Assembly of new “Micro Engine” at Burleigh Plant to begin in August

by Scott Godshaw

The micro engine, a brand new product by Briggs & Stratton will go into production this year. This engine will be a consumer motor used primarily on weed whackers and other related products. The new line, which is currently being set up on the north end of the Burleigh Plant, will be part of the Pilot Program, but will be a separate department. The department will be known as Dept. 345. The Company will utilize Article VIII Section 15 of the Contract, which states:

Employees who choose or are assigned to a newly established department under the seniority provisions of this contract shall have departmental super seniority for eighteen (18) months from the date the first employees are assigned.

Transfers are now being accepted for the micro line. Seniority will, of course, be recognized. However, the Company would like employees who are self-starters with good communication skills, mechanically inclined, problem solvers with a good attitude.

Quality is of the utmost importance on this new engine. There will be maximum training on this effort. Quality is not only imperative, but also expected and I am sure Milwaukee will prove once and again that we make the best quality engines throughout the corporation.

Members will be involved in line preparation

The process will begin the week of March 5, 2001 with a team that will consist of one supervisor and three assemblers. The team will go through a process review and engine tear down twice a week through March 15th. From March 20-29 there will be a line layout review and equipment review. On April 3rd the team will write up and test jobs, checking station layouts, including position of hoppers, pans and boxes and set up stations appropriately. The group at this point will define daily and/or weekly tasks. The remaining 30 to 35 pieceworkers and dayworkers will join the team on August 6th with classroom training and a complete assemble and tear down of the new engine. On August 13th the people will be operating on the line with an assemble and tear down mode. On August 27th the line will go into full production. As always with a new product, these dates are tentative.

This preparation and training is to help produce a high quality product from the first engine off the line. We are confident that with the skilled workforce in Milwaukee that we will launch this product with the high quality necessary to achieve success.

In fiscal 2002, the tentative run rate will be 150,000 units. By fiscal 2003, the run rate will hopefully be around 250,000 units. Daily run rates will be established and members on the line will help establish these rates. The members on the line will also be responsible for balancing the line.

The Company’s safety department will attempt to insure that these stations will be ergonomically correct.