GE Reports » American Renewal

GE’s plan to add 830 jobs to Louisville draws VP Biden

GEreporter — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:39:26 +0000

The changes underway at GE’s Louisville, Kentucky manufacturing plant continue to draw national attention for the way in which investing in a downturn can not only make good business sense, but have a ripple effect of good news on the jobs front. Yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden visited GE’s Appliance Park to see firsthand the impact of GE’s $600 million investment in the facility — which is expanding production with three new energy efficient product lines. Biden told the GE employees assembled in the factory: “I don’t see where it’s written anywhere that we can’t be the manufacturing leader of the world again… I don’t see where it’s written that our nation’s, or Kentucky’s, best days are behind us.” As Jim Campbell, President and CEO of GE Appliances and Lighting, says in the video below, “This investment for this business is unprecedented.”

GE Appliances & Lighting plans to add some 830 jobs at the Appliance Park campus in Louisville through 2013, thanks to new products. Production of new hybrid electric water heaters is to begin in 2011, followed by a new line of “smart” washing machines in 2012 and matching smart dryers the following year.

Powering out of the recession: GE’s $600 million investment was aided by $24.8 million in tax credits that GE received as part of the economic recovery act to retrofit and retool the Louisville facility.

From reset to renew: Vice President Biden was joined on stage by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Congressman John Yarmuth, assembly line worker Nechelle Thomas, and GE Appliances & Lighting President and CEO Jim Campbell.

First look: While at the plant, Biden was given a tour of the retooled dishwasher line.

GE’s new GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater is the first completely new product line to be made at the factory in more than 50 years, and it’s being developed using the Shingijutsu philosophy, or Lean production system. That approach reinvents the entire manufacturing process to maximize efficiency, beginning with how the factory itself is designed.

As Jim Campbell said when the smart washer and dryer decision was announced earlier this year: “We are making big investments in new products and in energy-efficient technologies that are creating American jobs. We can’t make these products in the U.S. competitively without everyone coming to the table — unions, the Company, employees, local/state/federal officials.”

Learn more in these GE Reports stories:
* “Re-inventing factories: The Kaizen/‘moonshine’ method”
* “Building smart washers/dryers in KY to create 430 jobs”
* “GE’s new KY deal marks a great time to be in hot water”
* “American Renewal: Immelt addresses Detroit Econ Club”

Re-inventing factories: The Kaizen/‘moonshine’ method

GEreporter — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:02:05 +0000

As part of its $600 million investment in Louisville’s Appliance Park, GE is not just bringing jobs to Kentucky — it’s re-imaging the entire manufacturing process. GE Appliances & Lighting’s new GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater — which is the first completely new product line to be made at the factory in more than 50 years — is being developed using the Shingijutsu philosophy, or Lean production system. As you can see in the video below, it involves building the most efficient factory design via full-scale models using everything from cardboard barrels to Lego toys. As Louisville’s The Courier-Journal described it: “GE factory workers, engineers, designers and managers tore apart the GeoSpring hybrid water heater now produced in China…, examining in minute detail how the water heater will come together when the work moves to Louisville next year…. GE’s Japanese consultants call the approach ‘Kaizen,’ which means ‘continuous improvement.’ The Louisvillians call the build-from-scratch method ‘moonshining.’”

The approach cuts product development time by allowing the teams to identify problems early so that adjustments can be made quickly. In addition to the water heater, GE’s dishwasher and top-load washing machine platforms currently made at Appliance Park will be redesigned from scratch — all using Lean manufacturing techniques.

Pointing to Toyota’s use of the manufacturing philosophy, The Courier-Journal noted that, “outside the auto industry, lean manufacturing techniques still are relatively rare and have been adopted in only 15 percent to 20 percent of non-auto factories in the U.S.” The paper went on to note that “in China, workers now strain to hoist a 20-pound compressor atop the upright GeoSpring water heater and connect the pipes… The Louisville team rearranged the assembly process so the compressor could be attached while the GeoSpring lies horizontally… Also in China, factory workers now thread their fingers through tight spaces behind the water heater’s control panel to plug in 17 electrical connections. At Appliance Park, the GeoSpring’s control panel will instead swing open like a glove box.”

Hot stuff: Among the other 2010 winners is a pen that digitally records everything you write and uploads it to your computer later and a “sleep coach” that studies your sleep pattern and finds ways to improve it.

Not only is the GeoSpring Hybrid Water Heater getting a new home – it’s also an award-winner, having just taken the top honors in the Lifestyle and Social Impact category of the Edison Awards – which has been dubbed the “Oscars of Innovation.”

As The Daily Beast describes it: “Each year, the Edison Awards honor the inspiration, perspiration, and downright coolness behind the most innovative and cutting-edge new products and services. Two thousand business executives judge recent inventions handpicked by the Awards Steering Committee for their ingenuity, impact on society, and the creativity with which they were introduced to the public.” The Beast editors add: “Thomas would be proud.”

