2006 Top Plant winner celebrates 25th anniversary

The Toyota assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky. has faced recent setbacks, but continues to push forward.

By Source: Beaumont Enterprise May 11, 2011

The Beaumont Enterprise reported that the Toyota Motor Corp. assembly plant celebrated its 25th anniversary in Georgetown, Ky., this week. The Toyota plant, which won Plant Engineering’s Top Plant award in 2006, was Toyota’s first North American plant.

After winning the award, Toyota managers applauded their workers for driving change. “We have the same equipment, basically, as our competitors. We use the same raw materials. They come from the same suppliers. The key is our people; they are the real key to our success,” said Toyota general manager Tom Zawacki. “We have intelligent, flexible, highly motivated people that have a voice in what they do.”

Today the plant employs 6,800 and has the capacity to build 500,000 cars a year. The plant has faced setbacks in recent years, including a shutdown last year due to defective brake pedals. They have also cut production due to the disrupted supply chain because of the March 11 earthquake in Japan.

Regardless, they celebrated what was described as a "quiet" anniversary, a milestone nonetheless.

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