Workplace Observation: Hitachi Automotive Products
Hitachi Automotive Products, Los Angeles (HAP-LA), located in Torrance, California, is a major manufacturer of alternators, starters, mass airflow sensors, electronic control units, and other automotive electromechanical parts. HAP-LA's major customers, including Ford, GM, Subaru, Nissan, Honda, and Thermoking, along with a large score of OE and aftermarket clients, bring in over $9 million in monthly revenue for the HAP-LA facility alone. As a small part of a large conglomerate corporation, HAP-LA's climate is defined by a long, historical Japanese tradition and work ethic as well as the dynamic practices of the contemporary American management.
…