* See the full list of Edison Award winners
* Read the Lean manufacturing announcement
* Read “GE Appliance Park taps Japanese efficiency” in The Courier-Journal
* Learn more about the GeoSpring hybrid water heater

Learn more in these GE Reports stories:
* “Building smart washers/dryers in KY to create 430 jobs”
* “GE’s new KY deal marks a great time to be in hot water”
* “American Renewal: Immelt addresses Detroit Econ Club”
* “HD Supply deal pumps new hybrid water heater rollout”
* “Getting smarter about the smart grid”
* “Introducing the zero energy home”

GE’s new Michigan tech jobs to balloon past 1,300

GEreporter — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:44:39 +0000

Economically hard-hit Michigan has another 220 jobs coming its way. Today GE announced that it’s expanded the commitment it made last year to locate 1,100 new jobs in the state — with the new total now topping 1,300 over the next five years. The new jobs are part of a significant investment being made by GE Aviation and will support the development and manufacturing of advanced jet engines and avionics systems. GE is now hiring technical talent at the rate of two per day in the state — with over 90 percent of the first 200 new hires coming from Michigan.

Pedal to the metal: With the expanded jobs commitment, GE will bring its total Michigan employment to 3,500 across several facilities including those in Van Buren Township, Muskegon and Grand Rapids. Among those at the ribbon cutting today at GE’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center in Van Buren Township were, from far left: Wayne County Executive Bob Fianco, GE’s AMSTC Site Leader Vic Bhagat, GE’s Charlene Begley (slightly hidden), Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, GE’s John Rice, Senator Carl Levin and Congressman Sandy Levin.

“While we are in the early days of our partnership with Michigan, we love what we’ve seen and want to accelerate our growth,” said GE Vice Chairman John Rice. “The exceptional number of talented, experienced professionals — coupled with the state’s strong advanced technology manufacturing capabilities — makes putting additional jobs here an easy decision. Growing jobs in Michigan means growth for GE.” The video below provides a recap of the day’s event.

Go time: As Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm told CNBC this morning in the video below : “This is the time to invest…. the smart CEOs are doing investments counter-cyclically.”

Getting technical: The focal point of GE’s efforts will be its Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center in Van Buren Township. Having opened its doors in October 2009, the state-of-the-art IT and R&D center will house GE’s largest concentration of information technology professionals worldwide. It currently employs over 200 senior IT professionals.

Jetting to the future: “The workers at this facility will help bring innovation from the research lab to the manufacturing floor,” said. Sen. Carl Levin, above. Of the 220 jobs, 90 will be added to GE’s Johnson Technology facility in Muskegon, where GE will expand capabilities in high-pressure turbine coatings. The other 130 will be added to the Van Buren Township tech center and will focus on advanced turbine technologies. GE is also investing further in its Engineering Center of Excellence in Grand Rapids.

Adding value: John Rice told the audience: “These are more than 1,300 high-value jobs that will make our business — and our customer’s businesses — even more productive and competitive.”

Where the action is: Charlene Begley, President and CEO of GE Home & Business Solutions and Senior Vice President and CIO for GE, said of the new hires already at GE’s Van Buren Township tech center: “You represent the tenacious, passionate spirit of this great state. You represent technical excellence in your fields. You also represent our commitment to making this site GE’s largest concentration of IT professionals around the globe.” She’s pictured at left with Sen. Levin and Sen. Stabenow.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Software Technology Center will also include a GE research facility where GE will develop the next generation of manufacturing technologies to drive continued innovation in aircraft engines, renewable energy and other high tech areas. It will also bring together GE experts in software development, data architecture, networking, business intelligence, and program management.

Read today’s GE Global Research blog post by Doug Dinon about his work establishing their new R&D operation at the Van Buren Township center.

* Read today’s announcement
* Media can access photos and videos at: http://ge.presslift.com/michiganjobs
* Visit the tech center’s website
* Watch a video about the tech center
* Listen to a podcast from Vic Bhagat, the center’s Site Leader
* Read Jeff Immelt’s announcement about the center on GE Reports
* Follow coverage in: AnnArbor Business Chronicle, Detroit Free Press, Lake Living Magazine
* Find more Aviation stories on GE Reports
* Read “It’s electric: GE announces R&D center in Ohio” on GE Reports
* Read “Building smart washers/dryers in KY to create 430 jobs” on GE Reports
* Read “American Renewal: Immelt addresses Detroit Econ Club” on GE Reports

Building smart washers/dryers in KY to create 430 jobs

GEreporter — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:23:58 +0000

Louisville, Kentucky has scored another jobs win with today’s announcement that GE’s Consumer & Industrial business will make its new “smart” washer and dryers at its Appliance Park plant starting in 2012. Making the high-end machines will create 430 new manufacturing and engineering jobs. When combined with GE’s decision earlier this year to build a new hybrid water heater in Louisville, it brings the total number of new jobs announced in 2009 at the plant to 830.

Local heroes: The new appliances will be made at Appliance Park, seen above in this file photo, thanks to a partnership between GE — which is focusing on reinvigorating manufacturing in the U.S. — and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the Metro Louisville government. The package of incentives that resulted is designed to increase employment and economic development in the region.

