Delphi Automotive Nabs Two Shingo Prizes
Two high-tech manufacturing operations of Delphi Automotive Systems (Troy, MI) have been awarded the prestigious Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence, according to Rodney O'Neal, executive vice president of Delphi Automotive Systems and president of its Safety, Thermal, and Electrical Architecture sector.
The CMM Operations in Matamoros, Mexico, and Plant 6 Operations in Saginaw, MI, will receive the honors at the Shingo 12th Annual Conference & Awards Ceremony May 11 in Milwaukee, WI.
The Shingo Prize, which was established in 1988, is presented to North American manufacturers that exhibit excellence in manufacturing practices that result in high customer satisfaction and business performance. The prize is named after Shigeo Shingo, a Japanese industrialist who was instrumental in creating and documenting JIT manufacturing methods, systems, and processes that comprise the renowned Toyota Production System.
"These two awards demonstrate Delphi's commitment to lean manufacturing and our ability to execute our improvement strategies across Delphi," stated O'Neal. "We are proud to be second- and third-time recipients of this distinguished industry award." The company's RIMIR Operations in Matamoros, Mexico, received the Shingo Prize last year.
The Shingo organization praised Delphi's Interior Systems CMM Operations for superior quality, safety performance, and delivery. In fact, the plant logged 7.7 million work-hours without a lost workday last year and delivered products completely on time for the last 19 years, according to the company. The plant produces steering wheels, airbag module covers, and instrument panels, including the fully recyclable thermoplastic polyolefin instrument panel skin.
Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems Plant 6 Operations is the second division that won the prize this year. It manufactures energy–absorbing steering columns and components for automakers worldwide. Last year, plant employees and management cooperatively implemented lean manufacturing processes, rearranging 81% of the plant floor and removing more than 200 pieces of equipment that hampered material flow. The changeover was done while operating at full production. In addition, this plant also was named one of Industry Week magazine's 10 best plants in North America in 1999; it holds several customer awards for safety, quality, and delivery.
Delphi's lean manufacturing process — called the Delphi Manufacturing System — focuses on changing over the company's traditional manufacturing practices to time-based flow manufacturing. "Improving competitiveness from a manufacturing perspective is achieved by the elimination of waste," O'Neal said. "These two world-class facilities have made exceptional advances in eliminating waste from their entire operations, while improving their overall performance in safety, delivery, quality, and especially customer satisfaction."
O'Neal, who will be a keynote speaker at the awards ceremony next month, will discuss the worldwide implementation of lean manufacturing and the advantages of the Delphi Manufacturing System.
The Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence, which is based in Logan, UT, at the Utah State University's College of Business, can be awarded to manufacturers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico as well as to researchers around the world. The philosophy of the award states that "world-class status can be achieved through focused improvements in core manufacturing processes, implementing lean, just-in-time philosophies and systems, eliminating waste, and achieving zero defects, while continuously improving products and costs." The prize's board of examiners is comprised of North American manufacturing experts.
Delphi Automotive Systems supplies transportation and mobile electronics components and systems technology.
Edited by Nancy Katz