Seven Mexican manufacturing plants are among 12 recipients of the 2007 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, which recognizes Lean Enterprise Management (the Toyota Production System).

      The Shingo Prize is recognized as the premier manufacturing award and recognition program in North America. “The 2007 Recipients have proven themselves as leaders in lean manufacturing and business processes,” said Ross Robson, Shingo Prize executive director.

This year’s Mexico recipients are:

      •Autoliv Querétaro CMX Facility, Querétaro, Querétaro. This plant produces cushions for Autoliv’s passenger, driver, side-impact, and side-curtain airbags. Through the application of the Autoliv Production System, the facility has improved cutting production efficiency by 75 percent, reduced change- over time by 20 percent, improved customer PPM by 98 percent, boosted inventory turnover from 14 to 24, increased units produced per week by 94 percent, and improved LMPU by 23 percent, even while launching 64 new programs. During this same timeframe, the CMX facility has been driving process improvements, resulting in four consecutive ISO/TS audits with zero non-conformance issues, and four consecutive years with 100 percent on-time delivery to its customers.

      Having just recently been awarded the Shingo Prize for Region Central Mexico, the plant now becomes the first of Autoliv’s facilities in Mexico to receive the dual honor of being recognized with the international Shingo Prize as well. The award promotes world-class manufacturing and recognizes companies that achieve...

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