Yazaki North America recently awarded an employee team with a Quality Control Circle award for its innovative quality and cost avoidance plan.The five-member team, which called itself “The Nut Finders” is from the machine maintenance, quality and tooling departments at the company’s plant in El Paso, Texas. The team received the award at the conclusion of Yazaki North America’s Quality Control Circle Presentation Run-Off at the company’s Canton, Michigan headquarters. The award gives the team the opportunity to represent the Texas plant—which manufactures vehicle components—at the corporation’s global quality competition in Japan.

The team earned the award for innovating the way a nut is used in the assembly of the forward lamp and dashboard instrument panel of vehicles. The method was adapted for other processes, and will result in a $70,000 savings for the company. The team members are Rodney Robles, Frank Nieto, Mike Otto, Jose Hernandez, Gabriela Suarez, Ferol Vernon and Renee Bullitt.

 …