Toyota to Build Supplier Center to Boost Global Procurement

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it will construct a supplier center at Toyota's headquarters in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, to foster open and global procurement and boost contacts with suppliers, both in Japan and overseas. Construction of the center is scheduled to start this month and completion is planned for March 1998.
Total investment in the project is about ¥2.5 billion.

The supplier center will provide presentation space for new products and technologies in response to demands from existing Japanese and overseas parts suppliers, as well as potential suppliers. Plans also call for providing information and supporting kaizen activities in the fields of management, engineering, and production, and holding seminars in the multi-purpose event hall.

The supplier center will also set up an internet home page for access to its purchasing divisions at anytime and from anywhere, in order to cultivate new suppliers and encourage the presentation of new products and technologies. In addition, e-mail will be utilized for communication of procurement-related data with suppliers, thus reinforcing bilateral communication and enhancing convenience for suppliers.

Toyota also intends to reinforce its programs, including collaborative training, in order to deepen ties between Toyota's overseas operations and local suppliers under its policy of respect for the culture and customs of every nation around the world.