Harley Davidson 2009 Annual Report Download - page 9

1414 HARLEYHARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC.DAVIDSON, INC. 2009 ANNUAL REPORT
WE’RE BUILDING
THE BEST
BIKES BETTER.
LEFT Harley-Davidson’s Kansas City operations
now build V-Rod® and Sportster® motorcycles on
the same line for greater fl exibility and effi ciency.
RIGHT Attention to quality in every detail remains
a top priority at our York facility, where
we are transforming our operations for best-in-
class capability.
1515
To succeed as a manufacturer in today’s
global economy takes a lot more than the
latest factory equipment or the right
thickness of steel to form into motorcycle
fenders and gas tanks. It takes a relentless
commitment to customers and quality, a
skilled and engaged workforce, the agility
to fl ex with the needs of the marketplace
and a drive to continually improve.
FOCUS ON QUALITY, FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY
Today, Harley-Davidson is focused like
never before on achieving a best-in-class
manufacturing environment that maxi-
mizes fl exibility and effi ciency, enhances
quality at every step and delivers value for
our customers. At the heart of these efforts
is a major restructuring of our production
operations that began in 2009.
TRANSFORMATION IN PROGRESS
The biggest transformation is under way
at our factory in York, Pa., and by 2012,
we will have completely revamped how
we build motorcycles there. This restruc-
turing will reduce complexity and create
the fl exibility to produce multiple product
families on the same assembly line every
day. The work that’s under way at York
will greatly improve our ability to build
the right bikes at the right time to meet
the needs of our customers.
Of course, the restructuring of our
production operations is about more than
effi ciency; it refl ects our commitment to
build the best bikes better every day
and deliver quality and value with each
Harley-Davidson motorcycle we make.