QUALITY CONTROL GROUP TOURS TG-USA

PERRYVILLE -- An automotive plastics manufacturer, which produces parts for the automotive industry in the U.S., showed its operation to a group of about 45 members of the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) recently.

Toyoda Gosei (TG-USA), with facilities at Perryville, hosted the Cape Girardeau chapter of the ASQC for a banquet and tour of the plant.

TG-USA, which opened its Perryville facility in 1987 after three years of discussions and construction, manufactures steering wheels, various gears and other parts for the automotive industry, including Ford, Chrysler and other domestic automakers. It also produces parts for the Toyota Motor Manufacturing plant in Kentucky.

The plant opened in a 42,000-square-foot building with 27 employees, but six months later employed 200. Today, several expansions later, the company has grown to include more than 210,000 square feet and 630 employees.

Toyoda Gosei started operations in Japan in 1949 as the Nogoya Rubber Co. The name was changed in 1973. In April of 1986, Toyoda Gosei and Mitsui Co. joined together to create TG-USA, a company whose purpose is to produce parts for the auto industry in the U.S.

Toyoda Gosei owns 80 percent of TG-USA and Mitsui Co. owns the remaining 20 percent. The Mitsui Co. was founded in 1876, and has offices throughout the world.

Chuck Farley, general manager of production at TG-USA, discussed the company's products and conducted the tour of the plant.

One of the highlight events on the tour by ASQC was that of deploying an airbag. The airbag, said David S. Lynn, of the TG-USA's public affairs department, is triggered mechanically, while recorded on a high speed camera for "playback."

The firm manufactures covers for airbags.

"For some models, we install the airbags into the steering wheel," said Lynn.

"The visit to TG-USA received great response from our ASQC members," said Ralph Pittman, chairman and founder of the Cape Girardeau chapter of ASQC.

The local chapter has more than 115 members and is continuing to grow, noted Pittman. "There has been great interest shown by manufacturing organizations in Southeast Missouri," said Pittman. "We currently have members from Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Perryville, Cape Girardeau and some students from Southeast Missouri State University."

Pittman said the group's primary objectives are to have an ongoing education program through industrial tours, seminars and workshops, and to promote quality concepts and quality in the workplace.