Hino Motors Accelerates Establishment of Global Production System
Management
Jul 31, 2013
- Koga Plant Aims to Commence Full Operation in 2016 -
Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino) will step up establishment of its global production system. Koga Plant (Koga City, Ibaraki Prefecture), where the KD plant commenced operation in May 2012, will support the global production and supply system as the base for Hino’s future craftsmanship and technological development, and is planned to commence total operation in 2016 as the vehicle assembly plant, following the axle plant scheduled to commence operation in 2014.
Hino believes it is essential to continually provide quality products and services in a timely manner so that the Hino brand is globally established as the customers’ manufacturer of choice, and for Hino’s continuous, global growth. Therefore, based on Hino’s strength - QDR (Quality, Durability, Reliability) Hino will provide fuel-efficient and low-running-cost products that meet customers’ needs with minimum lead times. Furthermore, Hino will strengthen total support for its customers by maximizing their vehicle’s operational potential.
In order to deliver quality products to customers even quicker, Hino is moving forward with its development of locally-compatible products based on modularization following its mid-term management plan (2012-2014) and global optimization of its production-supply system, which also includes the efforts to reorganize domestic production processes currently located in three plants, in addition to transfer from Hino Plant to Koga. New production technologies will be established at the Koga Plant - the “mother plant” - and by extending these to Hino’s overseas plants, Hino aspires to respond to customers’ diverse needs, which are characteristics of commercial vehicles, with minimal lead times.
Therefore, Hino will begin to incrementally commence operation of its heavy- and medium-duty vehicle assembly plant from 2015, which is located in Hino Plant currently, and have the Koga Plant fully operational during 2016. However, the final completion of the transfer from the Hino Plant, including the reorganization of domestic processes, is anticipated in no later than 2020, as initially scheduled.
Also, as Hino’s vision for the future, it also intends to examine creating a process for customizing truck beds on-site at the Koga Plant in order to further shorten the lead times in delivering completely built units from the manufacturer to customers.
At the Koga Plant, through developing innovative new production technologies, Hino also contributes to the development of craftsmanship technologies and skills in Japan. Also, in addition to introducing high-efficiency, flexible production lines that make it easy for women and senior citizens to work, Hino aspires for the plant to be a “locally friendly,” “environmentally friendly” and “labor friendly” as well as sustainable, focusing on the reduction of CO2 emissions, etc.
Hino continues to seriously listen to the opinions of its customers and strives to be locally rooted and trusted by its customers through its outstanding customer services and close communication with its customers.
Outline of the Koga Plant
| Name of plant | Koga Plant |
|---|---|
| Location | Nasaki, Koga, Ibaraki |
| Site area | Approx. 660,000 sqm (Operational KD plant building: approx. 26,000 sqm) |
| Start of Operation (Some items scheduled) | KD plant: Commenced May 2012 Chassis plant (includes axles), scheduled for 2014 Vehicle assembly plant, scheduled for 2015 *Transfer of major processes to the Koga Plant is scheduled to be completed in 2016 |
| Products (Some items scheduled) | Heavy and medium duty trucks, units, KD parts |
| Employees | Approx. 60 (April, 2013. Anticipating approx. 2000 employees at the end of FY 2016) |
| Investment | Approx. 63 bil. Yen |
Ref.
Outlines of Hino's plants in Japan
| Name of plant | Hino Plant | Hamura Plant | Nitta Plant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Hino, Tokyo | Hamura, Tokyo | Ota, Gumma |
| Site area | Approx. 300,000 sqm | Approx. 770,000 sqm | Approx. 390,000 sqm |
| Start of Operation | 1942 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Product | Heavy and medium duty trucks, heavy-duty engines | Light duty trucks, axles for heavy duty trucks, Toyota brand vehicles and SUVs | Medium and light duty engines, transmissions for heavy and medium duty trucks, axles for medium and light duty trucks |
| Hino brand vehicles produced in FY2013* | Approx. 91,000 units (CBU and KD parts) | Approx. 46,000 units (CBU and KD parts) | - |
| Employees** | Approx. 2,700 | Approx. 4,400 | Approx. 2,300 |
* FY 2013: Financial year ended March 31, 2013
** As of April 2013
