimensional measurements to assure the highest quality fit and finishes.