A recent WGN Chicago report featured several of Ford Motor Company’s longest‑tenured employees at the Chicago Stamping Plant, highlighting their decades of service and ability to adapt as manufacturing has evolved.
Among them is Jim Lee, 73, who has worked at the plant for 54 years and continues to program robots and PLCs; Richard Laumeyer, 77, with 57 years at the plant; and Arthur Porter, 87, a U.S. Marine veteran who, with 65 years of service, is Ford’s longest‑tenured employee worldwide.
“Ford is the kind of place where hard work can turn into a lifelong career,” said Bryce Currie, Ford chief manufacturing officer. “As some of our longest-tenured employees, Art, Richard and Jim have been sharing their ideas and serving our customers for longer than many of us have been alive.”
Now maintaining the plant’s autonomous guided vehicles, Porter reflects the adaptability shared by fellow longtimers as the plant has evolved from manual operations to advanced automation.
“Ford Manufacturing employees inspire our team to develop the next big breakthroughs that will make their jobs even safer and more ergonomic – and enable them to deliver high-quality vehicles for our customers,” said Yung Fung, managing director and general manager of Ford Manufacturing’s Advanced Industrial Technology & Platforms (ATP) group.