Mary Barra and Me, The closing of the GM Warren Transmission Plant

[Richard]

I'm not clear on how closing a stamping plant relates to the move to electric power trains or other restructuring moves. Body parts are still body parts unless there is a move to non-metallic bodies or three D printing production--neither ready for prime time. Parts is parts and they still need to be stamped for for the large part--here or in Mexico.

That will be next though,there is a company in California,you design a car and submit it to them,they 3D print it out useing a mix of plastic and Kevlar.

When the body is ready you go there and in 2 hours you help assemble the entire car then drive it home.

Nano technology is being used in materials to reduce body panel weight,like your cell phone glass,light weight but strong.

Tesla uses nano technology based steel in thier body and frame,the problem is you cannot remove dents,it is complete panel or section replacement because every panel is a part of the structural assembly in order to reduce weight.

The technology in automobiles is moving so fast,just like with phones and computers,6 monthes and it is outdated and considered obsolete.

The transmission plant was makeing 6 speed transmissions for cars that will no longer be offered and 9 and 10 speed transmissions are already in production.

1 year from now if 12 speed transmissions are online then they will close the 9 and 10 speed transmission factories.

The autoworker of today has to figure out and train where the industry is headed to in the future.I think the days of having little education and landing a job on the assembly line are numbered.