Homi Patel, vice president and general manager of GMPT Manufacturing, made the announcement. "As manufacturing manager, Mike's ability to lead, empower, coach and recognize his team has resulted in significant gains in business performance. He has also created strong partnerships with outside casting suppliers and provided them with the necessary support to achieve quality and productivity improvements. Mike's achievements have been recognized both internally and externally. In 1997, he earned the James P. Keating Founders' Freedom Award from the American Foundrymen's Society for the significant contributions he has made to the foundry industry, as well as for his active participation in the fields of government affairs, human resource management, health and safety, and education. In addition, under Mike's guidance, the casting sector received the FranklinCovey Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2002."
Patel added that, "Arvin has demonstrated strong leadership capability in managing complex operations and delivering results. Most recently, he oversaw a new product launch at the Ellesmere Port plant. Arvin's broad base of experience in transmissions, engines and quality have contributed to his success and will be an asset in his new role with the castings and components sector, enabling us to continue the improvements initiated under Mike's leadership."
Williams began his GM career in 1961 as a General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) co-operative student. He held a variety of materials management and manufacturing assignments of increasing responsibility, including manufacturing superintendent, divisional production manager, and manager of purchasing and material control. Mike became a director of production control with the vehicle operating group in 1984 and moved to GM corporate purchasing activities as the director of commodities management the following year. In 1986, he was named director of materials management at the Central Foundry Division. Williams managed several business units at Central Foundry before joining GMPT as the director of manufacturing for casting operations in 1992. He assumed additional responsibilities for the components sector and was named to his current position in 1997. Williams received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from GMI and a master's degree in management from Central Michigan University. He also completed executive programs at Wabash College and at Stanford University. Williams is a past president of the Foundry Association of Michigan and is currently active in the American Foundry Society.
Jones began his GM career in 1977 as an industrial engineer in Dayton, Ohio. He advanced within the manufacturing and engineering organizations and in 1987 transferred to Buffalo, N.Y., as a production manager. In 1990, Jones was promoted to operations manager for the GMPT Willow Run transmission plant. He was appointed director of manufacturing quality systems in 1993 and the following year became the production manager at the Tonawanda, N.Y., engine facility. He was promoted to plant manager in 1996 and held that position until 2000, when he began his assignment with Vauxhall. Jones holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Dayton. He also completed an executive development program at the Harvard Business School.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, employs 342,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in more than 190 countries. In 2002, GM sold more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer website at www.gm.com .
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