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WEK Industries, a Myers Industries, Inc. company, received Honda’s Productivity Improvement Award this year. Read more about their efforts and the specifics of what they do here.
WEK Industries® Receives Productivity Improvement Award from Honda®
AKRON, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–WEK Industries, a Myers Industries, Inc. company, was presented with Honda’s Productivity Improvement Award at this year’s North American Executive Honda Supplier Conference in March.
The Productivity Improvement Award is given to Honda’s top suppliers that initiate activities that result in significant gains in productivity and efficiency. In addition, continuous improvement in manufacturing, delivery, quality and cost control standards must be achieved.
WEK, a designer and manufacturer of custom engineered blow-molded and injection-molded plastic components, supplies all eight North American Honda manufacturing locations from its facilities in Jefferson, Ohio, and Reidsville, North Carolina. Products range from HVAC ducts to air induction components, radiator tanks and many other custom items. WEK has been a supplier to Honda since 1979, when Honda opened their first plant in Marysville, Ohio. Today, WEK engineers a variety of components for the Accord, Civic, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, Acura TL and Element automotive platforms, as well as Honda watercraft, motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle lines.
“This is a significant achievement to receive this recognition from Honda,” said Brian Moroney, director of sales and engineering for WEK. “Our associates are committed to customer satisfaction and meeting or exceeding the customer’s demands for quality, delivery and value-added productivity initiatives. This award validates their exceptional performance. Our business has created a real partnership with Honda, and we are very proud of their recognition.”
At the annual supplier conference, Honda recognized 63 North American suppliers for top performance in quality, on-time parts delivery and productivity improvement last year. In commenting to the group of more than 500 suppliers and others, Akio Hamada, president and CEO of Honda of America Mfg., Inc. and leader of Honda’s North American manufacturing, stressed the critical importance of these factors. Honda autos built in North America represented 76 percent of Honda’s global record 2007 auto sales.
Over the last several years, WEK has invested in a variety of new technology platforms and capacity to ensure consistent production quality and engineer solutions around manufacturing challenges. In addition, the company instituted new processes to further minimize waste in production, inventory and handling and to maximize plant safety and cleanliness. “Our focus is to empower our associates to improve their work environment,” said Ron Ulery, plant manager for WEK’s Jefferson facility. “We emphasize taking pride in our work and product quality, which promotes customer satisfaction and keeps us growing.”
WEK is an ISO/TS 16949 facility, which is a quality management system related to automotive products that provides for continual improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.
“We have a strong focus through the organization on the value we can deliver to Honda and our other customers,” added Moroney. “This includes not only engineering and prototyping, but also product fabrication and secondary operations that save them time when they receive our products. In addition, one of our sister companies in Myers Industries, Buckhorn®, is a North American leader in reusable transport packaging. We work with them to configure reusable plastic bulk containers and totes in which to ship many of our products to customers. These containers not only provide superior product protection in transit, but also take disposable waste out of the supply chain and help customers reduce material handling costs.”
About Myers Industries®
Myers Industries, Inc. (NYSE: MYE), parent company of WEK, is an international manufacturer of polymer products for industrial, agricultural, automotive, commercial and consumer markets. The Company is also the largest wholesale distributor of tools, equipment and supplies for the tire, wheel and undervehicle service industry in the U.S. The Company reported 2007 net sales of $918.8 million. Founded in 1933, Myers Industries celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2008. Visit www.myersind.com to learn more.
About WEK Industries®
Founded in 1972, WEK Industries, Inc. is a premier designer and manufacturer of custom engineered blow-molded and injection-molded plastic components and products. Markets served range from automotive, off-road vehicle and motorcycle to industrial, commercial and agriculture. Products include HVAC ducts, air induction components, fluid reservoirs, dock floats, waste containers and a wide variety of specialty custom products. WEK is headquartered and has manufacturing operations in Jefferson, Ohio, and manufacturing in Reidsville, North Carolina. WEK is one of five brands in the Automotive and Custom Segment of Myers Industries, Inc.
For more information, contact WEK Industries at (440) 576-6940.