Five Mexico manufacturing plants are among 10 recipients of the 2006 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing.

      Dubbed the “Nobel prize of Manufacturing” by Business Week in 2000, the Shingo Prize is recognized as the premier manufacturing award in North America. “The 2006 Recipients have demonstrated the aim to control their destiny through lean manufacturing and business processes,” said Ross Robson, Shingo Prize Executive Director.

      The Shingo Prize continues to grow with the adoption of the Public Sector Shingo Prize with a 120 percent increase in 2006 applicants. In addition, more than 25 states in the United States and Mexico are conducting “State-Level” Shingo Prize programs. The mission aim of the Shingo Prize is to find and eliminate all non-value added activity that negatively impacts profitability and/or tax utilization.

      The Mexico recipients are:

      Delphi Productos Delco de Chihuahua (Plant 58), Chihuahua, Chih. Plant 58 is a Delphi Energy and Chassis facility, a division of Delphi Corp. Since initiating operations in 1990, the Delphi Manufacturing System has guided the team of more than 500 employees to reach its goals on a lean journey. The team sought to become a world-class lean manufacturing plant by staying focused on a set of core activities, including cost reduction, quality improvement, constant growth, improved process speed, and valuing and improving people.The team’s achievements include 100 percent on time delivery since 2001, 80 percent reduction in customer complaints, 70 percent improvement in First Time Quality, 86 percent improvement on premium freight cost and a safety record of five years without a lost work day. The Productos Delco team will continue to make improvements aimed at exceeding customer expectations in the future.

                                                                                                           Delphi Steering Systems, Alambrados y Circuitos Eléctricos IX (ACE IX) Plant 65, Querétaro, Qto. As part of Delphi Steering, a division of Delphi Corp., Plant 65 is a 176,981 square-foot facility with 233 employees. Opening in 1996, it specializes in manufacturing automotive components such as rack & pinion gears which help provide directional control, road feedback, and stability for the driver. In the last two years, employees have achieved 100 percent on-time delivery and a safety record of zero lost work days. In addition, there has been a 43 percent improvement in First Time Quality, 62 percent reduction in customer complaints and a 100 percent improvement on delivering premium freight. Additionally, scrap has been reduced by 49 percent. Employee empowerment and strong leadership has led Plant 65 to achieve these important milestones and for employees to continue their lean journey towards excellence...

...Continued in the pages of Twin Plant News, Subscribe Today!