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Each
vehicle built at NUMMI goes through a series of rigorous quality inspections
in the manufacturing process. To help in this process, Quality Control
assigns inspectors to the line to help check quality at the work site.
Ultimately, production team members have responsibility for verifying
the quality of their own work.
QC also conducts vehicle performance tests on a regular basis. They
make sure wiring is hooked up correctly and that air conditioning,
lights, speedometer, headlights and other components are working properly.
Reporting to QC is the Audit Lab team. They ensure that NUMMI-built
vehicles meet stringent emission standards set by the Environmental
Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board.
They also conduct extensive water tests. These are done in addition
to the regular water booth test because some leaks take time to develop,
and going through these rigorous tests can uncover problems before
they reach the customer.
The Audit Lab also checks for squeaks and rattles, wind noise, harsh
shifting and suspension. This is done by driving a number of randomly
selected cars and trucks on NUMMI's vehicle performance track. The
track, commonly referred to as the "test track," includes
a wavy road, rope road, hill, brake pad test area and high-speed banks.
Drivers receive special training to allow them to drive vehicles on
the test track.
Another group that reports to QC is Receiving Inspection. Team members
in this group conduct daily sample quality checks of incoming parts
as well as assisting in isolating problem parts.
A subsection of Quality Control is Quality Control Engineering which
is responsible for confirming that NUMMI vehicles meet Toyota's quality
standards.
QCE confirms part quality before production of a new model begins.
Specifically, they test the fit, function and appearance of new parts
to confirm that suppliers meet design standards. They also schedule
sample checks and establish inspection standards (for testing headlights,
emissions, air bags, etc.).
Finally, QCE oversees NUMMI's materials lab, which conducts a variety
of quality tests. |
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