My wife worked at the NUMMI plant, first as a team member, and then as a team leader, and I will state that in that environment, she and all of the NUMMI team members I met enjoyed working there. Having toured the Detroit auto factories in the late 60's and early 70's, I remember that come hell or high water, I would NEVER let myself work in that environment. Workers looked bored, burned out, spaced out, or angry, and I clearly remember those stares to this day. Moving forward to the mid '90's, and long before my wife started working there, I went on a tour of the NUMMI plant, as part of an LMR program. What a difference. Any and all employees were encouraged to stop the line if they found a problem with a vehicle, so it could be corrected. My wife even received benefits and recognition for that, as well as proposing solutions to improve the process.
Interviewing for getting a job there was also a trip. She had to go one day for a written test, and another day to 'assemble' certain parts together in a training room. She was graded on not only the number completed, but also on properly completed ones. My wife told me about something she experienced during the written test. The instructor stated at the beginning of the test, each section would be timed. Upon the announcement that time had expired, applicants should immediately stop and put their pencils down on the desk top. A few sections later, time expired, but one applicant didn't stop or put their pencil down. The instructor said to the entire group that upon it happening again the 'violator' would be dismissed. My wife said that as the instructor put it, if you don't follow these simple instructions in a classroom, why would NUMMI expect you to follow assembly instructions on the factory floor. I thought that was a pretty good point.
When GM declared bankruptcy and walked away from the joint venture with Toyota, that left Toyota holding the bag. The nails were in the coffin, and the UAW and Toyota worked out, as best they could, the shutdown of the factory. Toyota offered certain items for sale to NUMMI employees only, and ultimately, I participated in the Hilco auction in Sept of their final year of operation, as well as a 'last chance' auction in Dec of that year for the last items NUMMI had kept going until Tesla took over the plant in January. Toyota offered incentives to NUMMI employees to be there every day until the plant ceased operations. Some of the NUMMI employees were offered jobs by Tesla. My wife said the NUMMI plant job was the best place she has ever worked.
Picking up the MS at the factory was the first time she had been back in about 7 years.
Scotty