Indiana Transmission Plant Reaches 25 Million Safe Work Hours

Stellantis’ Indiana Transmission Plant (ITP) in Kokomo, Indiana, has reached a significant milestone, celebrating over 25 million man-hours worked without a lost time injury. This achievement spans more than 2,225 days or just over nine years, highlighting the plant’s commitment to workplace safety.

The plant was completed and began producing transmissions in 1998. Currently, the facility produces the RFE 65/66/68 transmissions for the Ram Cummins Heavy Duty models and the 948TE 9-speed automatic transmission for the Chrysler Pacifica. In February 2023, Stellantis announced that it would invest a total of $155 million in the automaker’s three Kokomo plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power its future electric vehicle (EV) lineup. Production is expected to start in Q3 2024, following retooling.

Commitment to Safety – 

“ITP’s remarkable accomplishment reinforces Stellantis’ commitment to fostering a culture of safety across all our facilities,” said Tobin J. Williams, Senior Vice President for Human Resources at Stellantis North America. “By prioritizing the well-being of our employees, we not only ensure their individual safety but also contribute to the overall success and sustainability of our operations.”

The Indiana Transmission Plant joins two other Stellantis North American facilities in surpassing the 25-million-hour mark: the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, and the Saltillo North Engine Plant in Mexico, which have achieved over 44 million and 32 million man-hours without a lost time injury, respectively.

“ITP, Brampton Assembly, and Saltillo North Engine are truly leading by example with their focus on safety first,” said Michael J. Resha, Head of Manufacturing at Stellantis North America. “By sharing best practices across our plants, we are committing to protecting each other and maintaining a heightened awareness for safety.”

Innovations and Improvements – 

The ITP team continues to innovate and improve safety measures. Recently, the plant integrated backup cameras into its powered industrial vehicle (PIV) tugger fleets’ safety systems. These cameras activate when the PIV is in reverse, providing increased visibility around the vehicle. The hitch/lever connection systems were upgraded to eliminate pinch points and reduce the force needed to open the hitch during material deliveries. These upgrades have resulted in significant safety improvements, including a more than 50% decrease in the total PIV tugger Job Safety Risk Assessment (JSRA) score.

Motion sensors have also been installed on internal doors to detect movement, triggering flashing red LED lights to alert pedestrians and PIV operators of potential traffic, ensuring safe passage through intersections.

Fostering a Culture of Safety – 

Management at ITP emphasizes the importance of a strong safety culture. Daily one-on-one Wellbeing, Health & Safety (WHS) conversations with employees cover a variety of safety-related topics. Since August 2023, over 8,000 WHS conversations have been recorded, enhancing safety knowledge and fostering mentorship on the shop floor.

“For ITP, this milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Kokomo team in upholding safety as a core value,” said David Dukes, Indiana Transmission Plant manager. “Our top priority is ensuring that our employees return home safely to their families each day.”