Touring an Auto Plant and watching them make it!
- Thread starter mareakin
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I've been through the Honda plants in the Marysville/East Liberty Ohio area multiple times, as well as the Honda engine plant at Anna, Ohio.
The best was the plant at East Liberty where they build the Honda Element. It was the most technologically advanced of them all.
Unfortunately, Honda doesn't allow tours of the plants like they used to.
The best was the plant at East Liberty where they build the Honda Element. It was the most technologically advanced of them all.
Unfortunately, Honda doesn't allow tours of the plants like they used to.
I would love to do this at as many venues as possible. Maybe when I retire.
Working in a GM plant everyday makes me "numb" to the miracle of car building...but I always enjoy taking folks on personal tours and seeing their expressions when they see just how much goes into making a car/truck.
As I've mentiones several times - any of you guys are welcome to take a tour thru my plant - personally by me - if you're ever in Texas.
As I've mentiones several times - any of you guys are welcome to take a tour thru my plant - personally by me - if you're ever in Texas.
Not an auto plant, but the Harley plant in York, PA gives tours. Probably not as high tech as some ultra modern auto plants, but still fascinating to watch. Even my mother, who doesn't give a fig about motorcycles, enjoyed the tour.
Originally Posted By: Frbl
Not an auto plant, but the Harley plant in York, PA gives tours. Probably not as high tech as some ultra modern auto plants, but still fascinating to watch. Even my mother, who doesn't give a fig about motorcycles, enjoyed the tour.
When I lived in MD, I used to go up to the York plant once a year and did the plant tour and the museum. Made for a nice bike ride, only being about and hour away from my then home.
Not an auto plant, but the Harley plant in York, PA gives tours. Probably not as high tech as some ultra modern auto plants, but still fascinating to watch. Even my mother, who doesn't give a fig about motorcycles, enjoyed the tour.
When I lived in MD, I used to go up to the York plant once a year and did the plant tour and the museum. Made for a nice bike ride, only being about and hour away from my then home.
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Come to a power station.
We have hugely complicated systems that don't actually make anything.
We pull already existing electrons off stuff, send them in the general direction of your power socket, and take them (our their equivalent) back again...50 (or 60) times a second
We have hugely complicated systems that don't actually make anything.
We pull already existing electrons off stuff, send them in the general direction of your power socket, and take them (our their equivalent) back again...50 (or 60) times a second
I had a tour of the GM plant in Oshawa On. It was a school trip back in grade 12.
JHZR2
Staff member
I did a chrysler plant in college and the BMW plant in SC when I picked up my car at their performance center.
Pretty sure that tours are readily available at many plants, as they seem to have a visitor's center of sorts.
Pretty sure that tours are readily available at many plants, as they seem to have a visitor's center of sorts.
I went for a tour of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Stuttgart in 2000. It was quite the place, lots of automation, even the tour "train" drove itself and it was extremely clean and organized.
They had a test track with a cobble stones section and apparently every car off the line got tested for rattles or other issues. Also they had a reception area where people could pick up their new car and get "introduced" to it by a customer service tech.
Anyways it did give the impression they were trying to build the best cars in the world, with almost no expense spared.
They had a test track with a cobble stones section and apparently every car off the line got tested for rattles or other issues. Also they had a reception area where people could pick up their new car and get "introduced" to it by a customer service tech.
Anyways it did give the impression they were trying to build the best cars in the world, with almost no expense spared.
Depends on the plant. I toured the Ford plant in Chicago twice with my Boy Scout Troop. This was something the leader had arranged. The Corvette plant in Bowling Green used to have a series of standing public tours scheduled, no appointment or anything required. Don't know if they still do that, but when I happened to be in the area I was able to get in without a problem. I also stopped in at the Georgetown Toyota plant but was informed that they didn't really have tours for the public, but had I been in the area in another week or so there was a tour day scheduled for county residents.
Poke around on the manufacturer's site(s) and I'm sure you'll find something available.
Poke around on the manufacturer's site(s) and I'm sure you'll find something available.
GMBoy, if I'm ever in the area I WILL take you up on that offer. Too bad I don't really have a usable excuse to go to Texas.
Does your plant ever have open house tours? I remember back in 80's the OKC plant had an open house tour. My memory is a little foggy but it was a big production and really cool. I think there was food, souvenirs, the latest models on display like the new '84 vette. I have a really cool book illustrated in color with GM models of the last 75 years (to 1909). Some of the cars in it are a 16 cyl Cadillac, '70 Camaro with 360 HP and the Firebird etc. I think the book was free. Those were the days.
Originally Posted By: Nick R
GMBoy, if I'm ever in the area I WILL take you up on that offer. Too bad I don't really have a usable excuse to go to Texas.
I love TX. You could go there to see the location the JFK assassination if nothing else lol. I think the plant is in the same metroplex. There's a six flags amusement park and lots of stuff there.
GMBoy, if I'm ever in the area I WILL take you up on that offer. Too bad I don't really have a usable excuse to go to Texas.
I love TX. You could go there to see the location the JFK assassination if nothing else lol. I think the plant is in the same metroplex. There's a six flags amusement park and lots of stuff there.
If you are ever in the Dearborn MI area, The Henry Ford(Formerly Greenfield Village and Museum), is a fantastic way to spend a day or two....or a month. There is a LOT to see.
They also arrange tours of the Rouge Complex.....
http://www.hfmgv.org/rouge/index.aspx
They also arrange tours of the Rouge Complex.....
http://www.hfmgv.org/rouge/index.aspx
If you like F-150's you can tour The Ford Rouge Plant near Detroit.
I worked across the river at the Chrysler Windsor Assembly and Engine Plants in the 1960's. Like GMBoy says, it get to be "old hat" if you work there but every gearhead should tour at least one assembly plant.
I worked across the river at the Chrysler Windsor Assembly and Engine Plants in the 1960's. Like GMBoy says, it get to be "old hat" if you work there but every gearhead should tour at least one assembly plant.
I toured the NUMMI plant (RIP) and Toyota Logistics in Fremont, Calif a couple of years ago. NUMMI required an appointment but it was easy to get, Toyota Logistics is not normally open to the public.
It was a great tour. I was in a class that was studying the Toyota Production System so it was interesting to see them "practice what they preach".
It was a great tour. I was in a class that was studying the Toyota Production System so it was interesting to see them "practice what they preach".
I went on a tour of the looonnngggg gone GM Linden, N.J. plant as a 4th grade field trip, long before most of the members on here were even born.
It was one of the coolest things I had experienced up to that point in my life, being a gearhead at an early age.
I can still remember the smell of the paint from the spray rooms, and the sight of '65 Impala SSes rolling off of the end of the line.
Ironically enough, about 15-16 years prior, my dad worked in that same plant as a summer job during college.
It was one of the coolest things I had experienced up to that point in my life, being a gearhead at an early age.
I can still remember the smell of the paint from the spray rooms, and the sight of '65 Impala SSes rolling off of the end of the line.
Ironically enough, about 15-16 years prior, my dad worked in that same plant as a summer job during college.
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