Delphi Earns 'Manufacturer of the Year' for Embracing Lean Manufacturing

JUAREZ, Mexico, April 8 -- Delphi Corp.'s Harrison Thermal Systems manufacturing plant in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, known as Rio Bravo XX has been named 'Manufacturer of the Year' by the Mexican magazine Manufactura.

The Rio Bravo XX operations will be featured in this month's issue of Manufactura, as the winner of a competition among companies in Mexico to show the strongest example of improvements made as a result of lean manufacturing.

According to Ron Pirtle, President Delphi Thermal and Vice President, Delphi Corp., receiving this award confirms that Delphi Manufacturing System (DMS), the company's approach to lean manufacturing, is working. "Rio Bravo XX is just one of numerous Delphi plants around the globe, in many different cultures, seeing outstanding results by implementing the lean philosophy," he said.

Lean manufacturing is part of Delphi's lean enterprise approach to drive waste out of the entire supply chain to deliver value to customers. Lean implementation is at the heart of Delphi's manufacturing philosophy and will allow the company to compete globally while making significant product, process and safety improvements. In October 2002, Delphi announced the appointment of Donald L. Runkle, to vice chairman -- enterprise technologies, to streamline processes and integrate the critical efforts of purchasing, engineering and manufacturing to raise corporate performance to the next level of a lean enterprise.

Jesus Olivas, plant manager Rio Bravo XX, says this award is a result of the true commitment of his team. "This is all because of a team of dedicated employees. Without their hard work we never would be able to deliver the high quality of work to our customer, earning us the reputation of being one of the most reliable suppliers in our industry." The cover of the magazine will feature Olivas in the plant. Manufactura chose Rio Bravo XX operations after a professional jury analyzed dozens of applicants with facilities in Mexico. According to the magazine, Olivas and the Rio Bravo XX team have transformed the plant in Juarez with such success, it has become a model for all manufacturing facilities.

Magazine editor David Luna said they were impressed with the team's four- part strategy of: total employee participation, organizational alignment, refinement of business tools, and the elimination of cost through lean manufacturing.

"This is a very important time for the manufacturing industry," said Luna. "We wanted to show others an example of implementing diverse processes that worked to achieve success in a company. We found that in Delphi Harrison Thermal at Rio Bravo XX in Juarez."

Employees at the plant are thrilled with the honor and Pirtle said he couldn't be more proud of the Rio Bravo XX team.

"Jesus Olivas and his team have worked hard to implement lean strategies over the past five years that have brought about very significant improvements in quality, cost competitiveness, safety and delivery performance. The result has been a value equation passed along to our customers that has allowed the organization to grow and succeed," Pirtle said.

This is the second year Manufactura has presented this award. Last year, IBM in Mexico was the recipient. The edition of Manufactura showcasing Rio Bravo XX is now in circulation and is available online at http://www.manufacturaweb.com/default.asp