Toyota in the UK
There are two manufacturing plants in the UK representing a total investment of £2.5 billion and approximately 3,000 members (including Agency) are employed. The vehicle manufacturing plant is located at Burnaston in Derbyshire, the engine manufacturing plant is located at Deeside in North Wales. The first car, a Carina E, drove off the Burnaston production line on 16 December 1992. The Avensis replaced the Carina E in 1997 and in 2008 the third generation Avensis was launched. In 1998 a second model, the Corolla, was introduced and in 2001 the new generation Corolla was launched. In 2007, production of Auris, the new Toyota hatchback, started replacing Corolla. Production of the Auris Hybrid, the first full mass-produced hybrid in Europe, began in 2010. In 2013, the Auris Touring Sport was introduced. The processes at Burnaston include stamping, welding, painting, plastic mouldings and assembly and at Deeside machining, assembly and aluminium casting.
How We Manufacture
The Toyota Production System (TPS) is carried out in every Toyota manufacturing plant across the world, so customers can be assured that when they purchase a Toyota, it has a consistent high level of quality – built in.
TPS has three desired outcomes; firstly, to provide the customer with the highest quality vehicles, at the lowest possible cost, in a timely manner with the shortest possible lead times. Secondly, to provide members with work satisfaction, job security and fair treatment. Finally, it gives the company flexibility to respond to the market, achieve profit through cost reduction activities and long-term prosperity.
TPS strives for the absolute elimination of waste, overburden and unevenness in all areas to allow members to work smoothly and efficiently. The foundations of TPS are built on standardisation to ensure a safe method of operation and a consistent approach to quality. Toyota members seek to continually improve their standard processes and procedures in order to ensure maximum quality, improve efficiency and eliminate waste. This is known as kaizen and is applied to every sphere of the company’s activities.