Toyota Quality Is The Best?...Not!

Alot of people may not know this, but I worked at Toyota for a while. I did not sell them, I built them; I repeat, I built Toyotas! I am surprised their quality has been so good for so long with me working at the plant. I had to put in the steering column (which weighs 35lbs), pop in the ignition switch, and connect the emergency brake; all while sitting on a piece of foam which you could not feel after the 10th car. Now if I had an hour to do those things, I would still be working there. I had to do that in 48 seconds (which they refer to as tact time). With us building over 400 cars a shift, there were bound to be some mistakes. I worked at the plant in Georgetown, Kentucky where Toyota means everything for that area. The poverty is so great in that area that if it were not for Toyota, it would be the poorest state in the Union.

My first day by myself on the production line was the worst day of my life. I remembered everything I had to do; when the line started I had to grab two 3/4" nuts, and the steering column (which weighed 35lbs). In one fail swoop, I had to insert it in the hole and hold it up with my knee, while I hand started the two nuts. I then had to take the pneumatic nut driver and shoot the bolts, hoping all the while I didn't cross thread them. If you cross thread the nuts, you have to back them off and then reshoot two more. Keep in mind that the car is moving the whole time through your designated area. Once you get that done, you have to then take the ignition switch and pop it in to the steering column. Then you had to reach down between the seats and grab the connection for the emergency brake. You are then finished with that car in what is hopefully your area. If not, you have put the next person in line into a bad predicament. Now if you get too far behind, you can pull the Andon cord which will stop the whole line. The more you stop it, the more overtime everyone will have to work. Keep in mind this was my first day, and I had to make this work. I had my family depending on me. I needed this job, it was the best paying job for someone under 25 in Kentucky. I had to do what I could, with every ounce of my being to make this work (I said to myself). All of a sudden, the line started and I grabbed the steering column, I jumped in the car, I put the steering column in the hole, and I hand started the bolts...oops, the bolts. I went back to get the bolts, but the car was now in the next area. I pull the Andon cord to stop the line, the whole line, and nothing but the line. This went on the rest of the night with me pulling the cord 14 times before lunch. I had single-handedly caused us to work 2 hours of overtime. After lunch I didn't even care if I stripped bolts, left the emergency brake unplugged; I didn't care about nothing but not pulling the cord.

I lasted only a month at Toyota Manufacturing, hating every minute of it 48 seconds at a time. I still to this day will not ride in or drive a 95 Toyota Camry or Avalon. My quality sucked then, so you can imagine how amazed I am that they lasted this long without any problems. I wish them the best, I really do, but in the meantime...buy a Mazda. Zoom-zoom. forever.