Facility spotlight

Dedication and passion thrive in Mexicali, Mexico

By Beth Boal

Ana Elsa Fernández began working at the Rockwell Collins production plant in Mexicali, Mexico, before many teenagers even think about getting a job.

Ana Elsa Fernández enjoys the positive work environment at Rockwell Collins in Mexicali, Mexico. A production operator, Fernández has been with our company for 36 years.
Rockwell Collins Image

"I came to work here when I was very young and ended up staying for 36 years," said Fernández, a production operator. "I love the positive working environment, not to mention the work itself. The relationships I have formed with my co-workers and supervisors are what have kept me here."

Fernández is not unlike many other Mexicali employees who have dedicated most, or even all, of their working years to the Mexicali production plant. In fact, the average employee in Mexicali has worked in the facility for 10 years.

"I was hired on a temporary basis at an early age," said Oscar Ramírez, a maintenance technician who joined the production plant in 1979. "I liked the company and the work. Later, I began working full-time and have now been here for more than 27 years."

Employees like Fernández and Ramírez have experienced the various transitions the facility has undergone over the past 40 years. Hughes Aircraft first founded the facility in 1966 as part of the Maquiladora program — a Mexican government initiative intended to attract foreign companies to invest in the country. Nineteen years after its establishment, the production facility was sold to General Motors.

Maintenance Technician Oscar Ramírez was originally hired at Rockwell Collins in Mexicali, Mexico, on a temporary basis. He has now been with our company full time for 27 years.
Rockwell Collins Image

In 1997, Rockwell Collins acquired the plant, which has since witnessed incredible growth.

"We're always looking for new opportunities to use the capabilities of our Mexicali facility," said Jeff Moore, senior vice president of Operations. "In fact, we have consolidated most of our Cabin Systems manufacturing business here."

Anticipating the future

Mexicali manufactures Rockwell Collins Cabins System products, building the communications and entertainment systems for commercial airliners and business and regional jets. The facility delivers an average of 1,700 finished products per day.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Fixed and Retractable Monitors, Passenger Control Units, Head-End Equipment, Seat Electronics Boxes, Video Control Center (VCC) Racks, Harnesses, and Seat-to-Seat Cables are among some of the facility's primary avionics electronic products.

Last fall, employees celebrated the construction of a new, 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Cabin Systems plant. The celebration coincided with the facility's 40-year anniversary.

"The anniversary celebration was fun for all of our employees and their families," said Jorge Elorduy, the training and development chief coordinator in Mexicali. "We were proud to celebrate our history, but also look forward to our future."

The new facility's 10,000-square-foot warehouse and bulk storage area provide plenty of room for future growth. In addition, the area also houses a cafeteria, sports fields and food court.

"This facility offers our Mexicali employees additional space, a safer environment, and more conveniences than the former plant," said Moore.

The facility in Mexicali will continue to implement Lean principles by incorporating cellular production into its operations. The new production process will accelerate flow, improve quality, and reduce inventory levels.

According to Mexicali Plant Manager Anabel Valle, the new facility's flexibility and the implementation of a Lean transformation plan will greatly assist in the achievement of goals.

"We have identified and prioritized the necessary actions to improve our processes," said Valle. "We will apply them based on the impact they will have on the factory value stream to maintain the high quality, cost-effective manufacturing we are currently providing."

A great place to live

Located along the border of California and Mexico, Mexicali is home to nearly 900,000 people. Despite summer temperatures as high as 125 degrees, our employees agree that Mexicali is a great place to live.

"Mexicali is a city full of contrasts," said Elorduy. "While there are many festivals and museums, there also are plenty of untouched, beautiful, natural attractions like La Laguna Salada (the Salty Lagoon) and Cañon de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Canyon)."

One of the most racially diverse cities in Mexico, citizens of Mexicali come from many places. Specifically, Mexicali is home to a large number of Chinese immigrants. The city enjoys having a large Chinatown — or La Chinesca — with some of the finest Chinese food on the entire North American continent.

The area's diversity also allows citizens to attend various cultural fairs and exhibitions throughout the year, as well as performances at the city's many theaters. Mexicali hosts a large bullfighting arena, an 18-hole professional golf course, a zoo, an aquatic park, professional baseball and basketball teams, and many other attractions.

"I am proud of the culture and diversity in Mexicali," said Silvia Rivera, a technical training chief coordinator. "The warm and friendly people make it a great place to live."

