Author: huuafyiq-ca

At MTM, Earth Month is an opportunity to inspire change, both within our organization and in our communities. What we look forward to most during this time is the ability to raise environmental awareness among our team members. It’s a chance to reflect on the impact of our everyday processes and explore ways to improve MTM’s environmental performance. But beyond the workplace, it’s also a time to encourage personal sustainability efforts that extend into our North Alabama communities.

One of the most meaningful aspects of Earth Month at MTM is our collaboration with local community partners. We proudly welcome organizations onsite to share their missions, highlight the essential work they do, and educate our team members on how they can get involved. 

Cross Check is an activity where two team members, who run the same process from each shift, come together to discuss their difficulties and figure out ways to improve their process. But in MTM’s Assembly shop, Cross Check is so much more.

MTM’s Manufacturing Excellence Department (MED) had a goal to create a Cross Check program that was not a “copy and paste” of another NAMC program but instead designed to serve MTM’s unique needs best. Our Senior Vice President David Fernandes challenged the team to launch Cross Check in Assembly by September 2024. As someone who thrives on challenges, I accepted.

We benchmarked strategies with other facilities that have well-established Cross Check activities and brought those learnings back to MTM.

The most important goals to achieve with our Assembly Cross Check program was to address team members’ happiness and understanding of their role within MTM. To accomplish this, we focus on teaching standardized work and how each team member’s job affects the team. We want them to feel empowered to use their voice to create better processes for everyone.

Group Leader Melissa Kirkpatrick is leading the Cross Check team with great energy, a deep understanding of Assembly Production, and the ability to motivate those going through Cross Check. Melissa added that Mendomi-touch (treating each other like family) by developing Cross Check t-shirts and certificates for completion of the program for our team members.

Collaboration plays a major role in the success of Assembly Cross Check. Melissa and I worked together and utilized the 4 Es: Educate, Engage, Empower, and Encourage.

Starting with Educate, we take two weeks to educate team members on all aspects of the plant. We achieve this through tours of other shops and on-the-floor training, such as reviewing FMDS boards.

This leads into Engage, ensuring we educate our team in engaging and fun ways. We play games that reinforce learning and understanding the importance of building a foundation, as well as embodying MTM’s Core Values: Motivate, Appreciate, Relate, Collaborate, and Innovate, both in and outside the workplace.

At Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, we’re more than manufacturers; we’re innovators, building a better future for our team members and our community. Since rolling out our first vehicle in 2021, our team has committed to creating a plant designed to adapt and grow. This past year, we have proved just how far that vision can take us. Through collaboration and hard work, our team has increased our production from two cars to four, adding the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid to our lineup.

From the beginning, the Apollo (Toyota) and Discovery (Mazda) lines were designed for flexibility. This adaptability enabled our team to integrate a new vehicle into each line. To pull this off, our entire team had to work together, from production to logistics, to figure out how to seamlessly add hybrid vehicles while keeping up with our production goals. Our production team stepped up in a big way, mastering the art of switching between combustion and hybrid vehicles. Meanwhile, our logistics team worked behind the scenes, ensuring every part and component was precisely where it needed to be, exactly when it was needed.

This milestone is a testament to the hard work, drive, and innovative spirit of our MTM family. From groundbreaking in 2018 to the first car in 2021 and now introducing two hybrid vehicles, it is incredible to see how far we have come in just a few years. Congratulations to the entire MTM team for this achievement. Your dedication and teamwork continue to set the standard for what’s possible. We’re excited to see how far we can go together, and we will continue driving the future, one vehicle at a time.

WIW helps plan executive festivals, donation drives, and volunteer opportunities for its members alongside our other BPG partners. Most recently, they were involved in both the Witches Ride in support of the Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation and the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run in support of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

WIW provides a place for all team members to find common ground, express themselves, support each other, and get involved at MTM and in our community.

Through innovation and collaboration, MTM’s Women’s BPG will relate to our team members, motivate them to excel at MTM, and give back to our community through strategic, intentional action while inspiring the next generation of MTM women.

Our vision is to create an inclusive workplace where women thrive, contribute their unique perspectives, and achieve their full potential. We are committed to fostering an environment that values diversity, promotes equity, and ensures equal opportunities for all.

This special edition of the show is dedicated to aiding military veterans as they transition into civilian careers. Our segment highlights our veteran team members Amy, Ken, and William and how MTM continues to offer career opportunities and resources to veterans. We are proud to be part of a program that not only recognizes the sacrifices of our servicemen and women but also actively supports their successful reintegration into civilian life.