Ford announced it is adding 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year and producing an extra 40,000 units by reducing the traditional summer shutdown period for select plants from two weeks to one week. In manufacturing, straight time represents a five-day week of production where two shifts of workers work eight hours each day. The company’s Jim Tetreault, vice president of North America Manufacturing, said Ford is running 75 percent of its plants at a three-crew, three-shift or four-crew pattern. This is the second year in a row it has reduced the summer shutdown period to increase production.

The 200,000 annual straight-time capacity additions are at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant, and Kansas City Assembly Plant. This additional straight time is resulting in increased production of the Ford Explorer, Ford Fusion, and Ford F-Series, according to the company.

Ford added that 20 plants, including six assembly plants, will also see a reduced summer shutdown period. The plants taking one week of shutdown are Chicago Assembly, Cuautitlán Assembly, Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly, Kentucky Truck, Michigan Assembly, and Oakville Assembly.

Other non-assembly plants taking a reduced summer shutdown include the Buffalo Stamping Plant; the Chicago Stamping Plant; the Chihuahua Engine; Ford’s Dearborn Engine; Dearborn Tool & Die; Lima Engine Plant; Van Dyke Transmission Plant; and Woodhaven Forging.

The automaker added it plans to perform routine maintenance and work for the model-year changeover at Dearborn Truck Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Kansas City Assembly Plant, Louisville Assembly Plant, and the company’s Ohio Assembly Plant.