Seminar examining Japanese manufacturing philosophy and its impact on automotive-industry recovery, set for Detroit area

NOVI, Mich.--On Thursday, December 8, 2011, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) will present a luncheon and seminar entitled, "Japan's Automotive Industry: Achieving Recovery and Growth Through Monozukuri."

“Japan's Automotive Industry: Achieving Recovery and Growth Through Monozukuri.”

The Great East Japan Earthquake spurred an unprecedented recovery effort from the Japanese automotive and manufacturing communities. Through intensive collaboration and the shared mindset of Monozukuri - the spirit and quest for manufacturing excellence - Japanese automotive suppliers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) managed to quickly recover production in the face of crisis and are working to enable future growth.

In this seminar, to be held at the Suburban Showplace Collection, in Novi, Michigan, from 11:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Japanese OEMs and parts suppliers will relate how they were affected by the March disaster. This is the first time in North America that automotive industry leaders, both manufacturers and suppliers, have come from around the world to examine this great disaster and recovery.

The luncheon address will be presented by Neil De Koker, President & CEO, Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), who will offer details of his November visit to supplier companies in the Tohoku region of eastern Japan, who were adversely affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and his perspective on how they've managed to regain full production.

Seminar speakers include:

• Nampachi Hayashi, Senior Technical Executive, Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota City, Japan, who led the collaboration efforts of manufacturers and suppliers working to rebuild key companies that were heavily damaged, will present Toyota's perspective on disaster and recovery management.
• Nobuhiro Ozawa, General Manager at Nissan Motor Company's plant in Iwaki, Japan, will discuss the situation during the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, and how strong management and communication with employees enabled output to be restored ahead of schedule.
• Dave Thomas, Plant Manager at Keihin IPT Mfg., LLC, Greenfield, Indiana, will describe the damage and recovery at Keihin's Miyagi plants, the supply chain disruptions; and how Keihin managed its North American operations and workforce during this difficult time.
• Hiromi Ikehata, President of Toyoda Gosei North America Corporation, Troy, Michigan, will describe the effect of dual disasters: The earthquake/tsunami at Toyoda Gosei's Japan operations, and the direct hit by a tornado in April at their Kentucky plant, and how their culture of Monozukuri helped the Kentucky plant's production to recover in just days.

The seminar will feature simultaneous translation (English and Japanese).

The program will be followed at 5:00 p.m. by a networking reception.

Program details:

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011

Time: Registration 11:00 a.m.; Program and Luncheon begin at 11:45 a.m.

Location: Suburban Showplace Collection, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi, MI 48374

Registration/cost: The cost of the luncheon and seminar is $50. Advance registration is required through OESA, at CESA Events . For additional registration information, contact Felice Hickman at 248-952-6401, ext 237 or fhickman@oesa.org.

Event Organizers: JETRO Chicago, Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA), Japan Business Society of Detroit (JBSD), Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).

About JETRO: JETRO has provided information and support to American companies entering the Japanese market for more than 53 years. Through a local network of six offices in the United States, JETRO provides a wide-range of services, such as timely market intelligence, extensive business development support, and relevant business events, all designed to encourage business partnerships between American companies and Japan.