As a further sign that (most) of the world is slowly crawling out of the dumps, Japanese car companies report (sometimes sharp) increases in overseas production, says The Nikkei [sub].
Honda reported today that its overseas production jumped 65.8 percent on the year to 255,654 units in March. That’s up for the fifth straight month and marks an all-time March high for Honda. In the U.S., Honda built 110 percent units more than in the dark days of March 2009. Production “in Asia” grew a moderate 35.1 percent to 99,277 units.
Also today, Suzuki said its overseas output grew 17.1 percent to a record 1.586 million units in fiscal 2009 (ending March 31.) This was their first expansion in two years.
Toyota’s overseas production rose sharply in March by 81 percent. Exports rose 99.8 percent. For the full fiscal, Toyota’s overseas production rose a moderate 9.2 percent. Worldwide production for the full fiscal was 8,150,542 units.
Mazda and Fuji Heavy also saw their overseas production rise in fiscal 2009.
It’s safe to go out again. The sky stopped falling.
Interesting ergonomic devices.
Glad you noticed them
It seems they help the worker cope with that un-ergonomic position. I don’t quite get if it works like a chair, a stand or both.
The thing is that doing it once won’t hurt him, but the thousands times a day he has to, sure will cause a problem. Hence, being able to avoid an injured worker is good.
Here I’ve yet to see a device like that one. Our volumes are much much lower to compare and maybe is not necessary.
How do they keep their coveralls so white?
the green hats are electrostatically charged to trap dirt and dust particles.
Well, if you are assembling clean engines into a clean painted body and then screwing plastic parts into that body I see no real reason why you couldn’t stay clean. Sadly every production line I have worked on has assumed that the ine workers are wearing overalls for a reason. That grease and so on is easily transferred from the overalls to the car.
I’ll bet the ergo devices quick-change into an Iron Man suit. Or maybe just a Segway.