MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Steve Rodriguez was once told he had the hardest job at Honda.
As the steward of the 2018 Accord, he's tasked with ensuring that production of Honda's venerable sedan flows smoothly at the Marysville Auto Plant.
Before assembly of this Accord even began, Rodriguez flew to Japan more than 20 times to meet with Honda to plan the latest model and iron out production details. Around six of those trips were focused specifically on a laser-brazing process for the Accord's roof, which Rodriguez said would need one more step to smooth out and meet Honda's quality standards. Based on those discussions, the automaker would add grinding wheels to the process to get the smooth finish that Rodriguez and his crew wanted.
But the grind of factory work doesn't bother Rodriguez. He's just happy to have a job.
Rodriguez, 52, the engineering project leader for the Accord, has been a staple at the plant here for nearly 30 years. His humble demeanor has shaped his personable working style. He's not a drill sergeant with his team. He wants to be friends with his associates on the line.
Who's the boss?
Although Rodriguez is one of the bosses, he said there have been instances where line workers didn't realize he was at the top of the food chain until he addressed the plant during events. Honda's policy of having all of its workers wear the same uniform makes it easier for Rodriguez to blend in.
And despite his huge responsibilities, he has no problem picking up a broom every now and then to chip in.
His outlook on life was shaped by a blue-collar upbringing and a diverse background. His father's parents were from Mexico. His mother's parents migrated from Czechoslovakia, via Ellis Island.
His father was a bricklayer, his mother a housekeeper.
He grew up in Cleveland and graduated from Ohio State University in 1989 after studying industrial engineering. He joined the Marysville team upon graduation and has been there ever since. He knew the Honda culture was right for him early on.
"When I see that big Honda on the front of the building, I'm grateful I have a job. [My father] was a bricklayer. He didn't always have a job," Rodriguez told Automotive News.
Shock to the system
Rodriguez isn't afraid to approach his line workers and ask whether their particular process is running smoothly. Some might say it "sucks" or that it's hard. Others will say it's "fine." His favorite answer is when someone tells him a job is easier than it was for a previous model.
Walking down the line some days, he said, he may even get a little good-natured ribbing from time to time. He takes it all in.
The flexibility of the Marysville site means workers sometimes have to adapt to new products coming down the line. This requires strong training that can start a year before a product comes out. When it's time to launch production, Rodriguez said, the plant eases workers into the process. Dropping new vehicles on the line can be a shock to the system, he said.
And another shock is on the way. Marysville is slated to add the CR-V crossover to the production mix this summer.
"There's four things to make a quality vehicle: You need a part, you need a piece of equipment, we need an operation standard, and we need a trained associate. All 2,000 parts on the car just change," Rodriguez said. "The associate is the one thing that didn't change."
Rodriguez's Honda tenure includes a two-year stint in Japan, where he worked with designers as assembly leader for the 2003 Accord. He also was responsible for stamping, assembly and other areas for the 2013 Accord.
Every few years, he says, Honda has another challenge for him.
"I work on something for about four or five years, [then] Honda comes and says, 'How about this next?' Every time I do a job here, it's like the hardest job I've ever done," he said. "Then they give me one that is more challenging."
