Autoliv wins Shingo Awards in Mexico
Swedish manufacturer of automotive safety systems Autoliv Inc.’s two facilities located in Querétaro, Mexico, have been recognised with the 2006 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing, Region Centro de Mexico.
Autoliv Steering Wheels Mexico (AWM) produces leather wrapped steering wheels and airbag modules, while Autoliv Components Mexico (CMX) manufactures airbag cushions. The Shingo Prize is awarded annually to select companies that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in manufacturing processes, quality enhancements, productivity improvement, and customer satisfaction. The prize focuses on lean manufacturing techniques and promotes world-class business performance through continuous improvements in core manufacturing and business processes.
The two facilities have demonstrated significant year-over-year improvements including a 15% improvement in productivity, 18% improvement in inventory turns, customer quality improvement of 50%, scrap reduction of 25% and employee suggestion rate improvement of over 60%.
In addition to the Shingo Award, the AWM facility recently received recognition from the Mexican Federal Government for its programme utilising the special skills of physically handicapped workers in its leather-wrapping operations. This special team of workers known as the “AWM Angels” has set new standards of productivity within the AWM facility.
Together with its joint ventures the company has 80 facilities with nearly 39,000 employees in 30 vehicle-producing countries. Sales in 2005 amounted to $6.2 billion.
