Four U.S. Suppliers Win Toyota's Top Awards
COVINGTON, Ky., March 21 -- At Toyota's Annual Supplier Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony, four of Toyota's U.S. suppliers were awarded Superior Awards, the company's highest level of recognition: AK Steel Corporation, Nova Chemicals, Inc., U.S. Engine Valve, and TG Missouri Corporation (see chart for a complete list of Superior and Excellent Award winners). The awards, presented tonight in Northern Kentucky, acknowledge those suppliers who have met Toyota's highest standards in quality, delivery, and value improvement for parts, materials, and transportation.
Additionally, special recognition awards were given for vehicle launch performance. This award recognizes those suppliers whose exemplary work over the past several years greatly contributed to a smooth launch of the new model Camry. TG Missouri Corporation, an air bag and interior plastics supplier, located in Perryville, Mo., was awarded the Superior Award in this category. The Excellent Awards in this category went to Denso International America, Inc. (Denso Manufacturing Michigan, Inc.), a HVAC supplier in Battle Creek, Mich. and Summit Polymers, Inc., a trunk release handle supplier in Mt. Sterling, Ky.
``The quality and reliability of Toyota's vehicles depend in large part on the success of our North American suppliers,'' said Tsugio Kadowaki, vice president of Purchasing for Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, located in Erlanger, Ky.
``These suppliers achieve and often exceed our strict performance standards. This is an opportunity for Toyota to formally recognize their valuable contribution to our success.''
Toyota's Annual Business Meeting and Awards Ceremony brings together the automaker's approximately 500 North American suppliers to share expectations for the coming business year and to recognize outstanding performance among suppliers.
With plans to reach annual capacity of 1.45 million cars and trucks and 1.16 million engines by 2003, Toyota's increased manufacturing investment in North America has a significant impact on the amount of goods and services purchased in North America. Toyota's localization efforts led the automaker to purchase nearly $15 billion worth of parts and materials made in the U.S. (including exported parts) during the 2000 fiscal year, up 15% from 1999.
The Annual Business Meeting featured a keynote address by Doug Hall, founder and CEO of the world famous Eureka! Ranch in Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporate innovation and research facility. Hall shared the wealth of knowledge he has discovered in working with some of the world's leading corporations.
By 2003, Toyota will employ some 33,000 people throughout North America.
Toyota's North American-produced vehicles include the Camry, Avalon, Matrix,
Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Corolla, Tundra, and Tacoma.
Beginning in the fall
of 2003, the Lexus RX300 will also be produced here.
The automaker currently
has manufacturing operations in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, West
Virginia, Ontario and British Columbia.
Future plants have been announced in
Alabama and Baja California, Mexico.
2001 Toyota Supplier Award Winners
March 21, 2002
SUPERIOR AWARDS
Supplier Plant Part/ Award
Location Material Category
Missouri TG Missouri Perryville Airbags, Interior Camry Model
Corporation plastics Launch Award
Ohio AK Steel Middletown Sheet steel Quality &
Corporation (headquarters); Delivery
Rockport, Ind.;
Ashland, Ky.
Pennsyl- Nova Chemicals Monaca Thermoplastics - Delivery
vania Inc. instrument panel
substrate
South U.S. Engine Westminster Engine Valves Quality
Carolina Valve
2001 Toyota Supplier Award Winners
March 21, 2002
EXCELLENT AWARDS
Supplier Plant Part/ Award
Location Material Category
Alabama NCI Manufacturing, Scottsboro Seals, Quality &
Inc. Gaskets Delivery
Illinois MBL (USA) Corp. Ottawa Belts Quality
Kentucky Ambrake Elizabethtown Brake Quality
Corporation components
Summit Polymers Mt. Sterling Release Camry
handle Model
Launch
Award
Trim Masters, Inc. **Harrodsburg Door trim, Value
(headquarters) seat Improve-
assembly ment
Sumitomo Electric **Bowling Wire Value
Wiring Systems, Green harnesses Improve-
Inc. (headquarters) ment
Louisiana Huntsman Geismar Isocyanate Quality
Polyurethanes for
instrument
panel foam
Michigan Denso International Battle Creek HVAC Camry
America, Inc. Model
Launch
Award
Yazaki North **Canton Wire Value
America (headquarters) harnesses Improve-
ment
New Jersey Johnson Matthey West Deptford Precious Quality &
metals for Delivery
catalytic
converters
New York Delphi Harrison Lockport Radiators Quality
Thermal Systems
North NGK-Locke Morrisville Ceramic Quality &
Carolina substrate Delivery
for
catalytic
converters
Ohio Luk Incorporated Wooster Clutch Delivery
assemblies
PPG Industries, Cleveland Paint Delivery
Inc.
Ontario, Delphi Energy & Oshawa Batteries Quality &
Canada Chassis Systems Delivery
Burlington Burlington Die Casting Delivery
Technologies,
Inc.
PPG Industries, Clarkson Paint Delivery
Inc.
Pennsyl- Nova Chemicals, Monaca Thermo Quality
vania Inc. plastics -
instrument
panel
substrate
South U.S. Engine Valve Westminster Engine Valves Delivery
Carolina
Denso International Anderson Fuel Pumps Quality
America, Inc.
Tennessee Denso International Maryville ECU, Airbag Delivery
America, Inc. sensors, etc.
Athens Oxygen sensors Quality
Perfect Equipment Murfreesboro Wheel balance Delivery
Company, LLC weights
Robert Bosch Johnson City Hubs Delivery
Corporation
TRW Fuji Valve, Sevierville Engine valves Quality
Inc.
Texas Carpenter Chemical Bayport Polyol for Delivery
Products instrument
panel foam
Vermont Nastech **Bennington Steering Value
(headquarters) columns, Improve-
Intermediate ment
shafts
West Diamond Electric Eleanor Ignition coils Quality
Virginia Manufacturing
Corp.