You asked for it, you got it

Automobile manufacturer Toyota is implementing a new business system to improve its supply chain operations. The customized production control system is expected to support the company’s aggressive global production goals and deliver cars to customers faster.

Integrating with the company’s planning and logistics systems, the solution was developed by NEC in Japan and will be deployed outside of Japan by Canopy International. Canopy has completed the first phase of the European implementation at Toyota’s Derbyshire plant in the United Kingdom and Greenfield plant in France. It will roll out other implementation phases at Toyota’s European, North American and Asian locations throughout 2001.

According to NEC President Akinobu Kanasugi, “This next-generation system is helping Toyota strategically evolve its manufacturing performance” by decreasing lead times and reaching new levels of productivity.

Andrew Lewis, a vice president at Canopy, says, “The need for rapid business response and supply chain synchronization has made integration a critical business requirement.” He adds that the solution will help Toyota support its goal of delivering five-day cars for a competitive advantage.