UK beats USA in productivity poll

The Nissan assembly plant at Sunderland is 5.1% more productive than the most efficient car plant in North America according to the 2005 Harbour Report, which measures the productivity of car plants on a labour hours/vehicle basis.

It showed that in 2004 the average combined time it took Sunderland to build its three models (Micra, Almera and Primera) was a fraction over 15 hours/car.

This is 5.1% better than the top-ranked plant in North America, which averaged 15.85 hours/car. Sunderland was ranked as the most productive car plant in Europe from 1997 through to 2003 by the World Markets Research Centre.

The Harbour Report studies more than 30 plants across Europe (although its comparisons of European plants are not published) and every domestic and major foreign manufacturer in North America.