I got to tour the Cummins plant and more

[Woodenhead]

The husband of someone I work with is an engineer at Cummins. On Monday I was treated to a tour of the Mid Range Engine Plant where the engines for our trucks are assembled. Then I was taken over to the Tech Center where prototype engines are built, tested tuned and turned into the various engines Cummins produces today and engines we'll see one day in the future. The plant tour was fascinating to say the least but what really blew my mind was seeing the Tech Center. I have to admit never in a million years would I have imagined what goes into developing these engines. I'm still all and just had to brag a little.



Mike

 

[Johnstra]

I'm jealous!

 

[AfterBurner]

Couldn't the TDR talk cummins into having a tour the factory day or something... that would be awesome!

 

[Bob Wagner]

where's the pictures? sounds like an awesome tour indeed

 

[Woodenhead]

I think there was a TDR tour or a tour arranged as part of an event in Indiana, I did a search to see who else had gone on a tour and came up with something. I'm not sure if they do public tours of the plant but they're good people so I'd imagine if someone tried to set up a TDR group tour they could get something together. Pictures!, I wish, I wasn't allowed to bring any cameras or anything (like a phone) capable of taking pictures.

Mike

 

[bgilbert]

Did you fill your pockets up before you left LOL? I spent almost 2 years at CMEP hauling the engines in rail containers to Chicago, so I've been all through the plant, sweeet.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm not absolutely certain but I believe that any Dodge-Cummins owner who happens to be motoring through Columbus, IN can stop in and tour the CMEP almost anytime. They are friendly folks. One of the outstanding things about the executives and employees of the CMEP where the ISB is manufactured is they actually know that we make up a large part of their product market and they care. They treat us like valued customers and even friends.



All of us who attended the TDR rally in the summer of 2002 were treated to a tour of the plant. It was the rally celebrating the introduction of the new 2003 Gen III trucks with the new HPCR (quiet) Cummins engine. We also got briefings by the plant manager and other staff members, watched films on Cummins history, enjoyed briefings and Q/A sessions delivered by spokesmen for Jacobs engine brake products, Valvoline oils, Fleetguard filters, Dodge regarding the new Gen III platform (a stripped but rolling chassis complete with engine/drivetrain was provided), and others I've probably forgotten. We also got to test drive on a ten mile test track through the beautiful Indiana countryside both manual and automatic transmission-equipped 2003 trucks prior to the first ones being shipped to dealers. We were welcomed to stay in the employee-owned RV park in the employee-owned recreation park (beautiful), were treated to a Cummins-sponsored picnic, etc, etc.



Cummins, Inc. is a class act . . . even if they didn't build the best turbodiesel engine offered in pickup trucks, which they do, they are great people. Correct me if I'm wrong . . . I don't think there is another US manufacturer of ANY mass-produced products who will actually take and answer phone calls from product-owner/users or receive and answer e-mailed questions about their products. Cummins does.



Cummins/Jacobs even provides us Carlton Bale, a TDR member and Jacobs product engineer who tolerates our endless questions and complaints right here in this forum.



Has anyone ever been able to communicate with Ford/GM/Daimler-Chrysler/Navistar/Isuzu or any other major manufacturer like we can with Cummins? I don't think so. Not in my experience.



Everyone knows I have no official connection whatsoever to Cummins. I'm just a grateful owner.



Harvey

 

[Woodenhead]

Well said Harvey. One thing that did really stand out was how friendly they were at the plant. The friend that set up the tour just told the folks at the Mid Range Engine Plant that he had a friend from out of town that was a big Cummins/Dodge fan and would like a tour and there we were. I also got the impression that the management at the Cummings Plant was very family oriented. They had many programs and events that involved not only the employees but also their family members. They make a strong effort to keep their employees happy and even built a new basketball court outside the plant because the unused section of plant that was previously used as a court was needed for plant purposes. It's difficult to have a quality product if you can't keep the people making it happy and they certainly make an effort.



After seeing the Tech Center and what goes into the development of their engines it's easy to see where the reliability comes from. Yeah there's been a few goofs like the '53 block and lift pumps but nothing like what we've seen from the Fs and Cs and the issues we've seen are not necessarily engine/development related. I wonder how the testing and development compares to what is done for the Stroker or Dmax.



Mike

 

[radar doctor]

Harvey i really enjoyed that article you wrote. . i have the pleasure to have a son who worked at Cummings. in KC, Mo. He Built the Pumps there... . He owns a 96 RAM and beleve me he knows how to get them running... . and i have met a few of the Bussiness people there and your right harvey, they are the Nicest people and seem to love to visit about there Products. . DOC

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed reading about the Cummins MREP. I guess I got up on my soap box for a minute or two. My comments reflected my appreciation for all the factors that make up the Cummins plant near Columbus, IN.



I look forward to another opportunity to visit. I have already made my reservation at the RV park in CERALand (the MREP employee-owned recreation park located near the engine plant) for next summer when the next TDR rally will be held. BTW. . . when Robert announced the rally he mentioned that during the period of the rally the plant will be closed for tours because of a product changeover. I think it is fair to assume that the changeover will be from our beloved ISB to the new QSB engine (you can read about the QSB on the Cummins site). It sounds like the QSB will show up in the 2007 Dodge platform. Ford and GM move way over to the far outside lane on the big hills and stay out of our way! I am getting excited about the possibilities. At the rate I'm spinning the odometer my Gen II will read well over 400k by that time.



I think very few TDR members know that Cummins MREP employees will permit us Dodge-Cummins owners who pull RVs to stay in their RV park when passing through the Columbus, IN area. If I remember correctly it was about a 150 acre farm that the employees (not Cummins, Inc. ) purchased and built into a beautiful recreational park featuring a golf course, ball fields, swimming area, RV park with hookups, picnic area with shelters, and other features I've forgotten. It is called CERALand (Cummins Employees Recreation Association(?) Land and they have a website.



Harvey

 

[PSchwering]

www.ceraland.org

 

[JLEONARD]

I have never been to the engine assembly plant, but I did have the opportunity to tour the marine facility in Charleston, SC several years ago. They receive base engines there and do the marinization (or fire pump set-up) , paint, dyno, etc. Again, they are a class act... they rolled out the red carpet for our group.

Jay

 

[10-9jc]

ISB's to Japan!

About a month ago a friend went with a MH group on

the CMEP tour. Sounds like the same one - test facility, etc.

Interesting thing was they were told LOTS of 5. 9 ISB's on

the way to Japan!

Haven't had the opportunity for a "show and tell" (phone only).

I'll try to see if he took any pictures . . . and some more info on

the engines to Japan.

JC