As consumer interest in compact vehicles wanes, GM has announced its intention to scale back production at its Lordstown, Ohio plant. This move is likely to send negative ripple effects throughout the region, affecting both employees and suppliers, notes PVMI member Susan Helper.
Auto manufacturers would do well to diversify their plants to help insulate them against such potentially disastrous market shifts, Helper says. For instance, they could design more cars to be manufactured using the same equipment, making the plants more versatile. Meanwhile, Ohio’s senators are calling on GM to revamp the plant so that it can retain workers.