Made In America: AEDC to host workshop with former Toyota exec
by January 17, 2016 9:34 am 164 views
Editor’s note: Each Sunday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Made In America,” a round-up of state and global manufacturing news.
AEDC TO HOST WORKSHOP WITH FORMER TOYOTA EXEC WHO HELPED TRANSFORM U.S. AUTO PRODUCTION: The Arkansas Economic Development Commission will host a one-day workshop on Feb. 4 where former Toyota Motor Corp. executive Isao Yoshino and corporate production consultant Greg Sullivan will discuss how the Japanese auto giant revolutionized American automobile manufacturing with its NUMMMI assembly plant in 1984. NUMMI, or the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., was the former joint venture between Toyota and GM that is credited with saving the U.S. auto industry by producing better quality cars and lower production costs.
During the workshop, co-presented by Yoshino and Sullivan, attendees will relive the actual events that the Toyota executives experienced during the NUMMI start-up, organizers say. The day will be interactive with case studies, presentations, group analyses and a firsthand account from Yoshino. The former NUMMI headquarters in Fremont, Calif., is now home to electric carmaker Tesla. To register for the workshop, click here.
CHINA’S HAIER GROUP ANNOUNCES DEAL TO PURCHASE GE’S APPLIANCE BUSINESS FOR $5.4 BILLION: Chinese home appliance giant Qingdao Haier expanded its U.S. reach on Friday (Jan. 15) in a $5.4 billion cash deal to purchase General Electric’s Appliances business in Louisville, Ky. Under its U.S.-based Haier Group brand, the world largest home appliance maker said its acquisition of GE will bring together a global conglomerate that can jointly pursue growth projects in focus areas where both companies can increase business competitiveness such as Industrial Internet, healthcare and advanced manufacturing.
GE Appliances will remain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. The business will continue to be operated independently under the direction of a local board with the participation of GE’s current senior management team, who will guide the strategy and operations of the business. Haier said it is committed to investing in the continued growth of the GE’s appliance business, which employs about 12,000 employees globally, 96% of whom are based in the U.S.
U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT: WOMEN’S EARNINGS 83% OF MEN’S IN 2014, VARY BY OCCUPATION – Women who worked full time in wage and salary jobs had median weekly earnings of $719, which was 83% of men’s median weekly earnings ($871) in 2014, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s varied by occupation.
Women’s median weekly earnings in construction and extraction jobs ($691) were 91% of the earnings of their male counterparts, while weekly earnings in office and administrative support ($637), and food preparation and serving occupations ($419) were also over 90% of men’s earnings. By contrast, women’s earnings in protective service ($617), sales ($570), and legal occupations ($1,001) were 70%, or less, of men’s earnings in 2014.
Occupational groups with the highest median weekly earnings for women include computer and mathematical ($1,165), architecture and engineering ($1,158), and management jobs ($1,127). Farming, fishing, and forestry ($375), building and grounds cleaning and maintenance ($413), and food prep jobs ($419) were occupations with the lowest weekly earnings. To learn more, click here.
DENSO TO ESTABLISH DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE: In an effort to accelerate its leadership development worldwide and diversify leadership at its global headquarters, Japanese auto applier Denso Corp. said it has established a global common personnel management system. Based on this new system, Denso will promote employees with diverse values and also improve their motivation by enabling them to develop their careers worldwide within the Denso Group, the company said. The new system launches this month and will impact about 2,300 senior officer management personnel at its headquarters and 188 group companies across the globe, including Denso’s 500-employee HVAC and radiator parts manufacturing operation in Osceola.