ATS
Production at the Stellantis factory in Sochaux (Doubs) has been severely disrupted since the beginning of March due to the semiconductor crisis, we learned from management on Friday.
Since March 4, 13 work sessions have been cancelled, representing a deficit of approximately 5,200 unproduced vehicles. The Stellantis factory in Sochaux produces the Peugeot 3008 and 5008.
The factory is progressing “day by day”, confirmed a spokesperson, and the toll-free number which is used to communicate with employees during periods of crisis has been activated. They can call this number every day to find out if their team will be working, or if their session is cancelled.
“We must bring back the production of semiconductors in France”, invites Éric Peultier, Force Ouvrière union representative. “Thousands of employees are affected, at Stellantis and subcontractors,” he laments.
Laurent Oeschel also validates the idea of ”reinternalizing”, but alert on the problem of raw materials, “which come from the same countries”.
War increases anxiety
The Russian-Ukrainian crisis also increases “concern”, also notes Benoit Vernier, CFDT central union delegate.
He fears that the crisis “is not limited to semiconductors”: “If it continues, we fear that the night shift will once more be suspended,” he adds.
This crisis comes as a new car assembly system is being started in Sochaux. Its production was maintained there as best it might to allow its running-in. New employees will be trained there on Tuesday, while the old system will be at a standstill or idling.
“From a difficulty, we derive an opportunity,” continues the spokesperson on this subject.
This employee training is anticipated by one month. The total shift of the factory to its new production tool is planned by the end of June.
In 2021, a hundred sessions had been canceled between February and September and the night shift had been suspended for three months, from September to December.
ATS
