LOS ANGELES COUNTY - News from April 26, 1988

Ernest Schaefer, plant manager for General Motors’ Van Nuys assembly plant for the last four years, has been promoted to director of manufacturing engineering for the Chevrolet-Pontiac-GM of Canada Group based in Detroit. On May 1, he will be replaced by Robert Stramy, currently director of the Ramos Arizpe Complex in Mexico, which assembles Chevrolet Celebrity cars. During his tenure, Schaefer oversaw the installation of a controversial Japanese method of production that divided the Van Nuys plant and the local chapter of the United Auto Workers.