FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- It has been months in the planning, but Monday, Fort Wayne's General Motors Truck Assembly Plant started turning out new pickups during a brand new third shift production time slot.

Plant officials indicated the shift launched without a hitch.

The Fort Wayne plant got the new third shift when the automaker decided to close down another truck plant in Pontiac Michigan.

Originally, Fort Wayne plant officials figured the new shift would add around 700 new full-time workers, but the actual increase in payroll is closer to 930, because manufacturing simulations proved that the assembly line would not need to be slowed to maintain steady production levels.

Personnel Director Jeff Sorensen says management kept a close eye on things when the initial third shift crew began work at 10:30 Sunday night.

Jeff Sorensen/GM Personnel Director: " We had a flawless execution of the third shift, we met all of our production goals last night. We're three quarters of the way through the first shift right now, and we've met all of our production goals for today, too."

The job expansion has been good news for the whole region.

Parts suppliers, grocery stores, dry cleaners, and many other businesses are benefiting.

Sorensen said he expects the local housing market to get a boost as well, once transfer workers have time to move their families here, and start looking for more permanent residency.