Toyota Boshoku UMW Sdn Bhd (TBU) recently held an opening ceremony for their third (3rd) plant. TBU was established as a joint-venture with Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Japan and UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd in 2006. TBU focuses on manufacturing and assembling seats, door trims and interior parts for Toyota Vios, Hilux, Fortuner, Innova, Hiace manufactured by Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) and Hino commercial vehicles. TBU has allocated over RM22 million to develop the new TBU plant 3 on a 3,200 square meter built-up area. The project started early this year as part of UMW Toyota Motor’s RM1 billion investment plan for 3 years until 2013.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the new plant, Datuk Ismet Suki, UMW Toyota Motor’s President said, “Toyota Boshoku UMW (TBU) was established more than 25 years ago. Previously named Seat Industries (M) Sdn Bhd, TBU plant 1 started its operations at ASSB manufacturing facility, assembling seats for Corolla and later on expanding to seat frame, door trim and headlining assembly for other Toyota models”.
Datuk Ismet also added that in 2011, TBU invested over RM 8 million to develop plant 2. It focuses on the sewing and cutting operations and introduction of a new product called the “Package Tray” which is also known as the rear speaker board for the new Camry CKD project.
In line with the business growth and technical advancements, Toyota Boshoku group has consistently provided TBU with technical support in terms of high technology machine designs, line set-up and technical training.
TBU plant 3 is established to accommodate the introduction of the All New Toyota Vios project and to improve remaining processes at TBU plant 1 and plant 2 namely for seat padding and form in place (FIP) head rest for the All-New Vios production.
“At the same time, this plant will be pioneering the introduction of vibration absorption foam, in order to provide comfort ride to Toyota customers. TBU is also the first plant in Malaysia to introduce automated nonstop mould carrier changing. This plant has the seat forming padding capacity of a total of 118 sets per day for The-All New Vios”, said Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor.
As the number of Toyota vehicles on the road grew, the demand for assembling seats, door trims and interior parts has also increased. “Since 2004, the sales turnover has grown from RM 121 million to RM 230 million in 2012”, added Datuk Ismet Suki.
All operations and processes at the plant are specifically designed utilizing the Toyota Production System (TPS) to ensure production of good quality seat as per Toyota standards in terms of weight, density, hardness and appearance. This will further improve customer satisfaction, in line with our Customer First philosophy of “One Team – Customer First”.
He added, “With these investments and following Toyota’s continuous improvement or “Kaizen”, we believe TBU will continue to grow and realize our goal to be the leading vehicle interior system supplier in Malaysia with organization driven by customer first philosophy and guided by the Toyota Business Practices.”
The event to mark the significant milestone was held in the presence of YBhg Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor; YBhg Datuk Takashi Hibi, Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor, YBhg Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor and Mr. Hiroshi Ioki, President, Toyota Boshoku Asia.