Volume 12 Issue 3 > Facility spotlight
Volume 12 Issue 3 Deeply rooted in our heritage Delivering on our brand promise Feeding our economic engine One big, happy family Committed to customer support From Clay Jones Executive Profile - Kelly Ortberg Our heritage Letters to the editor Contributors in this issue Across our company Service anniversaries Retirees In memoriam Facility spotlight		Facility spotlight Dedication and passion thrive in Mexicali, Mexico By Beth Boal Ana Elsa Fernández began working at the Rockwell Collins production plant in Mexicali, Mexico, before many teenagers even think about getting a job. Ana Elsa Fernández enjoys the positive work environment at Rockwell Collins in Mexicali, Mexico. A production operator, Fernández has been with our company for 36 years. Rockwell Collins Image "I came to work here when I was very young and ended up staying for 36 years," said Fernández, a production operator. "I love the positive working environment, not to mention the work itself. The relationships I have formed with my co-workers and supervisors are what have kept me here." Fernández is not unlike many other Mexicali employees who have dedicated most, or even all, of their working years to the Mexicali production plant. In fact, the average employee in Mexicali has worked in the facility for 10 years. "I was hired on a temporary basis at an early age," said Oscar Ramírez, a maintenance technician who joined the production plant in 1979. "I liked the company and the work. Later, I began working full-time and have now been here for more than 27 years." Employees like Fernández and Ramírez have experienced the various transitions the facility has undergone over the past 40 years. Hughes Aircraft first founded the facility in 1966 as part of the Maquiladora program — a Mexican government initiative intended to attract foreign companies to invest in the country. Nineteen years after its establishment, the production facility was sold to General Motors. Maintenance Technician Oscar Ramírez was originally hired at Rockwell Collins in Mexicali, Mexico, on a temporary basis. He has now been with our company full time for 27 years. Rockwell Collins Image In 1997, Rockwell Collins acquired the plant, which has since witnessed incredible growth. "We're always looking for new opportunities to use the capabilities of our Mexicali facility," said Jeff Moore, senior vice president of Operations. "In fact, we have consolidated most of our Cabin Systems manufacturing business here." Anticipating the future Mexicali manufactures Rockwell Collins Cabins System products, building the communications and entertainment systems for commercial airliners and business and regional jets. The facility delivers an average of 1,700 finished products per day. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Fixed and Retractable Monitors, Passenger Control Units, Head-End Equipment, Seat Electronics Boxes, Video Control Center (VCC) Racks, Harnesses, and Seat-to-Seat Cables are among some of the facility's primary avionics electronic products. Last fall, employees celebrated the construction of a new, 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Cabin Systems plant. The celebration coincided with the facility's 40-year anniversary. "The anniversary celebration was fun for all of our employees and their families," said Jorge Elorduy, the training and development chief coordinator in Mexicali. "We were proud to celebrate our history, but also look forward to our future." The new facility's 10,000-square-foot warehouse and bulk storage area provide plenty of room for future growth. In addition, the area also houses a cafeteria, sports fields and food court. "This facility offers our Mexicali employees additional space, a safer environment, and more conveniences than the former plant," said Moore. The facility in Mexicali will continue to implement Lean principles by incorporating cellular production into its operations. The new production process will accelerate flow, improve quality, and reduce inventory levels. According to Mexicali Plant Manager Anabel Valle, the new facility's flexibility and the implementation of a Lean transformation plan will greatly assist in the achievement of goals. "We have identified and prioritized the necessary actions to improve our processes," said Valle. "We will apply them based on the impact they will have on the factory value stream to maintain the high quality, cost-effective manufacturing we are currently providing." A great place to live Located along the border of California and Mexico, Mexicali is home to nearly 900,000 people. Despite summer temperatures as high as 125 degrees, our employees agree that Mexicali is a great place to live. "Mexicali is a city full of contrasts," said Elorduy. "While there are many festivals and museums, there also are plenty of untouched, beautiful, natural attractions like La Laguna Salada (the Salty Lagoon) and Cañon de Guadalupe (Guadalupe Canyon)." One of the most racially diverse cities in Mexico, citizens of Mexicali come from many places. Specifically, Mexicali is home to a large number of Chinese immigrants. The city enjoys having a large Chinatown — or La Chinesca — with some of the finest Chinese food on the entire North American continent. The area's diversity also allows citizens to attend various cultural fairs and exhibitions throughout the year, as well as performances at the city's many theaters. Mexicali hosts a large bullfighting arena, an 18-hole professional golf course, a zoo, an aquatic park, professional baseball and basketball teams, and many other attractions. "I am proud of the culture and diversity in Mexicali," said Silvia Rivera, a technical training chief coordinator. "The warm and friendly people make it a great place to live."