Jay
09-09-2008, 03:39 PM
WILLIAMSTOWN - More jobs are on order for the Hino plant, officials said.
"We are in the process of hiring an additional 30 people to nearly double the capacity of our first shift," said Joe Chronley, general manager of the Williamstown plant.
The plant employs roughly 80 people with new jobs to be incorporated into the one shift instead of making a second.
"We will be going through a line extension to rebalance the work as we combine the new employees," Chronley said.
Keith Burdette, president of the Wood County Economic Development Authority, said the addition of employees shows the company's commitment to the Mid-Ohio Valley.
"It's a great sign that they are here to stay," Burdette said.
These added jobs are expected to allow the plant to increase production by 20 trucks a week.
"We are currently making 30 vehicles per week and will be making 50 vehicles in the next few weeks," Chronley said.
Chronley said the new employees must go through the same training the current employees went through, which means the increase in truck production will not be seen for months.
"In late September, we will move to 100 (trucks) per week," he said.
The growth of the plant is a direct result of the ceasing of production at the Toyota Auto Body Consortium in Long Beach, Calif., this summer.
Hiring is "largely related with the move of production from California," said Sandy Ring, general manager of external and legal affairs for Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A.
Ring said the California plant was not closed, but Hino had a contractual relationship with another company and that relationship ended.
"We did not close a plant and people did not lose their jobs," Ring said.
The California operations ceased because the company has hopes to localize manufacturing and production of Hino trucks.
"It is really great that this is all happening at a time when commercial truck sales all vehicles sales, really aren't doing all that well," Burdette said.
Ring added the company is hopeful that more jobs will be added and production increased in the future.
"We're still in a very sluggish market, but as demand increases, we will certainly be hiring more," Ring said.
"We are in the process of hiring an additional 30 people to nearly double the capacity of our first shift," said Joe Chronley, general manager of the Williamstown plant.
The plant employs roughly 80 people with new jobs to be incorporated into the one shift instead of making a second.
"We will be going through a line extension to rebalance the work as we combine the new employees," Chronley said.
Keith Burdette, president of the Wood County Economic Development Authority, said the addition of employees shows the company's commitment to the Mid-Ohio Valley.
"It's a great sign that they are here to stay," Burdette said.
These added jobs are expected to allow the plant to increase production by 20 trucks a week.
"We are currently making 30 vehicles per week and will be making 50 vehicles in the next few weeks," Chronley said.
Chronley said the new employees must go through the same training the current employees went through, which means the increase in truck production will not be seen for months.
"In late September, we will move to 100 (trucks) per week," he said.
The growth of the plant is a direct result of the ceasing of production at the Toyota Auto Body Consortium in Long Beach, Calif., this summer.
Hiring is "largely related with the move of production from California," said Sandy Ring, general manager of external and legal affairs for Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A.
Ring said the California plant was not closed, but Hino had a contractual relationship with another company and that relationship ended.
"We did not close a plant and people did not lose their jobs," Ring said.
The California operations ceased because the company has hopes to localize manufacturing and production of Hino trucks.
"It is really great that this is all happening at a time when commercial truck sales all vehicles sales, really aren't doing all that well," Burdette said.
Ring added the company is hopeful that more jobs will be added and production increased in the future.
"We're still in a very sluggish market, but as demand increases, we will certainly be hiring more," Ring said.