Detroit Diesel has been recognized with a Modern Productivity Award in Warehousing/Manufacturing from Modern Materials Handling magazine.


The company was recognized for its innovative materials handling process that supports the manufacturing line at its Redford, Mich., plant.

Detroit Diesel invested $275 million to refurbish and retool the 3-million-square-foot plant where the DD15 and DD13 engines are manufactured. Updates to the plant included creating a central warehouse area with narrow-aisle high bay storage to free up space for the new line and implementing a Kanban system to pull material to the line on a just-in-time basis. The new system uses a series of specially-designed carts that deliver parts and components to the line and route the engines from one workstation to the next.

"We are proud to be recognized for our redesigned materials handling and storage processes," says Chris Russell, Detroit Diesel's material flow engineering supervisor. "We strive to continually increase productivity and improve quality and this distinction is a reflection of Detroit Diesel's innovative approach to manufacturing."