G.M. Plant Histories

[John D.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

The former Fisher Body guys I met back in the day were fiercely loyal and thought their way was better that anything the motor division guys could figure out.

Many of them got beautiful models of the Fisher coach when they retired....

[Stephen B.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

John
There were 13 Fisher Body plants until the late 80s ,all were nearly independent of the others.I worked with some very skilled and proud men.We made everything necessary to build metal car bodys.Our own patterns,dies from scratch,checking fixtures for maintaining quality,all our own automation,and all our own welding fixtures. Our maintenance dept.could totally rebuild a press in house, or install a new one. It's my opinion that the elimination of Fisher Body Division in favor of CPC and BOC
was the beginning of the end.
Stephen Barrett (21558) 59,66,71,73

[Art A.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories



The OFICIAL date of the CPC-BOC debacle was Jan 1st, 1985 and of course that meant the end of FB.

[Stephen B.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

Thank You Roger B. Smith. Anyone connected with GM during that piride will know him and his reputation.
Stephen Barrett (21558) 59,66,71,73

[Tom R.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

John
There were 13 Fisher Body plants until the late 80s ,all were nearly independent of the others. It's my opinion that the elimination of Fisher Body Division in favor of CPC and BOC was the beginning of the end.

Hmmm, so Fisher body plants were independently operated and owned and not a member of the GM family?

[Ronald L.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

Steve,
You'll remember the phrase as goes GM so goes the nation...think about it for a minute with what you said and within this context. In that period being able to know the RBS architect, his personal strategist....talk about not having a clue.

[Chris H.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

Fisher Body was part of GM for a long time back. Became part of GM in 1926 but built bodies for GM as a supplier before that.

Issue at GM was that the divisions and groups like Fisher Body ran themselves like independent companies which fought amongst themselves like siblings.

Can you imagine trying to design a vehicle today where one group designs the engine, another the transmission, another the frame/suspension and another the body and they were not exactly friendly toward each other? If there was an issue the blame game was on and it was the other guys problem.

[Stephen B.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

HM, so Fisher body plants were independently operated and owned and not a member of the GM family?

Tom
I made no insinuation that the 13 plants in GM were in any way independent in a business sense.They were independent in that they were nearly selfsaficiant in their maintenance and Tool and Die needs. Up until the mid 80s there was little outsourcing from Fisher Body plants.They did compete in a business sense with each other for future tooling, funding,etc.Hope that clears up any confussion.
Stephen Barrett (21558) 59,66,71,73

[Ronald L.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

The has never been anything wrong with being competitive, that way you know you got the best part for the best price, or the part you could afford. When they grouped up all the stamping plants, it meant that they laggards had to step up their game or risk getting shut down. QUality improved as it became a focus of the operation, remember those Demming days?

[John H.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

The OFICIAL date of the CPC-BOC debacle was Jan 1st, 1985 and of course that meant the end of FB.

Art -

I remember that clearly - Chrysler head-huntered me out of GM a month later.

[William L.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

Here is the Tram Ride through the St Louis Plant 1969 Model year.

[Joe R.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

Hey Bill,

Very cool! Thanks for posting. Is that a plant tour in progress? Did you ever take the tour?

Joe

[William L.]

Re: G.M. Plant Histories

Hey Bill,

Very cool! Thanks for posting. Is that a plant tour in progress? Did you ever take the tour?

Joe

Joe
Yes I took the tour in 1964 with our car club "The CoachMen" of Gillesoie Il. It was a Blast.