| Company Name: |
SUBARU of INDIANA AUTOMOTIVE, INC. |
| Headquarters: |
Lafayette IN |
| Industry: |
Auto & Truck Manufacturers |
| Sector: |
Transportation |
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| Employees: |
500 - 999 |
| Revenues: |
100,000 |
| Website: |
View website |
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The history of SUBARU of INDIANA AUTOMOTIVE, INC. is unique to the automotive industry. It's origins date back many decades and involve the dedication of numerous individuals and companies. Originally, SIA was a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Isuzu Motors Limited. This venture was formed in March of 1987. At the beginning of 2003, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. became the sole owner of SIA. SIA Associates now build the Subaru Legacy, Outback, and Tribeca along with the Toyota Camry.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
At the very beginning, Chikuhei Nakajima established the Aircraft Research Laboratory in Japan in 1917. From 1945 to roughly 1953, the company separated into twelve smaller companies with divisions in automobile, aircraft, rolling stock (train, diesel locomotive, ect.), industrial engine, and bus/coach production.
In 1953 Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) was established from five of the leading companies remaining after the division, and from that corporation Subaru arose. "Subaru" is a Japanese word for Pleides (Plee-a-dees), a constellation widely known since ancient times, which is used as Subaru's logo to symbolize unity and purpose.
The company named Subaru first began manufacturing the Rabbit motor scooter. Then, in 1958, FHI decided to enter the automobile market with the Subaru 360. The automobile's advanced features won Subaru a lasting place in automotive history.
Now, FHI leads the way for automotive advances, including the first mass produced all-wheel drive car, the horizontally opposed boxer engine, and the innovative Subaru Intelligent Drive system.
SUBARU of INDIANA AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
In May 1986 FHI and Isuzu agreed to a joint venture to establish a manufacturing plant in the United States. Of the many cities originally explored in the United States, 13 sites were eventually chosen for further consideration in seven states, including the state of Indiana. Hoosier pride was very evident in Indiana as cities competed to provide local access to auto parts industries, present and future. In December of 1986 Lafayette was selected as the site for the plant and Subaru-Isuzu Automotive was incorporated in March of 1987 as the managing company for this site. Ground was broken for the SIA plant in May, 1987. The 2.3 million-square foot facility performs all integrated operations from stamping to final assembly. The annual phase 1 production of 60,000 Subaru Legacys and 60,000 Isuzu pickups and Rodeos began on September 11, 1989. The plant was officially dedicated on October 16, 1989 with a week long grand opening ceremony. In January 2003, SIA became Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. signifying the sole ownership by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. SIA discontinued production of Isuzu vehicles on July 23, 2004, and began to build the Toyota Camry on February 28, 2007.
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| Subaru Material Handling | | The materials department at SIA has several functions. One function is to receive parts from other companies. Parts are delivered to SIA by truck and the Materials Department unloads and organizes them. There are many different types of parts to be received such as engines, mufflers and steel coils.
A second function of the Materials Department is to deliver the materials to the production lines and Associates. The materials department uses a form of materials management called "Just In Time" or JIT. JIT allows SIA to save both on warehouse space and reduce the number of times material is handled. JIT is very similar to buying supplies at a warehouse club instead of a normal grocery store. At a grocery store the products are stored in the back. When a product gets low stockers take the items from the back and stock the shelves in the front of the store. When products at warehouse stores are low, more products are ordered.
In the warehouse clubs, items are delivered straight to the display shelves with no unpacking or long-term storage. The customer unpacks the product. The same is true at SIA. For the most part, the parts are delivered right to the line and Production Associates unpack the products as needed by line demands. Very few items are stored in the warehouse, except where large deliveries are made on small parts. JIT is a very efficient way to manage the Materials Department. 
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| Wildlife Habitat
In 2003, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. became the first automotive assembly plant to be designated as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SIA’s 800+ acres serves as a home for various wildlife including: white-tail deer, rabbits, Canadian Geese, Mallard Ducks, squirrels, beavers, coyote, snapping turtles, frogs, red-tail hawks, blue heron, and the Bald Eagle.
 
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