Toyota Among Industry Leaders in Stamping and Productivity According to Harbour Report North America

Watch The Full Story on Autoline Detroit and here on The Auto Channel
Sunday, June 16, 10:30 AM, WTVS Channel 56
With Host: John McElroy, Editorial Director, Blue Sky Productions, Inc.
FEATURING: The Harbour Report North America 2002

ERLANGER, Ky., June 13 -- Toyota's North American production facilities continue to lead many of the stamping productivity measures and innovate with better, more flexible manufacturing systems for reduced investment, according to a major automotive report issued today. For example, the company's Buffalo, West Virginia, powertrain production plant was named the benchmark for four-cylinder engine production with a productivity rating of 2.4 hours per engine. Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky, plant ranked fourth at 2.95 hours per four-cylinder engine.

The results of The Harbour Report North America 2002 were released today at an Automotive Press Association luncheon at the Detroit Athletic Club. First published in 1989, the report measures assembly, stamping and powertrain productivity performances-plant-by-plant, and company-by-company-for North American automotive manufacturers. Harbour and Associates, Inc., a Troy, Michigan-based manufacturing and management consulting and automotive reach firm conducted the annual study.

"We are honored to have earned the benchmark ranking for four-cylinder engines in North America," said David Copenhaver, General Manager of Administration, for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. "This is national recognition of our team members dedication, hard work and commitment to quality in the jobs they do every day. Our team members know that getting the job done right the first time means less re-work and that high productivity follows high quality."

The report noted that the "North American automotive industry felt the impact of the economic downturn and catastrophic events that occurred in the United States in 2001. The automotive companies were forced to take a number of dramatic steps to maintain vehicle sales, which had a profound impact on their bottom lines. More than ever, 2001 shows the critical importance production and manufacturing systems play on a company's profit and loss margin. Today, lean manufacturing, and emphasis on quality, safety, and product and process engineering are key elements in almost every manufacturer's continuous improvement efforts."

The Harbour Report is considered the authoritative guide to automotive manufacturing in North America and is a leading competitive analysis tool used by original equipment manufacturers and suppliers to benchmark performance, develop strategies and improve operations. More information about the report and Harbour and Associates is available on the company's website at http://www.harbourinc.com .

By 2003, Toyota will employ some 33,000 people throughout North America with direct investment topping $13 billion. The company's North American-built vehicles include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, all-new Matrix, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma, and Tundra. The Lexus RX300 also will be produced in North America beginning in the fall of 2003.