Gladiator Factory Parts - where do they come from?

[PyrPatriot]

So the JT is finalized in Toledo, OH.

The engine comes from Mexico, I think.

I recently learned that the frame is assembled in Owensboro, KY.

What are the other parts that benefit the American worker?

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[spazzyfry123]

So far I've found parts that are stamped with either Mexico or Korea.

 

[PyrPatriot]

So far I've found parts that are stamped with either Mexico or Korea.

Right. Manufactured/produced they can come from wherever. I'm more interested in what parts of the JT provide American jobs. Example being the KY and OH factories assembling the vehicles.

 

[Mikegcny]

Right. Manufactured/produced they can come from wherever. I'm more interested in what parts of the JT provide American jobs. Example being the KY and OH factories assembling the vehicles.

That's difficult to answer. The plastic might be molded in Sri Lanka, but the molding machinery, the software that runs it and the support for the machinery might come from a US company that employs higher paid workers.

This also works in reverse. It can be made in the US by robots that were designed in Germany, built in Eastern Europe with Korean control software.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Right. But with 23 FCA facilities in the USA, and however many other contractors. The KY facility wasn't listed on the wiki page but I spoke with someone who is the shift manager there

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chrysler_factories

Belvidere Assembly Belvidere, Illinois 1965 Jeep Cherokee
Dundee Engine Dundee, Michigan 2002 World Engine (2.0, 2.4)
Tigershark engine (2.0, 2.4)
Fiat FIRE engine (1.4)
Indiana Transmission I Kokomo, Indiana 1998 Transmissions
Indiana Transmission II Kokomo, Indiana 2003 Transmissions
Jefferson North Assembly Detroit, Michigan 1991 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Dodge Durango
Kokomo Casting Kokomo, Indiana 1965 Aluminum parts
Kokomo Transmission Kokomo, Indiana 1956 Transmissions, engine block machining
Mack Avenue Engine Complex Detroit, Michigan 1953 Chrysler Pentastar engine (3.2, 3.6)
Mount Elliott Tool and Die Detroit, Michigan 1938 Tools and dies, checking fixtures, stamping fixtures
Sterling Heights Assembly Sterling Heights, Michigan 1953 Ram 1500
Sterling Stamping Sterling Heights, Michigan 1965 Metal stampings
Tipton Transmission Tipton, Indiana 2014 Transmissions
Toledo Machining Perrysburg, Ohio 1967 Steering columns and torque converters
Toledo Supplier Park Toledo, Ohio 1942 Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Gladiator (JT)
Trenton Engine Trenton, Michigan 1952 Chrysler Pentastar engine (3.0, 3.2, 3.6)
Warren Stamping Warren, Michigan 1949 Metal stampings
Warren Truck Assembly Warren, Michigan 1938 Jeep Wagoneer, MB Van Cutaway Chassis (known as Warren Compact #3 Plant)

 

[Mikegcny]

I read once that the Cherokee is the most American car by parts (not sure if this is by number of parts, by weight or by percentage of vehicle cost). I think 2 was a Honda.

Have you ever seen the Toledo facilities Facebook page?

 

[PyrPatriot]

I read once that the Cherokee is the most American car by parts (not sure if this is by number of parts, by weight or by percentage of vehicle cost). I think 2 was a Honda.

Have you ever seen the Toledo facilities Facebook page?

I know that for Toyota/Honda they are 80% parts made in the USA. There is a large Toyota factory in KY and the area around it is full of factories for the associated parts that go with them.

I haven't seen their FB page, why?

 

[Mikegcny]

I haven't seen their FB page, why?

Not many of the people who post from there (all employees) seem to give a shit about their jobs. Very few seem to take pride in what they are making and most of the posts are about 'makin money' due to overtime.

Some of the post are funny, like this one lady complaining about having to insert 'the clips' all day, or the guy whose boss was going to charge him for the vehicle decals that he put all over his work station.

 

[futzin']

Not many of the people who post from there (all employees) seem to give a shit about their jobs. Very few seem to take pride in what they are making and most of the posts are about 'makin money' due to overtime.

Man, I don't think I wanna know about how this particular sausage is made . . .

 

[PyrPatriot]

Not many of the people who post from there (all employees) seem to give a shit about their jobs. Very few seem to take pride in what they are making and most of the posts are about 'makin money' due to overtime.

Some of the post are funny, like this one lady complaining about having to insert 'the clips' all day, or the guy whose boss was going to charge him for the vehicle decals that he put all over his work station.

Eh, that is normal blue collar work these days. I saw the youtube videos of how the JL and JT were assembled. I can see it being super boring day in and day out. Some did nothing but wipe down the parts.

 

[Mikegcny]

Some did nothing but wipe down the parts.

I think that they switch up their jobs, and even the line (JL vs JT). If you read some of the stuff people say it would make you think that. Most of what they do from the JL factory video seems fairly foolproof.

Toledo Assembly Plant Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeep-Plant-Toledo-OH/132869936773293

Favorite Post:

 

[futzin']

See, to me that shows some pride in what he works on. Extremely neat, too. I like it!

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

See, to me that shows some pride in what he works on. Extremely neat, too. I like it!

Sadly HR and LP are going to see it as theft unless he’s get receipts. Inventory no matter how small has a value and that value is accounted for.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's difficult to answer. The plastic might be molded in Sri Lanka, but the molding machinery, the software that runs it and the support for the machinery might come from a US company that employs higher paid workers.

This also works in reverse. It can be made in the US by robots that were designed in Germany, built in Eastern Europe with Korean control software.

You've hit upon what so many miss about the new world of things - when something is marked "made in XXX" it MAY be made in XXX in a factory owned by a U.S. company and employees paid by that US company. We don't always know. There are many ways this can happen. Just because something is marked as made outside our borders doesn't mean much any more. "It all depends".

I also know about how things work in auto plants - factories in general. I grew up in a very union household, saw and heard it all. I saw and heard what went on, much first-hand. I heard my father talk of the things done deliberately, the things done because of apathy. Some have great pride in their work. I saw that also. I have the photos of my father winning not one, but three awards for his suggestions that saved time, money and even efforts of his fellow employees - and I know how some of those same employees treated him afterwards as some saw his efforts as all "pro-company" although in the beginning one started as a WORK SAVING suggestion. They didn't understand that it helped them all in the end.

The theft in factories is absolutely crazy. What former auto plant employees have in their garages and sell later is quite interesting.
Wonder why you can go to Kenosha this summer and find a vendor - a former AMC/Jeep employee - with 3 or 4 brand new Jeep 4.0 distributors on his table? What about the 4.0 liter decal on the back of my Eagle - the guy had a stack of them. Where'd they come from?
A penny here or there turns big when "everyone does it" for years on end - and it's not just decals and pens.

 

[12BNNT]

I think that they switch up their jobs, and even the line (JL vs JT). If you read some of the stuff people say it would make you think that. Most of what they do from the JL factory video seems fairly foolproof.

Toledo Assembly Plant Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeep-Plant-Toledo-OH/132869936773293

Favorite Post:

the Jeep coming down the line in the upper background... is that white with a weird blue reflection cast on it or a light blue tint primer coat or what?? Thinking the former but it looks light blue/ powder blue.

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