DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press Kazumori Oi, president of TMMI in Princeton, Ind., thanks technicians and mechanics at Kenny Kent Toyota/Lexus in Evansville for their help in handling the heavier workload in recent weeks. The workers have worked longer days to repair or prevent problems with eight vehicle models under recall.
For nearly the past six and one-half weeks,
Kenny Kent Toyota’s service technicians have worked extended hours, inspecting and servicing some 2,000 customer’s Toyota vehicles as part of a giant recall by Toyota Motor Corp.
The technicians have on average inspected and serviced 60 vehicles a day to fix accelerator pedals that may stick and other potential problems associated with at least eight vehicle models in the recall.
And, the technicians are only half-way through the process.
Butch Hancock
Wil James
Kazumori Oi
Butch Hancock, managing partner and general manager of Kenny Kent Toyota/Lexus, estimated the technicians have several thousand more customer’s Toyota vehicles still to attend to in the recall.
But on Friday, the 22 Toyota technicians received their due.
All work stopped for them for an hour or so when top officials from Gibson County’s Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) plant visited Kenny Kent on Evansville’s East Side to thank each one in person for their hard work.
The reception also included lunch. The technicians were really pumped up … They were really excited, Kenny Kent officials said beforehand.
A short while later, Wil James, senior vice president/production for TMMI, told the technicians “We (Toyota plant workers) are not the face of Toyota. Your are.
“On behalf of the team at Toyota in Princeton, I’d like to say thanks for all your hard work.”
James said “We look forward to connecting with people (off campus) even more via the plant’s new Visitors Center.”
James invited the technicians to tour the center with their families.
Kazumori Oi, president of TMMI, told the technicians “We appreciate your support.”
He seconded James’ idea that the technicians were “the face” of Toyota.
Terry Martin, customer quality manager for Toyota in Gibson County, also thanked each technician.
The officials’ visit was also part of the automotive industry’s National Service Technicians Week, held this week.
Kelly Dillon, Toyota’s manager of public affairs and purchasing, said similar visits are planned by Toyota officials to Ubelhor Toyota in Jasper, Ind., and Don Moore Toyota in Owensboro, Ky.
Hancock said he believed the general public underestimates Toyota’s dedication to good service and its customers’ loyalty to the brand.
“Our customers are willing to give Toyota a chance. When you’re the ‘Tiger Woods’ of the industry, however, you will draw more attention.”
Joe Fredrich, Kenny Kent Toyota service director, said the service department has been stretched to the limit by of the recall.
“When we run out of people I have helped shuttle customers, many of whom have told me: ‘I’m so tired of hearing people complain about Toyota,’ or ‘I’m so tired of being made fun of for driving a Toyota.’”
James also said he tires of the negativity but doesn’t take it personally.
Hancock said “The human factor in all this really hasn’t been talked about: the human error. There’s always room for human error.”
Jeff Allbright, shop foreman for Kenny Kent Toyota, said, “The customers are more than understanding. By and large. most think bringing the vehicles in is unnecessary.”
Oi said “We have a very tough time. The work force of 4,200 in Princeton is very, very serious.”
Kenny Kent also has eight Lexus service technicians.
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