Honda transfers Ridgeline pickup between assembly lines at Alabama plant

Honda employees celebrate the transfer of the Ridgeline pickup at the Alabama factory in Lincoln.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Ridgeline pickup was transferred to Line 1 at Honda's Alabama auto factory in Lincoln today, about two months after production on it was halted on Line 2 to prepare for move.

The transfer allows the automaker to continue to prepare Line 2 for the addition of the Acura MDX SUV, which will arrive next year.

Transferring models between assembly lines is significant, because it also requires the transfer of tooling and dies that are used to make that model. Employees also receive training on the model that is new to their line.

The move also demonstrates Honda's trademark manufacturing flexibility.

In the case of the Ridgeline at the Lincoln plant, the pickup had previously been built on Line 1, up until last year, when it was moved to increase production of the Odyssey minivan on Line 1. Now, it's back.

Along with the Ridgeline and Odyssey, Honda's 4,000 Alabama workers also build the Pilot SUV in Lincoln and the V-6 engines that power all of the vehicles. Ridgeline production started there in 2009, after it was transferred from Canada.

The Lincoln plant has been a busy place lately, as it is adding jobs, readjusting shifts and increasing production capacity.

Sales of the vehicles are rising.

Source;
http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2012/08/honda_transfers_ridgeline_pick.html