North American Suppliers Earn Awards From Toyota

13 April 1998

           Economist Dr. Lester Thurow Addresses Supplier Meeting

    ERLANGER, Ky., April 9 -- U.S. Engine Valve Company of
Westminster, S.C., and NHK-Associated Spring Suspension Components Inc. of
Bowling Green, Ky., achieved special distinction tonight at Toyota's annual
Supplier Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony in Cincinnati.
    U.S. Engine Valve Company received Toyota's Superior Award for quality for
the fifth consecutive year. The Superior Award is the highest possible
supplier recognition from Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.
(TMMNA).
    NHK, meanwhile, won two Superior Awards, one for export quality and the
other for value improvement.
    In addition to U.S. Engine Valve and NHK, 10 other Toyota suppliers also
won Superior Awards tonight for meeting Toyota's highest standards in quality,
delivery, cost reduction, and value improvement for parts, materials,
transportation, and export.
    The other Superior Awards went to ACD Tridon of Springfield, Texas; AK
Steel Corporation of Ashland, Ky.; and Middletown, Ohio; Dayco Products Inc.
of Williston, S.C.; Delphi Delco Electronics Systems of Kokomo, Ind.; Delphi
Energy and Engine Management Systems of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Denso
International America, Inc.-Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. of Maryville,
Tenn.; GT Automotive of Logansport, Ind.; Nova Chemicals, Inc. of Monaco, Pa.;
NSK Corporation of Franklin, Ind.; and Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems, Inc.
of Morgantown, Ky.; Scottsville, Ky.; and Juarez, Mexico.
    The Supplier Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony brings together Toyota's
approximately 500 North American suppliers. Each year, Toyota purchases more
than $7 billion worth of parts and materials from its North American
suppliers.
    The Superior Awards were presented following an address by Dr. Lester
Thurow, noted economist and author. Thurow, who is a professor of management
and economics, as well as the coordinator of the Asia Pacific Initiative for
MIT, was the featured speaker at the event. He spoke to the Toyota suppliers
on the future of capitalism and global changes in business. His address
featured tips on charting a course for survival and business success in the
years to come.
    Toyota currently manufactures vehicles at three North American plants
located in Fremont, Calif., Georgetown, Ky., and Cambridge, Ontario. A fourth
plant in Princeton, Ind., will open in 1998, and a new engine plant is
currently under construction in Buffalo, W.Va.
    Overall, 12 North American parts and materials suppliers won Superior
Awards, 33 won Excellent Awards, and many received Certificates of
Achievement. Receiving Superior and Excellent Awards were:

    Superior Awards
    Supplier           Plant Location       Part/Material      Category

    ACD Tridon         Springfield, Tenn.    Flasher relay   Value Improvement
    AK Steel Corp      Ashland, Ky.;         Sheet steel     Delivery
                       Middletown, Ohio
    Dayco
     Products, Inc.    Williston, S.C.       V-ribbed belts  Export Value
                                                             Improvement
    Delphi Delco       Kokomo, Ind.          Audio           Export Value
     Electronics                                             Improvement
     Systems
    Delphi Energy and  Grand Rapids, Mich.   Valve lifters   Export Quality
     Engine Management
     Systems

    Denso Internat'l   Maryville, Tenn.      Engine ECU      Export Value
     America, Inc. - Denso                                   Improvement
     Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc.
    GT Automotive      Logansport, Ind.      Bumper springs  Export Quality
    NHK-Associated     Bowling Green, Ky.    Coil springs    Value Improvement
     Springs Suspension                                      Export Quality
     Components, Inc.
    Nova Chemicals,
     Inc.              Monaco, Pa.           Plastic resin   Delivery
    NSK Corporation    Franklin, Ind.        Wheel bearings  Quality
    Sumitomo Electric  Morgantown, Ky.;      Wire harnesses  Delivery
     Wiring Systems,
      Inc.             Scottsville, Ky.;
                       Juarez, Mexico
    U.S. Engine
     Valve Co.         Westminster, S.C.     Engine valves   Quality

    Excellent Awards
    AK Steel Corp      Ashland, Ky.;         Sheet steel     Quality
                       Middletown, Ohio
    AP Technoglass Co. Elizabethtown, Ky.;   Fabricated      Export Value
                       Bellefontaine, Ohio    glass          Improvement
    Arvin Sango, Inc.  Merced, Calif.        Exhaust systems Export Quality
    Associated Spring  Saline, Mich.         Engine valve    Quality
     Barnes Group, Inc.                       springs
    BASF Corporation   Wyandotte, Mich.      Bumper springs  Quality
    Bodine Aluminum    St. Louis, Mo.        Aluminum        Export Value
                                              castings       Improvement
    Central
     Manufacturing Co  Paris, Ky.            Steel wheels    Quality
    Continental
     General           Charlotte, N.C.;      Tires           Delivery
     Tire, Inc.        Mt. Vernon, Ill.
    Delphi Harrison    Lockport, N.Y.        Radiators       Export Quality
     Thermal Systems
    Delphi Packard     Juarez, Mexico        Wire harness    Export Quality
     Electric Systems
    Denso Internat'l   Anderson, S.C.        Fuel pumps      Quality
     America, Inc. -
     Associated Fuel Pump
     Systems Corp.
    Dupont Automotive  Corpus Christi, Texas Refrigerant     Delivery
    Eagle Ottawa
     Leather Company   Grand Haven, Mich.;   Leather         Export Value
                       Rochester Hills, Mich.                Improvement
    Federal-Mogul      Greenville, Mich.     Engine bearings Delivery
     Corporation
    Florida Production Ormond Beach, Fla.    Wheel trim      Delivery
     Engineering, Inc.
    Garden State       Williamsport, Md.;    Leather         Export Value
     Tanning, Inc.     Fleetwood, Pa.                        Improvement
    Gecom Corporation  Greensburg, Ind.      Door latch
                                              systems        Export Quality
    Johnson Controls,
     Inc               Toledo, Ohio          Battery         Delivery
     ASG/Battery
    Johnson Controls,
     Inc.              Georgetown, Ky.       Seats           Value Improvement
     Automotive Systems Group
    Lexington Cartage  Lexington, Ky.        Transportation  Delivery
     Company
    Louisville Forge
     and               Georgetown, Ky.       Forged steel    Delivery
     Gear Works, LLC                         crankshafts
    Magna Mirror       Kentwood, Mich.       Outside         Export Value
     Systems/Lowell                          rearview mirror Improvement
     Engineering
    NGK-Locke, Inc.    Mooresville, N.C.     Ceramic         Quality, Delivery
                                              substrates
    NSK Corporation    Franklin, Ind.        Wheel bearings  Delivery
    Prestone Products  Alsip, Ill.           Long life       Quality
     Corporation                              coolant
    Ryder Integrated   Georgetown, Ky.       Transportation  Delivery
     Logistics, Inc.
    Sumitomo Electric  Morgantown, Ky.;      Wire harnesses  Value Improvement
     Wiring Systems,   Scottsville, Ky.;
     Inc.              Juarez, Mexico
    Transfreight, Inc. Cambridge, Ontario    Transportation  Cost Reduction
    Trim Masters, Inc. Nicholasville, Ky.;   Seats & door    Delivery
                       Bardstown, Ky.         trim
    U.S. Engine
     Valve Co.         Westminster, S.C.     Engine valves   Delivery
    Vascor, Ltd.       Georgetown, Ky.       Transportation  Delivery
    Waterville TG Inc. Waterville, Canada    Weatherstrips   Value Improvement
    Yokohama Tire      Salem, Va.            Tires           Delivery
     Corporation

SOURCE  Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.