JTEKT NORTH AMERICA'S VONORE, TN FACILTY RECEIVES TOYOTA AWARD

                  Vonore Facility Recognized with Excellent Award in Technology & Development

Greenville, SC--JTEKT North America (JNA), a supplier of steering systems, driveline components and bearing technologies was recognized with an Excellent Award in Technology & Development from Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) at its Annual Supplier Business Meeting (ABM) in March.  ABM brings together over 600 supplier representatives from across North America where TMNA celebrates and recognizes suppliers who exceeded the company’s expectations.

This year’s award recognized JNA’s manufacturing facility in Vonore, TN (JATV) for its Toyota Camry Rack Parallel Electronic Power Steering Systems (RP-EPS) product line automation processes. The automated processes for this line were challenging to implement but have already proven to reduce cost while improving quality.

“We are honored to have our Vonore site recognized again this year by Toyota,” said Mike Davidson, JNA Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer. “We strive to continually improve our manufacturing processes to produce the highest quality products for our customers.  This award is a testament to our associates and their customer-first commitment.”

JATV has more than 1200 associates and encompasses two plants that specialize in manufacturing steering systems.  Among the plant’s mission is to set examples in excellence in safety, quality and production. JATV’s quality statement is to have passion for creating the best quality, best response and go above customers’ expectations.

“At Toyota, we recognize how instrumental our supplier partners are to our success and our ability to deliver exciting new products that exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Robert Young, Toyota’s NA Purchasing Group Vice President.  “We truly believe that our partners are an extension of Toyota and that we must collaborate openly and honestly to ensure our mutual success.  We congratulate those that exceeded our expectations in 2018 and look forward to strengthening our collaboration and partnership in 2019.”
 

Additional Quote:

“This award showcases the commitment of our associates to the mission to set the standard of excellence in manufacturing through safety, quality and production,” said Wendy Grewe, Plant Manager, JATV. “The continued investment in technology to improve our processes highlights JNA’s commitment to better service our customers.”

About JTEKT North America

JTEKT North America, the North American division of JTEKT Corporation, is a global supplier of automotive steering systems and driveline components, bearings, and machine tools. JTEKT is a powerhouse in the automotive steering systems industry equipping one in nearly four cars in the U.S. with a steering system. JTEKT also supplies the automotive, industrial and aerospace markets under the brands of JTEKT®, Koyo® bearings, Torsen® high-performance differentials, and Toyoda® precision machine tools. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, JTEKT North America employs more than 6000 associates in 24 facilities, including 15 manufacturing sites, across North America. For more information, visit www.jtekt-na.com

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2018 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 16 years are still on the road today.  

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges.  We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com. 

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