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Dana's Structural Products Division Develops Advanced Line-Sequencing Process

5 January 2000

Dana's Structural Products Division Develops Advanced Line-Sequencing Process

    TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 5 -- Dana Corporation's Parish
Structural Products facility in Owensboro, Ky., has developed advanced line-
sequencing techniques to supply frames to Toyota Motor Corporation for its
Tundra pickup trucks being produced in Princeton, Ind.
    The Owensboro plant is the second dedicated facility to be built by Dana
to supply truck frames to Toyota.  The first plant located in Stockton,
Calif., began production in 1995, and supplies frames for the Tacoma pickup,
built at Toyota's Fremont, Calif., plant.
    The Owensboro facility is unique among suppliers, in that it is the only
frame manufacturer in North America to build and ship frames in sequence to
match the customer's order.  Dana and Toyota have been able to achieve this
highly successful coordination through their close working relationship and
communications programs.
    "The success of this program is directly related to the dedication of our
employees, and a commitment to excellence at both Owensboro and Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Indiana, said Mike Greene, president of Dana's Structural
Products Group.  "We even went so far as to locate a customer liaison at
Toyota's Indiana facility to ensure all orders are filled correctly and on
time."
    The Owensboro plant supplies frames to the new Toyota Motor Manufacturing,
Indiana (TMMI) plant near Princeton, Ind.  There are 11 different frame
models, all of which are built by Dana on one assembly line.  The order is
received electronically from TMMI and transferred to Dana's Production
Instruction System, which automatically sequences the product on the assembly
line.
    Following final inspection, the frames are pin stamped with serial numbers
and sent to the painting department.  After the frames have been painted,
barcode and identification labels are applied and they are ready for transport
to TMMI.
    The frames are transported vertically, in lots of 25, on specially
prepared truck beds.  The entire process from order to delivery takes just
8.71 hours to complete.
    To ensure just-in-time delivery, the Owensboro plant is on-line with TMMI.
The close proximity of the two facilities (less than 75 miles) is one reason
that this line-sequencing system is so successful.
    The Parish Structural Products Division is part of the Dana Automotive
Systems Group, which consists of Spicer(R) axle products, Spicer(R) driveshaft
products, Parish(R) structural products, Nakata(R) steering and suspension
systems, FTE(R) Automotive brake and clutch systems, and a systems engineering
integration and logistics unit.
    Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest independent suppliers to
vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket.  Founded in 1904 and based in
Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 330 major facilities in 32 countries
and employs more than 86,000 people.  The company reported sales of
$12.5 billion in 1998.  Dana's Internet address is http://www.dana.com .