Skilled Craftsman Hiroki Tanaka, Expert in Meticulous Assembly Work
Meet Hiroki Tanaka: The Master Craftsman Behind Toyota's Luxury Century Model
In the heart of Toyota Motor Corporation's Tahara Plant, a facility renowned for its focus on hand-crafted quality and attention to detail in luxury vehicle production, resides a master assembler named Hiroki Tanaka. Tanaka is a renowned figure, known for his expertise in precision body assembly, particularly in the production of Toyota's luxury Century model.
The new Toyota Century is meticulously assembled at the Tahara Plant, a process that involves master artisans like Tanaka. His role is critical in ensuring that the components are fitted with extreme precision, contributing to the Century’s reputation for superior build quality and refinement.
Tanaka's role centers on the precise alignment and assembly of the body parts, a task demanding a high level of skill and experience to meet the Century’s luxury standards. The assembly line at the Tahara Plant fits various parts from inside and outside the company onto the vehicle's base, resulting in a finished car.
The Century assembly line is a 40-strong crew, selected from the 1,500 employees at Tahara. The criteria for selection focused on highly skilled, quality-oriented personnel at the Expert level or higher with a meticulous approach to monozukuri, the Japanese philosophy of making things. Each worker on the line uses an assortment of wrenches, screwdrivers, and other tools and jigs of various sizes.
On the Century assembly line, workers are assigned to one of four sections: Trim, Chassis, Final assembly, and Tuning/Fluids. Hiroki Tanaka is part of the Chassis team, installing bulky, heavy engine and suspension components using a torque wrench with a meter-long handle.
It's important to note that not all parts for cars are manufactured in-house by the vehicle manufacturer. Some come from outside suppliers. Regardless of their origin, each part is handled with the utmost care and precision to maintain the high standards set by the Century.
In summary, Hiroki Tanaka is a master craftsman specializing in precision assembly in the final production stages of the Toyota Century at the Tahara Plant. His role is vital to maintaining the car's distinguished quality and craftsmanship, contributing to the Century’s reputation as a symbol of luxury and refinement in the automotive industry.
This article is part of a special five-part series showcasing the craftspeople who work on the Century model, an ongoing exploration of the master artisans supporting the automotive industry.
[1] Toyota Motor Corporation. (n.d.). Tahara Plant. Retrieved from https://global.toyota/en/company/manufacturing/tahara/ [2] Toyota Motor Corporation. (n.d.). Century. Retrieved from https://global.toyota/en/vehicles/century/index.html
- The luxury Toyota Century, meticulously assembled at the Tahara Plant, combines high-quality components sourced both from internal manufacturing and external suppliers in the automotive industry.
- Hiroki Tanaka's precision body assembly skills in Toyota's Century model demonstrate the intersection of the manufacturing, finance, and technology industries, as the Tahara Plant's focus on hand-crafted quality is supported by a commitment to investing in the latest manufacturing technologies.
- As the master craftsman behind Toyota's Century model, Hiroki Tanaka's work is an example of the dedication to quality, attention to detail, and focus on technology that defines the business and transportation sectors.
