General Motors 3800 V6 Engine: The Untold Story: Employee Involvement thru Teamwork, Process and Focus

People who owned a General Motors vehicle with the vaunted 3800 V6 engine often provide testimony about the car’s great performance, be it gas mileage, acceleration or durability. Even after 25 years, people recount their satisfaction with the engine. However, only a handful of people know “how” the 3800 came to be such a fine product. That story is testimony to management, union and hourly workers coming together for a common goal. The development of the processes, teamwork and focus that ultimately enabled the 3800 engine was slow, intermittent, multidirectional and a struggle. Hundreds of personalities from various disciplines had to have their inputs considered and digested, and only some were implemented. The collaboration of Product Engineering working with Manufacturing and hourly employees, and suppliers was embodiment of the principles put forth by Dr. Deming, and the foundation for continuous improvement of this product that earned the reputation for being “bullet-proof.” Readers of General Motors 3800 V6 Engine – the Untold Story are provided a brief history of the Buick V6 engine that preceded the 3800 first introduced in 1988. Drawing from documents published in the 3800 Engine plant as well as numerous testimonials, the story is told chronologically. Quality Committees led by hourly personnel on all shifts were the “glue” for communicating with everyone including Product Engineering. What unfolds is a growing awareness of the complexities and constant change facing the teams. Those pressures and changes are no different from what others face in today’s fiercely competitive automotive industry. Proceeds from this book go to Carriage Town Ministries in Flint, Michigan. Dr. Dallas Gatlin, Executive Director of Carriage Town, reflects, “The people of Flint, Michigan created a great engine. The engine wasn’t the 3800. It was the trust that leadership placed in the people who created the 3800. This team could have created anything. The great engine was the people.” Other companies may have different challenges and issues, but the basics of Deming and the accomplishments of the 3800 team serve as a beacon for those who wish to improve product quality. Read more