1995, GM Launches the Vehicle Line Executive System

I was there...

Tell us your story >


The Vehicle Line Executive (VLE) organizational structure was created to provide a small, empowered and cross-functional team with single point decision-making responsibility to lead new and annual vehicle programs through their initial development and lifecycle updates. VLE teams were first put in place in North America for thirteen car and truck programs. The teams were comprised of full or part-time matrixed team members from the functional groups. Those assignments contributing to the overall performance of the program were: Design (Styling), Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Materials Management, Planning and Quality. It was the responsibility of the VLE led team to integrate all aspects of their various programs and make decisions that set program direction, determined program timing, reported progress against schedule, ensured financial performance and delivered the products that customers desired to purchase.

GMIO VLEs

In 1997, the VLE system was expanded to GM’s International Organization (GMIO) with five more car and truck platform teams: four in Europe and one in Australia. GMIO consisted of three regions: Asia Pacific, Latin America/ Middle East and Europe. These teams also included a matrix link with a Marketing team member.

Global VLE

For the first time, there was an assignment of Global VLE responsibility for the Mid-size Car program. This brought together the new regional VLEs that were responsible for their programs in Asia, Australia, South America and Europe (including Sweden) along with the existing N.A. VLE. First generation vehicles developed under this global effort had common “Epsilon” architecture and many common components. Brands and vehicles from this initial global VLE program include the 21st Century launches of Opel Vectra, Vauxhall Vectra, Saab 9-3, Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura vehicles.

The common architecture established common powertrain mounting, crash load paths, underbody and front of dash structure, common chassis components front and rear, and electrical architecture. The common “Epsilon” architecture also supported the common locators for flexible body shop fabrication equipment and final assembly process in the manufacturing plants.


Tag Cloud

1897-1909 Creation  1910-1930 Acceleration  1931-1958 Emotion  1959-1981 Revolution  1982-1999 Globalization  2000-Future Transformation  AC Spark Plug  Advertising & Marketing  Alternative Fuels  Alternative Propulsion  Anniversaries  Autoshows  Behind the Scenes  Brands & Products  Buick  Cadillac  Celebrities  Chevrolet  Competitions  Concept Vehicles  Corporate Responsibility  DELCO  DELCO Electronics  Dealers & Distributors  Design  Design Centers  Detroit Diesel  Diversity  Electromotive  Electronics  Emblems & Logos  Employees  Energy Conservation  Engineering  Enthusiasts  Environment & Energy  Eras  Executives  Finance  Firsts  Fisher Body  Former Divisions  Frigidaire  GMAC  GMC  GMOO - GM Overseas Operations  HUMMER  Headquarters  Holden  Hughes Electronics  I was there...  Innovation & Technology  Innovators  Joint Ventures  LaSalle  Manufacturing  Mergers & Acquisitions  Methods & Techniques  Motorama  Oakland  Oldsmobile  Opel  Operating Units  People  Places  Plants  Pollution Control  Pontiac  Powertrain  Proving Grounds  Racing  Saab  Safety  Sales & Service  Saturn  Shows & Events  Technical Centers  The Business  Trends  Vauxhall  World's Fairs 


Retrieved from "http://wiki.gmnext.com/wiki/index.php/1995%2C_GM_Launches_the_Vehicle_Line_Executive_System"