GM, Chrysler Improve on Efficiency

General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler gained ground on Japanese rivals in manufacturing efficiency last year, while Honda Motor Co. was the only major automaker to slip in an annual benchmark study.

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. ranked first for the ninth straight year, taking an average of 16.83 labor hours to build a vehicle in 2002 at its Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant, according to the Harbour & Associates report.

That’s 4.5 hours better than No. 2 Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

The survey shows that General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler still lag Japanese rivals.

The study is used by executives and analysts to gauge competitiveness.