Toyota Opens North American Production Support Center

Tokyo ― TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that its newly established North American Production Support Center (NAPSC) officially opened during a ceremony held at the facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, U.S.A. on Feb. 10.

The NAPSC is a branch of Toyota's Global Production Center (GPC), which was established in July 2003 with strong recognition of the need to improve the efficiency of support from TMC and to promote the self-reliance of local manufacturing companies.

More precisely, the GPC presents explicit production know-how, namely through a series of "best method" practices for each required skill. These practices are introduced using "visual manual" videos and other tools that promote easy understanding. Additionally, as a hub for production and production engineering, the center focuses on nurturing global professionals and helping plants learn how to prepare for the production of redesigned and/or different vehicle models. Since its establishment, the center has trained about 5,900 people from all around the world.

The newly established NAPSC is the result of the expansion and renovation of the former Toyota Training Center at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK). The new facility contains an administration area, study/meeting rooms and has seven types of training "shops", such as "assembly", "painting" and others, and will train instructors from Toyota's North American plants in general production and maintenance skills. Trainees will, on average, spend about two weeks at the center before taking their new knowledge and skills back to their respective plants to pass on to other team members. The NAPSC employs 29 people, including seven instructors with an average of 16 years of shop floor experience.

During the ceremony, TMC Senior Managing Director Atsushi Niimi said, "As Toyota continues to expand manufacturing worldwide, our regional production centers will play an important role in taking on the challenges we face. The NAPSC represents the hard work and commitment of our team members who are building a better, more successful Toyota."

Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America (TMMNA) Executive Vice President and TMMK President Gary L. Convis also commented, saying, "Through this cascading system at the NAPSC, we will train everyone using the same method, and as a result, our team members will be able to better focus on quality, safety and efficiency".