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Heaven on Wheels
One
Thursday, as our cultural class, we were whizzed away to the Toyota Motor Corporation plant at Tsutsumi
to observe their factory in action. Felt like a field trip for grade school kids,
except there were no lunch boxes and no apples to bring along.
Blessed
are our esteemed teachers and curious fellow students, they kept us awake
the whole trip by amusing us with funny Japanese Idioms.
Our
Guide from Toyota (in yellow dress), in her almost natural sounding English
that she picked up while schooling in Melbourne, also kept us neatly in
line while we walked through the factory.
May
be car manufacturing is a national secret, and thus we are not allowed
to take photos inside the factory. Frankly I don't understand what
the difference would be if we can see everything with our naked eyes.
Besides, not being able to take pictures is sooooo un-Japanese.
Anyway, I learned these from the
Tsutsumi Factory:
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They manufactured models such as Corona, Lexus
3000, Camery, Vista and many more.
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They pound out 1,500 vehicles-- a day?
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There are 1,500 workers in that particular plant;
1,500 bento lunches everyday....
-
I have read it somewhere before: they adopt
the "just in time" theory (... a five dollar word...). It means they
only produce to demand. I suppose it is in contrast with other manufacturing
methods by which the same model is mass produced in anticipation of future
sales. Actually the specifications of the automobile, such as the
parts' numbers, are printed on a sheet hung under the opened hood of each
car. Upon close observation, I was shocked at the speed of the workers.
Almost no time to think. ... Remember Charlie Chaplin's movie: "Modern
Time"?
-
All workers have the right to "blow the whistle"
by stopping the conveyor line of cars, if they find defects in the previous
assembly.
-
They remove the doors before the workers install
the interiors of the cars. The computer will also synchronize with
the assembly line by custom delivering the matching parts (such as the
engine and windshield glass), deliverying the doors when the interior assembly
is completed.
-
Workers sit on slim armless swivel chairs that
glide in and out, or sideway with the cars that are moving slowly along
the conveyor belt. I would like to buy one of those chairs too.
And
for those people who noticed me acting busy scribbling while listening
to the Guide, they should be relieved to find out I actually was scribbling
down real notes for a change! Tired of reading? Blame Toyota
for not letting us taking photographs....
After
the factory tour, we were whizzed off to the Show Room with a few simulation
exhibits. This one is to demonstrate the detective device that keeps
the driver from dozing off.
But actually for me, that device
is unnecessary. With the way I drive, my travel companion would have
been fully alert, hair standing up, hands crutching to the seat.
Their right feet would have been planted deeply to the front portion of
the floor as if there is a brake there.
The Show Room is not a Show Room
without me being in front of a cute car to show off.
My rich friends...
Me and my rich friends..
Me
and my many friends
A
note to the school: they took our group pictures at the Show Room or at
the Graduation Ceremony. I wonder if we could receive a copy
of these pictures.....
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A note from Yamasa:
The group photo and other photos from Toyota visits are accessable from the
Student Network. You do not need a password. If you are seeking other photographs or can't locate them in the archive, please write to me. Please include your student ID card number - or if that isn't available your passport number and/or course details. Declan Murphy, Director, Intl. Office.
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