Happy Toyota Anniversaries

Lexington Herald-Leader | 05/21/2006 | Toyota plant celebrates 20 years

20 Years in Georgetown (above)

There were celebrations in Kentucky:

Toyota brought its 7,000 employees and their guests to Rupp Arena for car giveaways and a private concert featuring rock duo Heart and country singer Keith Urban.

There were Camrys given away to employees, by drawing. One of the winners was a guy named Ford (!!!)

Employees got their names entered in the drawing one time for each consecutive year of perfect attendance. Over 60 percent of Toyota’s work force has perfect attendance each year.

They are celebrating at the Buffalo, WV plant also, quite a contrast from when the first Toyota dealership opened in the 1960′s:

The company had zero market share in West Virginia in 1967 when the late John Iaquinta of Fairmont became the first Toyota dealer in the state. Back then, there was even some hostility from some for whom World War II was a vivid memory.

That’s all changed. Last year, the Toyota Corolla was the best-selling automobile in West Virginia

Congratulations to Toyota, the employees, and those communities.

About LeanBlog.org: Mark Graban is a consultant, author, and speaker in the “lean healthcare” methodology, focused on improving quality and patient safety, improving access, reducing costs, and fully engaging healthcare professionals. He is also the Chief Improvement Officer for KaiNexus.