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SAE Kicks Off 1998-99 Season

8 September 1998

SAE Kicks Off 1998-99 Season with the Dodge Dakota Brazilian Success Story -- Modular Vehicle Assembly Comes of Age

    DETROIT, Sept. 8 -- The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
Detroit Section kicks off its 1998-99 season with a dinner meeting featuring a
combined presentation by representatives from Chrysler Corporation
and Dana Corporation on Tuesday, September 22 at the SeaGate
Center in Toledo, Ohio. The evening's presentation will chronicle the launch
of the new Dodge Dakota pick-up truck, which is being built in Campo Largo
(Curitiba), Brazil.
    The Chrysler presentation will focus on three key aspects of the Dakota
story: manufacturing technologies, logistic systems and procurement and
supply.  Tom Breneiser, General Manager of Chrysler International
Manufacturing Operations, will discuss human and hardware technologies
employed in a low-volume operation.  Ed Krajca, Manager, Chrysler
International Supply & Customs, will discuss the logistic system which enables
2,832 global suppliers to deliver 4,000 parts to Dakota's assembly line and
meet a ten-minute cycle time.  Frank Zematis, Director of International
Procurement at Chrysler will present the methodologies used to develop a local
supplier base, designed to meet local content regulations.
    Building on this overview, Mike Laisure, Vice President of Modular Systems
for Dana Automotive Components Group, will review Dana's Rolling Chassis(TM)
Module, a unique vehicle assembly solution inspired by Chrysler's Extended
Enterprise(TM) concept to support Dakota program objectives in Brazil.  The
module -- comprised of a frame, rear axle, driveshaft, suspension, steering
system, brakes, fuel tank, electrical circuits, wheels and tires -- enables a
"one-piece-flow" process which minimizes the number of units in the system.
Together, Chrysler and Dana will demonstrate how their partnership brings
forth a wide range of benefits for the world marketplace.
    A social hour, sponsored by Dana Corporation, begins at 5:30 p.m.,
followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation at 8 p.m.  Reservations
are required and can be obtained by calling the SAE Detroit Section at
248-357-3340.  Tickets are priced at $29 each, $14 for SAE student members.
The dinner meeting is open to SAE members and non-members.
    Attention photo editors: To request a photograph of the Dodge Dakota and
Dana "Rolling Chassis" please contact Darlene Oleksik at 248-524-2620
(prinfo@sae-detroit.org).