NEC Corp. has boosted per-worker output of personal computers almost sixfold in the three years since it introduced Toyota Motor Corp.'s production style, company officials have said.
By introducing Toyota's just-in-time manufacturing style, NEC increased PC production to 50 units per worker per day in the April-September period, compared with nine per day in the business year that ended March 31, 2001, the officials said.
The company also cut about 6 billion yen in annual production costs, they said.
NEC introduced the production-management system, under which it supplies parts only when necessary, at a factory in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. The factory belongs to NEC Personal Products Ltd., a subsidiary of NEC.
The company expects to raise production to 60 units per worker per day in the second half of fiscal 2003, the officials said.
NEC Personal Products invited personnel from the Toyota group as consultants beginning in fiscal 2000 and received instructions in more than 30 sessions.
NEC currently only has necessary parts supplied and does not hold any excess inventory. At the Yonezawa factory, workers walk around with trolleys and replenish stock.