Advanced Manufacturing Flexibility in North America

Honda has invested in advanced, flexible manufacturing capacity in its North American and global production facilities to more quickly and efficiently respond to changes in market demand. Honda’s flexible manufacturing system has been applied to all of Honda’s major plants around the world, allowing for more efficient utilization of global production resources and increased stability of local manufacturing operations and employment. This is designed to increase value in our products for our customers.

Flexibility to Meet Customer Demand

* Honda’s North American automobile assembly plants are operating with an unprecedented level of flexibility to meet customer demand. Honda has nine North American auto assembly lines at seven plant sites, producing 16 distinct Honda and Acura models.
* All of Honda’s North American assembly lines are producing multiple vehicles on each line.. By designing flexibility into each line, Honda is able to balance consumer demand with production. An added benefit is workforce stability.
* Flexibility begins with a highly trained and involved workforce that can quickly respond to customer demand in changing market conditions. In addition to producing a variety of models, Honda associates routinely move between assembly lines as needed to meet customer demand.
* Honda is developing an increasingly flexible supply chain in the United States (North America??), where suppliers are globally competitive in their local communities.
* In 2007, Honda was able to meet growing consumer demand for the fuel-sipping Civic by adding production of that model on the same line as the Ridgeline pickup.
* In fall 2008, Honda will open its newest assembly plant, in Greensburg, Ind., which will produce Civic Sedans.
* In early 2009, Honda will move production of the Ridgeline pickup from Alliston, Ontario, to Lincoln, Ala. Additionally, production of the Accord V6 sedan also will begin in Lincoln in mid- 2009. Honda moved all production of Pilot SUVs from from Alliston to Lincoln in 2007.
* In addition to the assembly plants listed below, Honda operates:
o An engine plant in Anna, Ohio, with an annual capacity of 1.16 million units, making it Honda’s largest auto engine facility in the world.
o An engine facility in Lincoln, with capacity to produce 300,000 V6 engines a year.
o A new engine plant adjacent to the Alliston, Ontario complex, which started producing fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines in fall 2008.
o Automotive transmission plants in Russells Point, Ohio, and Tallapoosa, Ga.