GM Restructures Vehicle Development

General Motors Co. is overhauling its global product development process by consolidating responsibility for each vehicle line under its chief engineer, thus eliminating a layer of management.

Previously, every program was run by a vehicle line executive (VLE), vehicle line director and vehicle chief engineer. They reported to a group VLE who oversaw several vehicle lines.

The new structure, which takes effect on Aug. 1, will drop all but the chief engineer jobs, thus cutting about 20 executive positions. GM says those managers will retire or be reassigned.

The company has named Doug Parks to the newly created job of vice president for product programs a move that would appear to create a new management layer. Parks, who is currently group VLE for electric cars, will report to Mary Barra, senior vice president of global product development. The newly renamed executive chief engineers will report to Parks.