ArvinMeritor’s Plainfield, Ind., Reman Facility Establishes New Processes to Enhance Quality and Meet Customers’ Growing Needs
PLAINFIELD, Ind., (May 26,
2004) — ArvinMeritor, Inc. (NYSE:
ARM) Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) group has established
new remanufacturing processes here at its U.S. remanufacturing facility to
create the heavy-duty trucking industry’s most complete resource for quality
reman aftermarket parts.
The process improvements also enhance the company’s
efforts to provide superior customer service. The QS-9000 certified facility
supplies parts under both Meritor® and Euclid brand names.
Meritor reman product offerings include axle
carriers, brake shoes, transmissions and Lucas brake cylinders. Euclid
reman products include brake shoes, hydraulic brake cylinders and calipers.
“We’ve been in the reman business since 1985 with
axle carriers and have a valid reputation for the most established brand
portfolio in the industry,” said Harry Howard, vice president and general
manager of CVA, which is a part of ArvinMeritor’s Commercial Vehicle Systems
business group. “Now, with these efficient processes in place in
Plainfield, we are demonstrating to the industry that we’re living up to
heightened customer expectations every day. The result is that our
customers prefer ArvinMeritor because they want a partner, not simply a parts
supplier.”
With the introduction of Lean Manufacturing
techniques, plant wide productivity has increased 20 percent at the facility and
fill rates are at record levels. The Plainfield facility processes 35
percent more remanufactured Class 8 brake shoes annually than previously
possible. This is especially important from February through May,
traditionally regarded as the busiest season of the year for brakes. For
instance, if you lined up the reman brake shoes produced in one year, they would
stretch from the Plainfield plant to New York City (700 miles).
In addition, recent process improvements in the
275,000-square-foot facility have resulted in a savings of 25,000 square feet of
space, which now can be devoted to other functions, including additional
capacity or new product lines. Additional improvements planned for this
year will make another 16,000 square feet available for new business
opportunities.
“Remanufactured components are a growth market
right now,” said Howard. “Customer demands for these products have
resulted in increased production of our reman parts. We offer a no-hassle
core program that gives benefits to both the customer and the
environment. For example, because of core reuse, we recycle over
93,000 pounds of steel every day, which helps to keep it out of landfills and
allows resources for new products.”
According to Howard, customers now understand that
a remanufactured brake shoe provides solid value compared to a relined or new
product. Brake shoes are remanufactured with an OE-genuine core lining and
hardware and are not simply relined or rebuilt. From tractors to trailers,
from on-highway to construction and refuse vehicles, many different friction
formulas are offered, each designed to accommodate different truck operators’
needs.
Key Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket facilities
include Florence, Ky.; Cleveland, Ohio; Zurich, Switzerland; Sao Paulo, Brazil;
and Sunshine Australia. A second remanufacturing facility is in Brampton,
Ontario, Canada.
ArvinMeritor’s Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS)
business group posted more than $2.4 billion in sales during fiscal year 2003,
and employs more than 8,500 people at 65 facilities in 19 countries. CVS
leads the industry in supplying technologically advanced drivetrain and braking
systems solutions as original equipment for medium- and heavy-duty trucks,
trailers, buses, coaches and specialty vehicles worldwide.
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $8-billion global
supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the
motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial
truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and related
aftermarkets. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs
approximately 32,000 people at more than 150 manufacturing facilities in 27
countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the
company’s Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com/.
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