Mauro Pino, who has managed the Fiat Termini Imerese factory for three years, started work in Toledo on Monday, managing both plants. Chrysler makes the Jeep Wrangler at the Toledo Supplier Park factory, while the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro are made at the adjacent Toledo North Assembly Plant. 

Sadly, the Fiat Termini Imerese (a town and comune  in the province of Palermo on the northern coast of Sicily, southern Italy) plant that Pino has previously managed, is scheduled to close at the end of 201, and has caused a furor in Italy.

Chrysler Taps Fiat Manager from Sicily to Run Jeep Plants
Automotive News - Bradford Wernle ; April 7, 2010 

Chrysler Group has imported the manager of a Fiat factory in Sicily to run two Jeep assembly plants in Toledo, Ohio, the Toledo Blade reported.

Mauro Pino, who has managed the Termini Imerese factory for three years, started work in Toledo on Monday, the newspaper said. 

Jodi Tinson, Chrysler spokeswoman, said the two Jeep plants in Toledo had previously been run by different managers. She declined to provide further information. Chrysler makes the Jeep Wrangler at the Toledo Supplier Park factory, while the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro are made at the adjacent Toledo North Assembly Plant. 

Chrysler employs 1,728 hourly and 107 salaried workers at the two sites.

Chrysler is adopting Fiat?s manufacturing system at all of its factories, including both Toledo plants. The system is based on methods pioneered by Japanese manufacturers, including Toyota Motor Corp. 

Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne's plans to close Termini Imerese at the end of 2011 have caused a furor in Italy. In February, Pope Benedict XVI scolded Fiat for the closure plan.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (With Archives) on:
[Formerly Italy at St Louis]