Kia 2001 Annual Report Download - page 10
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Please find page 10 of the 2001 Kia annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.2001 KIA MOTORS ANNUAL REPORT
16 17
2001
BL Collision Test PDI Quality Inspection Center Belgian-type Road Test Sorento on the High-speed Test Track
Kia has a total production capacity of 1.15 million units. The company produced 852,000 finished
vehicles in 2001, the highest level in Kia's history. The Sohari Plant increased production of the
Carnival to 180,000 units while the main Hwasung Plant produced 388,000 units, out of an annu-
al output capacity of 600,000 units.
In particular, The Production Division recorded a remarkable quality improvement. The Rio and
Carnival II acquired top ratings in safety tests at home and abroad. Sales of these models expand-
ed in North America, attracting U.S. drivers with an unprecedented warranty program and
improved product quality.
Efforts are underway to achieve a new production record in 2002. Kia is establishing a sales-ori-
ented, flexible production management system with the goal of producing 287,000 units at
Sohari, 450,000 units at Hwasung and 201,000 units at the Kwangju Plant for a total of 938,000
vehicles, marking a 10% year-on-year increase. Kia Motors is setting the industry standard in
terms of quality. Improved quality-oriented production management, the launch of new models
while minimizing production snags and re-organized quality management systems company-wide
set Kia apart from its domestic competitors. Kia was ISO re-certified by the Korea Standards
Association and the British Standards Association in June, and facilities were retooled to meet new
model quality standards. A new quality guarantee system covers six selected areas including new
and mass-produced model quality improvement, and a corporate-wide quality innovation cam-
paign achieved strong results. An overall commitment to quality improvement enabled Kia to
become the first Korean automaker to receive the Korea Quality Management Award, the first
time the award has been given to an automobile company.
Kia's 5-point quality management policy in 2002 will be to:
■apply stringent new quality standards and strengthen inspection activities for quality endurance;
■respond more quickly to customer problems and proactively prevent problems;
■improve the company's quality image by identifying problems, following up immediately and bolstering
inspection programs;
■empower lower organizational levels with greater responsibility and decision making so that the Six Sigma
quality initiative proceeds automatically; and
■respond more rapidly to product liability issues and surveys of automotive quality to protect our reputation.
Kia achieved the highest production levels in the history
of the company in 2001. Kia has grown qualitatively and quantitatively
with the re-establishment of a corporate-wide quality management
system and the winning of the Korea Quality Prize.
KIA MOTORS
Production & Quality