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World-class excel-lence in manufacturing is the hallmark for 12 recipients and three finalists recognized by the 2007 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing Business Program. There were five US-based recipients, seven Mexico-based recipients, and three notable finalists in 2007.
American manufacturing continues to experience turbulent times and finds it difficult to maintain and grow manufacturing jobs. The only business approach that has demonstrated superior achievement is Lean Enterprise Management (the Toyota Production System), the foundation of the Shingo Prize. Dubbed the "Nobel Prize of Manufacturing," the Shingo Prize is recognized as the premier manufacturing award and recognition program in North America. This year's Shingo Prize Recipients are:
* Denso Manufacturing Tennessee Inc., Instrument Cluster Division, (Maryville, TN). This corporation is the world's second largest manufacturer of advanced technology, components, and systems for major automakers. Specific results include: TS 16949 and ISO 14001 certifications; Tennessee Pollution Prevention Program's highest award due to 95% recycling of manufacturing process wastes; Denso Global President's Award for Kaizen, with a defect rate reduction of 32%; warranty cost reduction of 60%; and multiple quality, delivery, and service awards.
* Hearth & Home Technologies (Mount Pleasant, IA). This subsidiary of HNI Corp. manufactures product for Hearth & Home Technologies' Heatilator, Heat & GIo, and Quadra-Fire. The member-owners recently celebrated 1.5 million hr without a lost time incident, achieved on-time delivery of over 98%, with customer lead times of five days or less. This was done while increasing inventory turns by 24% and improving...