Toyota returns to 2 shifts as supply situation normalizes

MANILA, Philippines –  Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) said yesterday its operations will return to two shifts next month after cutting its production by 50 percent as a result of the twin disasters in Japan last March.

TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez said the expected improvement in the supply situation has prompted them to go back to two shifts. However, Gutierrez refused to say if they will go back to the five-day work week for their manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

After temporarily shutting down its plant, TMP has decided to implement a three-day work week due to supply difficulties. The Sta. Rosa plant produces Innova and Vios.

“Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) announced on May 11 that Toyota production recovery worldwide will start in June. TMC’s near term production levels are expected to be approximately 70 percent of normal production. With the improved supply condition outlook due to the concerned effort of all Toyota suppliers. TMP will adjust production to two shift operations from June onwards,” Gutierrez said in his message.

“Almost full recovery to normal operations. We have no plans at this time to revise the target for the year,” he added.

For this month, Toyota reduced its workweek to only three days. Likewise, Toyota said the two shifts per day was cut. Toyota said that while half of the workforce is in production, the other half will be in training.

Earlier, Gutierrez said they will have three non-production days from April 18 to 20 due to temporary limitation in supply of production parts.

“At this time, we plan to recover these non production days in the coming months. All other business units, on the other hand, will be operating under normal conditions. TMP will continue to monitor the overall supply situation in close coordination with TMC Japan and our local suppliers,” he said. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)