A million engines can't be wrong

Sunday, January 27, 2008

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

Local Toyota plant earns chamber recognition as industry of the year

On Jan. 11, the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Huntsville built its millionth engine.

There was a low-key celebration of the milestone, with employees gathering to hear remarks from the plant's new president, Mitsuru Kawai, who noted their hard work and dedication. Snacks were served in the cafeteria.

Then it was back to work.

This is, after all, a plant that produces engines for Toyota Motor Corp., the automaker that's in a neck-and-neck race with General Motors Corp. for worldwide sales leader. GM barely kept its lead last year as the world's No. 1 automaker; Toyota reported last week that it sold 9.366 million vehicles worldwide in 2007, about 3,000 fewer than GM's count.

"If our vehicles are selling, that's good for engine production," said Jim Bolte, senior vice president of the Toyota plant here, who has been with Toyota for 21 years.

"We tell our team members that market share and No. 1 titles, we don't decide. It's decided by the customer. We're only as big and as good" as customers make the company by buying its vehicles.

The plant, which opened in North Huntsville Industrial Park five years ago, assembles and handles the machining of 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter V8 engines for the Tundra full-size pickup and Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicles assembled in Indiana and Texas. It also assembles V6 engines for Tundras and Tacoma pickups produced in California and Mexico.

"With all three engines, we're building about 1,800 a day," Bolte said.

Honored by chamber

Last week, Bolte accepted the first Industry of the Year award from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes companies with more than 350 employees.

"We're the only Toyota plant in the world that's building V8 engines outside Japan," he said.

The Huntsville plant will also produce an ethanol version of Toyota's 5.7-liter V8 engine when that's launched this summer.

The plant has 1,013 employees.

Despite the area's low unemployment, "We've been very pleased since the beginning with the quality and quantity of the work force here in the area," Bolte said. "We basically hire within a 50-mile radius of this plant."

The last time Toyota expanded the plant, it added 150 jobs, and "we got over 10,000 applications," he said.

"We have 1,000 of the best team members on the planet. I'm very proud of them."

Thinking long term

Evans Quinlivan, the chamber's 2008 chairman, noted last week that Toyota "thinks long term" in developing its employees. And the company believes in improving the community where its employees and families live, he said.

When Bolte accepted the chamber award, he said, "We try very hard to be a good corporate citizen."

Toyota has designated some of its plants - two in Europe, one each in Japan and Thailand and one under construction in Mississippi - as models for environmentally friendly practices, such as using renewable energy and planting trees.

"We're putting together plans to achieve that status," Bolte said. "It's important for a company like Toyota to co-exist with the environment."



A million engines can't be wrong Sunday, January 27, 2008 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com Local Toyota plant earns chamber recognition as industry of the year On Jan. 11, the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama plant in Huntsville built its millionth engine. There was a low-key celebration of the milestone, with employees gathering to hear remarks from the plant's new president, Mitsuru Kawai, who noted their hard work and dedication. Snacks were served in the cafeteria. Then it was back to work. This is, after all, a plant that produces engines for Toyota Motor Corp., the automaker that's in a neck-and-neck race with General Motors Corp. for worldwide sales leader. GM barely kept its lead last year as the world's No. 1 automaker; Toyota reported last week that it sold 9.366 million vehicles worldwide in 2007, about 3,000 fewer than GM's count. "If our vehicles are selling, that's good for engine production," said Jim Bolte, senior vice president of the Toyota plant here, who has been with Toyota for 21 years. "We tell our team members that market share and No. 1 titles, we don't decide. It's decided by the customer. We're only as big and as good" as customers make the company by buying its vehicles. The plant, which opened in North Huntsville Industrial Park five years ago, assembles and handles the machining of 4.7-liter and 5.7-liter V8 engines for the Tundra full-size pickup and Sequoia full-size sport utility vehicles assembled in Indiana and Texas. It also assembles V6 engines for Tundras and Tacoma pickups produced in California and Mexico. "With all three engines, we're building about 1,800 a day," Bolte said. Honored by chamber Last week, Bolte accepted the first Industry of the Year award from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes companies with more than 350 employees. "We're the only Toyota plant in the world that's building V8 engines outside Japan," he said. The Huntsville plant will also produce an ethanol version of Toyota's 5.7-liter V8 engine when that's launched this summer. The plant has 1,013 employees. Despite the area's low unemployment, "We've been very pleased since the beginning with the quality and quantity of the work force here in the area," Bolte said. "We basically hire within a 50-mile radius of this plant." The last time Toyota expanded the plant, it added 150 jobs, and "we got over 10,000 applications," he said. "We have 1,000 of the best team members on the planet. I'm very proud of them." Thinking long term Evans Quinlivan, the chamber's 2008 chairman, noted last week that Toyota "thinks long term" in developing its employees. And the company believes in improving the community where its employees and families live, he said. When Bolte accepted the chamber award, he said, "We try very hard to be a good corporate citizen." Toyota has designated some of its plants - two in Europe, one each in Japan and Thailand and one under construction in Mississippi - as models for environmentally friendly practices, such as using renewable energy and planting trees. "We're putting together plans to achieve that status," Bolte said. "It's important for a company like Toyota to co-exist with the environment." © 2008 The Huntsville Times © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.