Toyota names PPG’s Crestline, Ohio, glass plant a top supplier

Jim Shepherd of PPG received the award from Art Niimi, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America (left), and Simon Nagata, vice president of purchasing.

April 6, 2005 - PPG’s Crestline, Ohio, automotive glass plant has been named one of Toyota’s top suppliers for 2004.

The Crestline plant was one of 57 winners from a total of 32 supplier companies to earn the award, according to Jim Shepherd, PPG’s general manager, automotive OEM glass, who accepted an "Excellent Quality Performance Award" at a recent ceremony in Covington, Ky. Approximately 500 companies supply Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Shepherd praised Crestline employees for their commitment to safety, quality and customer service. “The Toyota supplier award puts PPG into a select group. The entire Crestline team is to be commended for a job well done,” Shepherd said. “The Toyota award adds to their already excellent track record.”

The Toyota award is “testimony to the hard work of our Crestline employees, their attention to detail and commitment to quality,” according to Dave Kimble, plant manager.

“Every job, every employee has an effect on the quality of the final product delivered to our customers. Our goal is to improve continuously.”

Crestline employees are proud of the Toyota award, according to Paul Jordan, silk screen operator at the plant.

“Everyone here takes pride in their work, and it’s good to see it hasn’t gone unrecognized,” Jordan said. “It’s especially nice to hear from a customer like Toyota because they truly understand what quality is all about.

“Quality means don’t sell something that you wouldn’t buy yourself. If it doesn’t meet specs, I wouldn’t buy it and I wouldn’t want to sell it,” Jordan said. “Hopefully, this award means a good future for all of us at Crestline.

"You live and die by your reputation. We have a very good reputation and this award from Toyota will help us maintain it.”

The supplier awards “acknowledge those suppliers who have met Toyota’s highest standards in quality, delivery, supplier diversity, launch and value improvement, for parts and materials,” according to the carmaker.

“As Toyota continues to grow in North America, our suppliers are challenged to meet Toyota’s high standards on an even greater scale,” said Osamu “Simon” Nagata, vice president of purchasing at Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc. “Toyota’s success here is directly linked to the success of our suppliers.”