Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC), an engine manufacturing unit of Daimler Trucks North America, has been presented with the Productivity Award in Warehousing/Manufacturing by the magazine Modern Materials Handling. DDC was honored for its innovative materials handling process at its plant in Redford, Michigan.

Daimler Trucks’ lean management concept, known as the Truck Operating System (TOS), has led to a sustainable reorganization of DDC’s Redford location. The engine manufacturer invested nearly €200 million to refurbish and retool the three 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 for materials procurement. 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, DDC’s material flow engineering supervisor. “We strive to continually increase productivity and quality in line with the TOS, and this distinction is a reflection of our innovative and pioneering approach to manufacturing.”

Headquartered in Redford, Michigan, Detroit Diesel Corporation is a company of Daimler Trucks North America and a leading manufacturer of on-highway diesel engines for the commercial truck market.