The smart-grid enabled GE Profile appliances — which can communicate with home energy management software and utility smart meters to reduce demand during peak usage times — will meet proposed new 2014 Energy Star standards. The washing machine would go into production in the third quarter of 2012 and the new dryer in the third quarter of 2013. Currently, 90 percent of GE’s front-load washers dryers are manufactured outside the U.S. In addition to new jobs, GE’s plans call for an investment of more than $80 million on the new programs announced today.

The GE hybrid water heater, which is GE’s first commercially available smart-grid enabled product, is currently made by a supplier and is available for sale. However it will go into production in mid-2011 in Louisville.

“We are making big investments in new products and in energy-efficient technologies that are creating American jobs,” said GE Consumer & Industrial President and CEO Jim Campbell. “We can’t make these products in the U.S. competitively without everyone coming to the table — unions, the Company, employees, local/state/federal officials. We are grateful to the state and the city for their continued support in bringing these new products and jobs to Appliance Park.”

Bright outlook: “This new washer and dryer line not only brings new jobs to Louisville, it brings green and energy-efficient appliances to our city,” said Jerry Abramson, the mayor of Louisville, which is pictured above, “The future of GE in Louisville, which once was in jeopardy, is now very bright.”

* Read today’s announcement
* Read more about recent hiring at Appliance Park

Learn more in these GE Reports stories:
* “Renewing American Leadership: Immelt at West Point”
* “American Renewal: Immelt addresses Detroit Econ Club”
* “GE’s new KY deal marks a great time to be in hot water”
* “HD Supply deal pumps new hybrid water heater rollout”
* “Getting smarter about the smart grid”
* “Introducing the zero energy home”
* Watch GE Reports’ videos about our smart grid research labs

Renewing American Leadership: Immelt at West Point

GEreporter — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:01:49 +0000

Today GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt spoke at the United States Military Academy at West Point, focusing on the need for leaders who have the courage to change themselves and others if the country is to realize a better economic future after the seismic changes of the last year. And it’s precisely West Point’s values of “Duty, Honor, and Country” and its commitment to integrity, performance and change that “every person in the United States — from business and from government — can learn from,” he said.

21st Century Leaders: There are 11,000 veterans working at GE, 238 West Point graduates, and nearly 600 from all the service academies. Photo courtesy of West Point.

Below are excerpts from the written copy of Jeff’s speech that was prepared for West Point’s Distinguished Leader Series forum today.

* Read Jeff’s “Renewing American Leadership” speech in full.

Stressing the need for a new commitment to manufacturing and R&D following the worst economic conditions since 1940, Jeff told the cadets: “We need a new strategy for this economy. We should clear away any arrogance, false assumptions, or a sense that things will be ‘ok’ just because we are America. Rather, we should dedicate ourselves again to be the most competitive country in the world… We need to invest more in innovation. We need to target this innovation toward fulfilling big needs like clean energy. We need to make products here and have the self-confidence to sell them around the world. And we need business and government to work together instead of arguing while other countries win.”

He noted that energy leadership not only will keep the U.S. competitive and secure, “it will also create jobs,” with about 10 million being clean energy jobs in the next five years –- many of which can be in the U.S. “if we act now,” he said.

“So, we have an understanding of what happened. We know what it takes to win. But the real question in all this is who will lead us? This is what I really want to talk with you about today. Nothing of consequence is accomplished without leadership. You are being taught leadership here at the USMA. Leadership is the essence of what you will do when you graduate.”

Jeff told the audience that GE has been working hard to understand what attributes of leadership can make an impact given the challenges of the 21st century. First, “we have to be better listeners,” he said. “21st Century leaders listen. They use external inputs as a catalyst. They put their ego in check. They ask more questions than they answer. They welcome dissent and debate, and are constantly seeking more intelligence.”

Second, “leaders must become systems thinkers who are comfortable with ambiguity,” he said. “Success requires problem solving, and connecting the dots. This requires intellectual breadth and tactical depth. We must understand technology, globalization, politics, economics, human resources. We must understand how government, community, the environment, business, academics all connect. And we must apply this to solving problems.”

Third, “leaders must build competency and move with speed,” Jeff said. “GE is a big organization, like the Army. The problem with size is that it can be too slow. At GE, we must push decision-making down in the organization and we must delegate more.”

Last, leaders, he said, “must motivate with vision” — providing the “emotional connection that inspires action and commitment.” And they must re-earn the trust that was lost during the economic meltdown.

“The residue of the past was a more individualistic ‘win-lose’ game,” he said. “The 21st century is about building bigger and diverse teams; teams that have a culture of respect…. This new spirit of American leadership — much of which is derived from this great institution — will be the foundation of renewal and change.”

*See photos of the event on the Facebook page of West Point’s Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership.

Learn more in these GE Reports stories:
* “American Renewal: Immelt addresses Detroit Econ Club”
* “Manufacturing in Massachusetts: Send in the Marines”
* “From GE Global Research to Camp Liberty, Baghdad”
* “The military precision driving GE’s precision products”
* Visit GE’s veterans Web site